How to get rid of mink in the uk?

[ElGoose]

Last night the scariest thing happened, I came back home to the news that my geese were nowhere to be seen - they’d been let out and were not coming back.. I searched everywhere and saw a mink swimming up the river and my heart sunk

This morning, thank goodness, all my geese returned safely and I was so shocked and happy I had an asthma attack hahaha - the only issue is that mink then tried to get in the garden TWICE under the chicken wire that we have over the gate so I’m certain it had been attempting to terrorise them all night, I just don’t know how to handle it, what kind of trap would even be effective? I’m worried snappy traps might hurt the docile wildlife, but that mink seems set on trying to pick off our two goslings. Or do you think our geese are enough to handle it? We have a very large defensive gander and another pretty effective loud honky defensive buff girl but I don’t want to bet too heavily on them as I know mink can take down some pretty large birds…

 

[AGeese]

I'm not sure how different it is with trapping in the UK, but you may need to call someone out to do it. I agree you wouldn't want to use the snap/foothold traps with free range birds, but a catch and release trap instead. Though you'll need to know where you can release them, if you're not able to dispatch them yourself.

 

[ElGoose]

I'm not sure how different it is with trapping in the UK, but you may need to call someone out to do it. I agree you wouldn't want to use the snap/foothold traps with free range birds, but a catch and release trap instead. Though you'll need to know where you can release them, if you're not able to dispatch them yourself.

My mum ran over it this morning! when researching how to handle mink in the uk it’s apparently illegal to release them if they are caught as they’re invasive and horrible to the ecosystem

 

[aart]

it’s apparently illegal to release them if they are caught as they’re invasive and horrible to the ecosystem

Just because you use a live trap(catch and release) doesn't mean you have to release them. Using such a trap just protects any non target animals trapped.

 

[Muser]

My mum ran over it this morning! when researching how to handle mink in the uk it’s apparently illegal to release them if they are caught as they’re invasive and horrible to the ecosystem

Aren't Mums just the best? They somehow fix it for us haha Well done Mum!

 

[ElGoose]

Just because you use a live trap(catch and release) doesn't mean you have to release them. Using such a trap just protects any non target animals trapped.

Yes I know x I meant in the case of knowing where to release mink if I catch one, technically nowhere!

 

[ElGoose]

Aren't Mums just the best? They somehow fix it for us haha Well done Mum!

So right who needs traps when you have a mum with a nissan hahaha

 

[Goosehill]

Yes I know x I meant in the case of knowing where to release mink if I catch one, technically nowhere!

Save a rifle, the quickest, safest and most humane way to deal with a mustelid in a cage trap is to submerge the trap in a trough of water. It's not a nice feeling, but a trapped mustelid is a very unpleasant and quite dangerous creature.