Mink Traps?

[Elton]

I just stumbled across these two traps today. The were either side of a ground level footbidge on a very small ditch, which is dry most of the year. There's a tiny amount of water in it now. The field is in the middle of nowhere. I only found them because my dog started licking them. To be honest, I can't see why mink would be a problem on this field - there are no animals for miles.

 

I did witness the aftermath of a rabbit slaughter there a couple of weeks back, but assumed it was the gamekeeper with his gun, as I know he does shoot some. As we've had a load of mixy lately, I assumed that he may have just had a successful night.

 

As you can see, they were just out of the water and baited with mackerel.

 

Are these mink traps and should I report them?

 

I tried ringing the EA, but:

 

1. The call was NOT free from a mobile, and

2. I was put in a queue and waited until my battery was virtually dead (to be fair, it was low anyway).

[Anderoo]

I just stumbled across these two traps today. The were either side of a ground level footbidge on a very small ditch, which is dry most of the year. There's a tiny amount of water in it now. The field is in the middle of nowhere. I only found them because my dog started licking them. To be honest, I can't see why mink would be a problem on this field - there are no animals for miles.

 

I did witness the aftermath of a rabbit slaughter there a couple of weeks back, but assumed it was the gamekeeper with his gun, as I know he does shoot some. As we've had a load of mixy lately, I assumed that he may have just had a successful night.

 

As you can see, they were just out of the water and baited with mackerel.

 

Are these mink traps and should I report them?

 

I tried ringing the EA, but:

 

1. The call was NOT free from a mobile, and

2. I was put in a queue and waited until my battery was virtually dead (to be fair, it was low anyway).

 

They could well be there to protect water voles from predation. A stream I fish has lots of mink traps to help the re-introduced water voles put down some roots.

[ahammond]

A club I am in put several traps out a couple of years ago as a result of mink predation on our fish stocks. The paperwork and general hassle just to get permission to use them in the first place was incredible and then they had to be checked twice a day and any mink caught destroyed in a particular way so as not to cause them stress. At least two of the traps just disappeared which was odd as only about four of us knew where they were. After about three months I think that the total bag was three moorhens.

[dant]

They could well be there to protect water voles from predation. A stream I fish has lots of mink traps to help the re-introduced water voles put down some roots.

 

I'd leave them be. They look like very good quality traps, so I would say they're being set by someone who knows what they're doing.

 

If theres a game keeper in the area he would of been out shooting in the mornings and might of seen one or two. It amazing what can turn up in the middle of what looks like barren farmland.

 

Mink along with being master fish, frog, vole and anything else that moves killers are also supreme egg theives. I should think a family of mink could do quite some damage to the local game population...

 

I never seen so many Mink in the Waveney Vallley as I have over the last year or two..

[highseas]

hi ime a trainee game keeper and i cant stress the importance of mink traping along water ways but theas traps wernt set by a keeper as their not cover up (mink love to investigate any dark hole and a coverd trap is 75% more likley to cach) and any keeper should know this i would however ask the farmer whos they are but i dout it if any one would poach mink

also dont whatever you do ever report mamal traps to the EA orRSPCA beacaus they remove them to "save the mink" and theas traps cost ALOT also it is just fuel for the anti blood sports activests and the likes of them ah well tally ho!!!

[five bellies]

hi ime a trainee game keeper and i cant stress the importance of mink traping along water ways but theas traps wernt set by a keeper as their not cover up (mink love to investigate any dark hole and a coverd trap is 75% more likley to cach) and any keeper should know this i would however ask the farmer whos they are but i dout it if any one would poach mink

also dont whatever you do ever report mamal traps to the EA orRSPCA beacaus they remove them to "save the mink" and theas traps cost ALOT also it is just fuel for the anti blood sports activests and the likes of them ah well tally ho!!!

 

 

I think the Dead Otter thread the other day indicates the dangers of Irisponcible traps Granted that was a Cray fish trap but non the less If the traps are legal.... Baited and checked and in some cases have drinking water, the RSPCA can not and will not remove them They would infact be stealing them there is not an office block in the country without mouse traps /sticky pads and pioson bait traps the RSPCA would be over whelmed in Half an hour if they adopted an anti trap policy.

 

Elton They look like the Mink Traps we used to use on the Darenth we had to have drinking water in ours as they were only checked once a day they are as said usauly covered though, we also had a small plate on ours with a contact number on should they be stumbled apon.

Edited November 14, 2007 by five bellies

[chesters1]

i.m surprised they are openly displayed and not carried off by foxes.

no need for bait! covering it with undergrowth is good enough mink are very inqusitive but thats an amateurs trap the bait is too near the end and could be pulled within chewing distance ,double ended rat traps work far better ,the traps will disappear very fast by foxes if they are not tied to something with wire

Edited November 15, 2007 by chesters1

[barry luxton]

Are you talking about mink than have been bred and released into the wild for whatever reason or are mink native to the uk?

[highseas]

hi mink are not native to the uk they whear relised or escaped from fur farms

ive also had lots go missing to 2 legged foxes!!!