mink trapping

Eddie B · 17-11-2018 6:34pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Anybody trapping this time of year.

I done two weeks down from the house and got two. Don't think I'm gonna do any more this year. Busy with other stuff and just don't have the time.

Benny mcc · 17-11-2018 7:46pm

I trap most the year on and off. 4 cages and 2 trap box with fen traps in. Not gettin much of late but that's the way they are you'll get 2 or 3 and then nothing for a month

Birdnuts · 19-11-2018 11:13pm

Our Curlew project traps all year round. However this time of year is slow enough unless you get major rainfall events that force movement of mink into new areas

minktrapper · 20-11-2018 9:49pm

I have always seen that. Great time to trap mink during a flood. Curlers are rarely seen nowadays. What has happened them?

Eddie B · 20-11-2018 10:07pm

I find its actually after a flood, when water is dropping, that catch rates go up. Mink are displaced from rivers during flood, and move onto ditches, drains etc. Once the flood starts to receed, mink will return to the rivers, and travel the banks back to reclaim territories.

Birdnuts · 20-11-2018 11:03pm

minktrapper wrote: »

I have always seen that. Great time to trap mink during a flood. Curlers are rarely seen nowadays. What has happened them?

Loss of habitat due to the usual suspects - particularly industrial conifer plantations that provide cover for generalist nest predators like Hooded crows and foxes adjacent to the ever shrinking number of suitable sites(bogs,callows,bottom lands adjacent raised bogs etc.). I've been to a number of workshops on this and we are told that the negative effects of conifer forestry can be felt by breeding pairs up to 2km away!!:(

BryanL · 21-11-2018 12:04pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Loss of habitat due to the usual suspects - particularly industrial conifer plantations that provide cover for generalist nest predators like Hooded crows and foxes adjacent to the ever shrinking number of suitable sites(bogs,callows,bottom lands adjacent raised bogs etc.). I've been to a number of workshops on this and we are told that the negative effects of conifer forestry can be felt by breeding pairs up to 2km away!!:(

The gospel being preached at the moment seems to be all anti plantation.

The rspb research points to predators.

"However, RSPB research in Northern Ireland identified high levels of predation on nests as the likely cause of population declines, with foxes being the most important predators. Similar findings have been obtained from declining populations elsewhere in Europe, suggesting that increases in predator populations have also contributed to declines.

In some upland areas, the control of foxes and crows by gamekeepers managing moorlands for red grouse shooting may be important in maintaining breeding curlew populations and preventing further declines."

The huge population drops in Curlews within a 10 years time frame doesn't correlate with a big change in plantations.

Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/curlew/conservation/#9SVl4sDOyd0Sfj8m.99

Eddie B · 21-11-2018 12:10pm

Birdnuts wrote: »

Loss of habitat due to the usual suspects - particularly industrial conifer plantations that provide cover for generalist nest predators like Hooded crows and foxes adjacent to the ever shrinking number of suitable sites(bogs,callows,bottom lands adjacent raised bogs etc.). I've been to a number of workshops on this and we are told that the negative effects of conifer forestry can be felt by breeding pairs up to 2km away!!:(

I've worked with birdwatch Ireland, on Islands on the river Shannon. One particular island had a good population of breeding waders, but a poor breeding success rate. There was a single tree on the Island, and crows and magpies use tree's to spot nests, eggs etc. By removing the tree, the success rate improved considerably.

minktrapper · 21-11-2018 8:46pm

Eddie B wrote: »

I've worked with birdwatch Ireland, on Islands on the river Shannon. One particular island had a good population of breeding waders, but a poor breeding success rate. There was a single tree on the Island, and crows and magpies use tree's to spot nests, eggs etc. By removing the tree, the success rate improved considerably.

Seems to be the same with the grey partridge project in Boora. Predator control seems to be a very important tool for the success of the project.

Cadpat_cowboy · 21-11-2018 8:48pm

Eddie B wrote: »

I've worked with birdwatch Ireland, on Islands on the river Shannon. One particular island had a good population of breeding waders, but a poor breeding success rate. There was a single tree on the Island, and crows and magpies use tree's to spot nests, eggs etc. By removing the tree, the success rate improved considerably.

That's mad, I never thought that one tree could affect a habitat that much. It explains why I hardly ever see ducks breeding on the lake near me surrounded by trees.

Birdnuts · 21-11-2018 10:36pm

Eddie B wrote: »

I've worked with birdwatch Ireland, on Islands on the river Shannon. One particular island had a good population of breeding waders, but a poor breeding success rate. There was a single tree on the Island, and crows and magpies use tree's to spot nests, eggs etc. By removing the tree, the success rate improved considerably.

Yep - Lough Carrowmore a few miles from my small holding in Erris has an island in it important for breeding Common Gulls and Terns. However in recent years chick survival had declined dramatically. NPWS trapper went to investigate last year and found the single tree on the island had a recent Grey Crow nest established. Action was taken last year and this year productivity notably increased - QED!!

Birdnuts · 21-11-2018 10:45pm

BryanL wrote: »

The gospel being preached at the moment seems to be all anti plantation.

The rspb research points to predators.

"However, RSPB research in Northern Ireland identified high levels of predation on nests as the likely cause of population declines, with foxes being the most important predators. Similar findings have been obtained from declining populations elsewhere in Europe, suggesting that increases in predator populations have also contributed to declines.

In some upland areas, the control of foxes and crows by gamekeepers managing moorlands for red grouse shooting may be important in maintaining breeding curlew populations and preventing further declines."

The huge population drops in Curlews within a 10 years time frame doesn't correlate with a big change in plantations.

Read more at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/curlew/conservation/#9SVl4sDOyd0Sfj8m.99

Actually what I said supports that - my point was that conifer plantations installed next to Curlew habitat dramatically increase predator pressures as they significantly boost the population densities of crows,foxes etc. Our intense predator control of mink,crows,fox etc. has in only 2 years significantly boosted breeding populations of the likes of snipe,lapwing etc. However we can never let our guard down since the large conifer plantations at the edge of some of these sites continue to attract large flocks of roosting Grey Crows from surrounding farmland:(

idnkph · 21-01-2019 10:27am

Anyone trapping and getting anything?

Eddie B · 21-01-2019 11:46am

idnkph wrote: »

Anyone trapping and getting anything?

Got a couple last week. Great time of year to get a few mink. Males will be returning to the main rivers in search of females as mating season is upon us.

minktrapper · 25-03-2019 5:02pm

Anybody trapping any mink lately.

minktrapper · 02-05-2019 12:28pm

Any mink being caught. I got one lately. I also saw a trout rising to a fly and a mink spotted it too. The mink swam out to where the fish rose,dived down and came back up with the trout in its mouth.

Woodcock shot · 03-05-2019 12:13pm

Very slack lately, i’ve only the one caught in the last 3 months

minktrapper · 03-05-2019 12:52pm

I suppose we will never be rid of them.

Eddie B · 03-05-2019 9:45pm

minktrapper wrote: »

I suppose we will never be rid of them.

I don't trap this time of year, but yea, they are here to stay I'm afraid. All we can do is keep numbers down. It's when numbers are high, that preasure is put on other species. Of course certain situations like tern colonies ect, a single mink can do a lot of harm.

minktrapper · 11-11-2019 11:21pm

Anyone trapping. Put down a cage a few days ago. Nothing yet.

Birdnuts · 12-11-2019 2:08am

minktrapper wrote: »

Anyone trapping. Put down a cage a few days ago. Nothing yet.

Quiet my end too - heavy rain of the past few weeks probably has them moving beyond their normal routes

borrisboy · 12-11-2019 9:42pm

Got my first of the season last saturday after a week trapping !

minktrapper · 10-02-2020 12:41am

Anyone ever try this for mink.
PEST-STOP ELECTRONIC RODENT KILLER from Screwfix.

I can't get a link to work. Search for Screwfix and search for rat then.

Grizzly 45 · 10-02-2020 9:25pm

Want to be a lot stronger for mink if that is the same yoke we are looking at.

minktrapper · 11-02-2020 2:43am

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Want to be a lot stronger for mink if that is the same yoke we are looking at.

The thing for €51.95. Designed to killing rats though. Maybe the CO2 powered one would be better. Only that is well over €100.

riddles · 11-02-2020 7:46am

Do you sell the pelts and if so for how much?

minktrapper · 11-02-2020 11:28am

riddles wrote: »

Do you sell the pelts and if so for how much?

Afraid not. Don't know of any place that will take them.

Grizzly 45 · 11-02-2020 2:48pm

How much are the Conibear traps?They are alot more humane and work off pull not pressure.Those gimmicks wont last long in the field.

minktrapper · 11-02-2020 5:12pm

Fourteen acre used to have them. You will have to use a parcel motel of some sort. Postage to Ireland is expensive.

happyoutscan · 19-02-2020 9:27pm

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

Cheap and nasty mink trap. Acquire a length of about 5foot of Wavin sewer pipe[orange in colour about 8in dia and available usually as a cut off on any building site]. Block off one end utterly and solidly. I just make a plug of
5ins of concrete, sitting atop of some wadded newspaper in one end. You can get fancy and buy an end cap and glue it on too. Take a can of sardines and dribble the oil down the pipe and chuck the contents down to the base of the pipe. Rest the pipe with the open end up around 30 degrees on a hedge, fence,etc where you think the mink has entered your property.

How this works is corny but simple. The mink climb up whatever and into the pipe, as they are used to holes and tunnels they have no fear of these and smell the fish. They can climb down, but can't turn or climb back up the slippery pipe either.
You empty the trap by simply putting a sturdy bag, like an empty coal bag, or better an old tough canvas bag like a surplus kit bag over the end, tying it on with some string or duct tape and inverting the pipe. and giving it a shake.Mr mink is deposited into the bag and all you have to do is tie off the neck of the bag nice and secure. You will certainly know there is a mink in it as well by the vibrations and generally annoyed sounds the mink will make . I have caught a half dozen mink with this over the years and it doesn't even look like a trap.Just a discarded bit of sewer pipe.

Whats the best way of discarding the live mink then? Drowning? Want to trap our resident as herself is terrified of it. Don't have a gun, will use the wavin method.

Asus1 · 20-02-2020 11:54am

happyoutscan wrote: »

Whats the best way of discarding the live mink then? Drowning? Want to trap our resident as herself is terrified of it. Don't have a gun, will use the wavin method.

Nah drowning any animal is a cruel and outdated form of ending an animals life,even a pest.If you know nobody who has a gun i would think about seeing if there's a gun club locally someone out of that would dispatch it for you.Other than that if your not comfortable killing it probably best leave it be.

happyoutscan · 20-02-2020 4:09pm

Asus1 wrote: »

Nah drowning any animal is a cruel and outdated form of ending an animals life,even a pest.If you know nobody who has a gun i would think about seeing if there's a gun club locally someone out of that would dispatch it for you.Other than that if your not comfortable killing it probably best leave it be.

I'd have no problem killing it, if there was a common way used by those without a gun. I wouldn't be squeamish or that, but would like to be doing it in a way that was generally acceptable etc.

We have ducks, geese, peasants, hare, field mice, moles and even a fox on our property here. All our welcome but we don't want the mink.

I do know a lad who has a gun, might give him a shout and ask him his opinion.

Asus1 · 20-02-2020 4:32pm

happyoutscan wrote: »

I'd have no problem killing it, if there was a common way used by those without a gun. I wouldn't be squeamish or that, but would like to be doing it in a way that was generally acceptable etc.

We have ducks, geese, peasants, hare, field mice, moles and even a fox on our property here. All our welcome but we don't want the mink.

I do know a lad who has a gun, might give him a shout and ask him his opinion.

Well then i would say pop him into a feed bag or something similar,tie the bag tight as close as you can tie it to him and when it calms down knock it on the head.Sounds simple but ive never had to do it so the theory might sound better than the reality.Ive always shot them in cage traps with an air rifle at first and now i use a cci 22lr short bullet.With either i would wait till it was calm and then just shoot it in the head from the top of the cage.Care must be taken with the 22lr even if the bullet was travelling fairly slow.Oh and didn't know we had moles in Ireland is there many where you are.

Vizzy · 20-02-2020 6:39pm

happyoutscan wrote: »

I'd have no problem killing it, if there was a common way used by those without a gun. I wouldn't be squeamish or that, but would like to be doing it in a way that was generally acceptable etc.

We have ducks, geese, peasants, hare, field mice, moles and even a fox on our property here. All our welcome but we don't want the mink.

I do know a lad who has a gun, might give him a shout and ask him his opinion.

Would one of the peasants have a gun ?

Eddie B · 20-02-2020 11:35pm

Asus1 wrote: »

Well then i would say pop him into a feed bag or something similar,tie the bag tight as close as you can tie it to him and when it calms down knock it on the head.Sounds simple but ive never had to do it so the theory might sound better than the reality.Ive always shot them in cage traps with an air rifle at first and now i use a cci 22lr short bullet.With either i would wait till it was calm and then just shoot it in the head from the top of the cage.Care must be taken with the 22lr even if the bullet was travelling fairly slow.Oh and didn't know we had moles in Ireland is there many where you are.

No moles in Ireland lad

Asus1 · 21-02-2020 1:08am

Eddie B wrote: »

No moles in Ireland lad

I thought that as well,wonder what the person is mistaking for moles.

Eddie B · 21-02-2020 8:11pm

happyoutscan wrote: »

I'd have no problem killing it, if there was a common way used by those without a gun. I wouldn't be squeamish or that, but would like to be doing it in a way that was generally acceptable etc.

We have ducks, geese, peasants, hare, field mice, moles and even a fox on our property here. All our welcome but we don't want the mink.

I do know a lad who has a gun, might give him a shout and ask him his opinion.

Buy a couple of Fenn traps, and make up some three sided tunnels for them. Easy enough make with some 12mm ply. No need for anything to dispatch with then. Be done and dusted.

Rows Grower · 21-02-2020 8:15pm

Asus1 wrote: »

I thought that as well,wonder what the person is mistaking for moles.

Probably a shrew.

Eddie B · 22-02-2020 5:39pm

Rows Grower wrote: »

Probably a shrew.

or vole

Rows Grower · 22-02-2020 9:24pm

Eddie B wrote: »

or vole

Sounds more plausible actually Eddie.

I thought shrew straightaway because there is an abundance of them not far from where we live.

I called to a lad to go shooting deer early one morning and when he put on his wellie he took it off again straight away and shook it upside down and out fell a shrew as flat as a pancake.

Ah, he said.... I knew I felt something the last time I put that boot on, thought it was me loose sock.

Esel · 22-02-2020 9:44pm

Picked a shrew up once as a kid. Fecker gave me a nasty bite! He met his end when I instinctively threw him down on the floor.

furandfeather · 07-04-2020 10:01pm

Is this from a mink or otter would ye think?

Eddie B · 07-04-2020 10:18pm

furandfeather wrote: »

Is this from a mink or otter would ye think?

I would guess otter. Putting a coin or something for size reference help especially when trying to identify scat and footprints from photo's.

Where was the scat? Beside a drain or stream, or a large river?

furandfeather · 07-04-2020 10:25pm

Eddie B wrote: »

I would guess otter. Putting a coin or something for size reference help especially when trying to identify scat and footprints from photo's.

Where was the scat? Beside a drain or stream, or a large river?

It was where 2 drains meet a river. Seemed to be a good bit of activity around the place

Eddie B · 07-04-2020 10:30pm

furandfeather wrote: »

It was where 2 drains meet a river. Seemed to be a good bit of activity around the place

Always a good location to set a mink trap. Even if it is Otter scat, you'd probably have mink there too. I usually don't trap this time of year partially because people out fishing might stumble upon my traps, and also im busy with other stuff during the summer months

Esel · 07-04-2020 11:09pm

First pic looks like a latrine area. Do otters and/or minks regularly use the same location to defecate?

Eddie B · 07-04-2020 11:18pm

Esel wrote: »

First pic looks like a latrine area. Do otters and/or minks regularly use the same location to defecate?

Yes both mink and Otter use certain locations to defecate. In fact, the phrase "otter toilet" is commonly used to describe such area's. I think they are used to mark territories, especially in locations as described above, where different bodies of water meet.

furandfeather · 07-04-2020 11:25pm

Eddie B wrote: »

Always a good location to set a mink trap. Even if it is Otter scat, you'd probably have mink there too. I usually don't trap this time of year partially because people out fishing might stumble upon my traps, and also im busy with other stuff during the summer months

Ya I might set a trap there and see what happens. It's on a bit of land I'm after buying.
Fishermen would be very rare around there

Eddie B · 08-04-2020 5:01pm

furandfeather wrote: »

Ya I might set a trap there and see what happens. It's on a bit of land I'm after buying.
Fishermen would be very rare around there

Go for it! Let us know how you get on

minktrapper · 04-07-2020 9:05am

Any mink being trapped in the last few months.

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