Wild Mink And Ferreting

[onthehunt 40]

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

Well said mate!

[Malt 379]

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

Ok, you love your mink fair enough, but don't presume to come here and tell people who spend a large part of their lives out and about in the countryside what damage mink do or don't do to the natural environment here where we live.. Most people on here would kill a mink stone dead as soon as look at it, and with good reason.. I like most things American, but the trait that some of you possess that compels you to dictate what's what to everyone else in the world ain't one of them..

[Born Hunter 17,910]

Minkenry, you talk some shit. Areas with high populations of mink have next to f**k all water voles in this country. Our native water voles are having the arse knocked out of them by the invasive American Mink.

[Hot Meat 3,109]

we were over run with them at 1 point, trapped a few an terriers got a few whilst hunting river banks, never seen a coot or a moorhen for years then 1 day they just fooked off, i think the otters coming back done it but who knows. see loads more stoats weasels an water birds about now tho, i dont think they belong here an along with the tree rats ill never pass a chance to kill them

[Born Hunter 17,910]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2664.2000.00504.x/full

 

Literally the first link I have found. Mathematical modelling of habitat erosion and mink predation on the water vole population.

 

The extinction of water vole on the River Windrush became more likely as habitat fragmentation and mink predation increased. Mink predation effectively doubled the probability of extinction over that arising from fragmentation alone.

[Born Hunter 17,910]

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000632079090031J

 

 

This study explores mink-water vole interactions on five of the principal rivers in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, in an area where mink are still spreading. It uses a variety of techniques—tracking (field signs), trapping and radio-tracking—at a range of 38 sites that differed in average water vole and mink abundances over two years, in conjunction with a longer term four-year study at one site on the river Esk under active colonisation by mink.

 

The overall conclusion is unavoidable. Mink pose a serious threat to the long-term survival of water vole populations, at least in the North Yorkshire Moors study area.

[paulus 26]

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

only good mink is a dead fooker over here, another alien species and apex predator we don't want in our ecosystem, water voles on our canals were devastated by mink and its not down to habitat destruction its down to mink that were released by idiots from fur farms a few years before. your theory fails as when mink have devastated the population in one area they move onto another. i have never seen mink that were not far from water, we even have mink hounds

 

Water voles are preyed upon by a range of native predators including stoats, weasels, otters, foxes, rats, various birds of prey and herons. However, unlike the American mink, none of these seem to influence water voles at the population level. Female mink are smaller than males and are easily capable of following the rodents into their burrows. As the two species are both usually found close to water, they are much more likely to encounter one another than are water voles or stoats and weasels. A female mink with kits to feed is potentially, therefore a major threat to any nearby water vole colonies.

The threat posed by mink applies over most of the water vole’s range, although perhaps fortunately for upland-dwelling voles, mink tend to be scarce in open moorland and mountainous terrain, seeming to prefer the greater cover and abundance of prey that is to be found in the lower-lying parts of many rivers.

oxford university view http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2009/090109.html

Introduced alien species are recognised to be a major threat to native

biodiversity. The American mink (Mustela vison) is a highly adaptable,

naturalised predator in the UK, introduced as part of the fur trade in the

1920‟s. The species became established in the wild in the 1950‟s through

purposeful releases and escapes and since establishing the mink has

been held accountable for the decline of many native species, most

notably the water vole (Arvicola terrestris). There are currently nine

species of carnivore in the UK, and American mink presents competition

for native predators, particularly those that have similar lifestyles. In recent

years interspecific competition within carnivore communities has been

recognised as an important factor in the structuring of an ecosystem, and

evidence suggests that competition from recovering otter populations are

leading to declines in mink. In this review the American mink is discussed

in the context of its ecology and invasive success, and its impact on

biodiversity both as a predator and a competitor.

Although the water vole may still remain locally

common, the overall trend for the species is

one of decline.

Predation by North American Mink

This is seen as the greatest threat to water

vole populations. Although rarely witnessed as

mink are a predominantly nocturnal species,

evidence collected from radio tracking studies

suggests that mink have a severe impact on

water vole populations. Mink are an introduced

species, native to North America, and are now

well established throughout England and

Wales. Where large numbers of mink occur,

water vole populations are non-existent.

Surveys have shown that mink have not only

eliminated water voles from suitable areas, but

in doing so have caused isolation and

fragmentation of their populations

1. Female

mink can enter water vole burrows and remove

entire populations when feeding their young.

[onthehunt 40]

Do we not have any European mink over here?

[paulus 26]

Do we not have any European mink over here?

no The European mink is listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers, having been calculated as declining more than 50% over the past three generations and expected to decline at a rate exceeding % over the next three generations.^[1] European mink numbers began to shrink during the 19th century, with the species rapidly becoming extinct in some parts of Central Europe. During the 20th century, mink numbers declined all throughout their range, the reasons for which having been hypothesised to be due to a combination of factors, including climate change, competition with (as well as diseases spread by) the introduced American mink, habitat destruction, declines in crayfish numbers and hybridisation with the European polecat. In Central Europe and Finland, the decline preceded the introduction of the American mink, having likely been due to the destruction of river ecosystems, while in Estonia, the decline seems to coincide with the spread of the American mink.^[7]

[brookie 1,193]

I find it very interesting that most of you guys have never once run into mink! From the studies I've read, mink in your country live almost exclusively in rabbit warrens, and feed very heavily on rabbits. In England, some male mink will even travel quite far from water and live in rabbit warrens, even though they rarely do that in other places that they live in.

 

So much for the big freak out about the alien mink taking over! No one can even find one! LOL

there are loads of mink around wales .theyve decimated the wildlife on the rivers and tributaries although ive not noticed em sorting many rabbits out . ive hit em out of blackthorn bushes with a catty whilst they are killing wood pigeon squabs and ive actually squeeked a big male in from llanellan banks on the river usk and shot him with a catty .get em backed up in a willow or the like and theyl come for you then .they are very aggressive little fuckers .and the only good one is floating down the river upside down.

[brookie 1,193]

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

are you for real mate .or just on a wind up .mink hunt relentlessy and kill relentlessly they will wipe out local bird populations kingfishers dippers coots ducks martens doves pigeons in fact every thing that lives on the rivers and streams etc and surrounding areas .the only good mink is a dead one .and glad to say theres some cracking mink packs in wales now and they are getting increased support and more followers now .plus local river authorities etc are starting to do a lot to try and eradicate them

[GreyRake 108]

I take it the hunting with dogs ban covers mink too? Only rabbits and rats allowed?

[johnny boy68 11,726]

 

 

Well you read wrong! Never heard of them being far from water, and its animals like our water voles that are suffering a massive decline because of the mink.. Like Ideation said above, they get hunted, trapped, shot, etc.. Some people think the return of the otter is keeping them in check too..

 

 

Funny thing is, scientists have shown that the mink never has had any real long term effect on the water vole population. It's human destruction of habitat that has reduced the water voles numbers. It has been shown that areas void of mink have just as many water voles as in areas with high numbers of mink. Like almost all rodents, water voles are very prolific and have no trouble keeping up with the pressure placed on them by predators. Habitat is what determines if they can survive in an area, not the predators in it. This fact has been proven time an time again my multiple studies done by multiple individuals, but the general public still blames the mink, despite the facts. I guess it's just easier to point fingers than it is to take responsibility for what's really causing the problem.

 

Well said mate!

 

Why don't you shut the f**k up you f***ing numpty !!

 

The great pretender !!

[Hot Meat 3,109]

lol

[johnny boy68 11,726]

Lots of mink by me, they wiped my Dad's mates loft of racers out, 400 metres from the river the loft was. The ducks take a real hammering off them when they got ducklings here, the Dippers are almost gone too and ain't seen a Kingfisher in a while.

 

Make no bones about it Mink are evil vermin and should be treated as such.

 

Peace out !!