OT - Mink stealing pond fish

[PCKRAJ]

Heard dogs barking, looked out window and saw mink pulling a very large koi from my garden pond. We have an electric fence around pond (12x22) but apparently he squeezed in... and out with my fish and dragged him away.

Getting ready to set trap.

Any other suggestions?????

I am sick about this because I know he'll clean us out, and we have/had koi almost 2 foot long.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

We used to get them all the time in a pond behind our property. Live traps do seem to work quickly. They seem to love tunnels, burrows, holes, and places like that, so if you have anything resembling a tunnel or can make the trap tunnel-like, do that.

 

[rjmayes34]

minks?
They are wild around here? Like the furry little things you see in pet sotres and people make coats out of?

 

[bdamon]

minks?
They are wild around here? Like the furry little things you see in pet sotres and people make coats out of?

Yep, they love chickens too.

 

[tent boy]

My neighbor had his pond cleaned out with a mink. He didn't know until spring. At least you saw him early. Sounds like a trap is the way for sure. In the summer I have to deal with a heron that stops by. Its never easy. I don't think most people have a clue how much work all these hobbies are.

 

[rjmayes34]

No S#!t I did not know they were around here! If yout trap it do you plan to make some fancy undies or some comfy socks or something?

Just sayin

 

[block head]

mink are pretty tough predators. most can fit in a quater size hole. trapping is tougher than you think, and you 'll need a licence to be legal. if it were me, i'd u -tube mink trapping and pick up a couple of traps from gander mtn. ermine might get ya too. weasle boxes are effective .

 

[NirvanaFan]

Can you legally discharge a firearm at your place? Do you have a hunting license?

 

[low riderr]

ask around for a trapper.

 

[gary greguire]

check with the local dec they should issue you a permit to remove nuisance wild life

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Mink's larger cousin (Fisher) is also around here and they often get confused.

 

[PCKRAJ]

We found his den and set a trap - hope he'll go for the filleted perch that are in there.

Mink predators are fox and great horned owl. I've seen a fox nearby last week, but apparently the fox didn't see the mink - darn it!!!

I don't like to harm any wildlife, but I want this creature GONE!!!

 

[rjmayes34]

what if you do what i have to do for the woodpecker that comes around for two months a year and pecks on my house, get a false Owl then and put it up by your pond. If Owls are their natural predators. Just a thought. It worked for me, You can get a fake owl at lowes for like $20.
Unless you do want some sweet undies!!!

 

[windyridge]

We have a one acre pond and a few mink. I never thought about losing fish but then we have about 100 fish at least consisting of bass, carp, crappie and too many sunfish. The heron's get them too and occasionally an osprey. I have a sequence of photos showing an osprey taking off with a sizable bass in it's talons.

 

[block head]

hang in there. mink constantly eat. they don't to hang out in one spot very long. it might take a week or two for it to return. keeping the trap working is the hard part. a 110 guarding a newspaper mailbox would do the trick. trap is about $5. they won't freeze up on you.

 

[Spartan]

What about the design of your pond?
You can do things to make it more predator resistant. For example steepen the sides of the pond and make it deep enough so that a mink or like predator cannot wade in or stand up.

 

[block head]

What about the design of your pond?
You can do things to make it more predator resistant. For example steepen the sides of the pond and make it deep enough so that a mink or like predator cannot wade in or stand up.

nope, they swim like a fish underwater. you'd have to make it vertical or undercut with a 2' plus drop to the water. dec are also releasing otters. mink/ otters are seldom found in high density.

 

[S Helinski]

A number of years ago, a Muskrat entered our pond, destroyed all the plants, and hunted the Koi...

It will keep coming back... you need to kill it. (or trap it, and drop it off 10 miles away).

Steve

 

[tent boy]

Is it big enough to make a hat?

 

[PCKRAJ]

Caught a possum tonight - hopefully it'll be the mink soon. Good news is that with the ice melted we can see a lot of big fish left in the pond.

Just hope we catch this guy soon before he goes for lunch in my pond again.