Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations PVC Rats: Muskrats and Mink

As you may be aware - I have Muskrats at the pond. Rex believes he saw one and demonstrated what he would have done to it with his pistol using my my PVC as an example, or was it a metaphor?...at any rate, this story has already been well documented. Weeks later I began to see cattails floating around the pond - all of them chewed off at the base - a sure sign of Rats. Yesterday I was working a shovel behind my HBC pond, trying to create a primary channel into the Main pond so it's not such a sloppy mess back there, and looked up the creek arm of the Main pond and saw a wake coming across the water about 100 feet away - swimming from bank to bank. I don't own a handgun, and never walk around the property armed, still I cursed myself for not having anything with which to dispatch this little varmit. I crouched down and decided to wait for it's approach - if I felt so inclined I suppose I could dive in and wrassle the little bastardo into submission. As luck would have it, here it came, hugging the shoreline and making a quick beeline right for my position. As it came within about 25 feet, I noticed it's tail was floating on top of the water, and was covered in dark bushy fur. Although I've never seen one apart from Field Books, I knew this was a Fisher or a Mink. It kept swimming and snaking it's long limber body up and around stumps, in and out of grass, oblivious of me and looking for a meal. Within about 10 feet of me he finally noticed something was out of place - namely, me - and he reared up and hissed at me. This thing was at best 2.5 feet long, and half of that was tail, but it still managed to startle me and I made an um, well...let's call it an involuntary astonished expression. That slight noise was all it took for him to turn tail, dive underwater for about 30 feet, then scamper up the bank and into the timber and grass.

I wasn't sure if this was a Fisher or a Mink, so I researched upon arriving home - verified this was a Mink as the Fisher is colored a little different and NE is out of their habitat range. What I saw was completely dark brown with no other coloration. I read that while Mink will take fish, crawfish, and birds, they actually are known for tackling prey much larger than themselves [they weigh in around 3-4 lbs] such as Muskrats. Apparently spotting a Mink is a fairly rare occurance as they are primarily nocturnal, solitary, stealthy and wary. Guess I was in the right place at the right time. It's rewarding to know that the habitat management practices I've put into place have created a new environmental niche for something as cool as a Mink. I can't see where a Mink could put a dent into my fish population, and if Muskrats are on their menu, I'm really happy to have him around.

I didn't have my camera with me [one of the only times it's not in my pocket - of course] but did post this pic below which is exactly what I witnessed. I suppose many of you in other parts of the country may find Mink sightings common, but around here they are notable.

Cool stuff TJ, I have only seen mink a few times. Always near water and in the winter. Never seen one swimming though.

I had one on the trout pond this spring. I won't say what happened to him but he is no longer with us.

I also found a dead one on the highway next to the big pond. I may have another one or more down there as I will have definite muskrat sign and then it stops like they've either left or something got them. I did trap a muskrat one year that had a gash in it's hide. I just hope a mink doesn't get into my fish cages.

I've had two beavers at the pond too. Both were run over on the highway.

BTW TJ... In your byline where you quote Thoreau what exactly did he say men are actually after? I read On Walden Pond but don't remember.

They are very fast up close and do a job on small rodents. Amazing what you can experience with a little patience.

Mink have a territory that they cover, and don't stay in one spot for more than a day unless it's a female and she's got a litter. They are fast and fearless, and will eat many pond critters, but they won't eat great quantities of them. They are one of the primary predators of muskrats. You done good, TJ!

Unless you have trout in a tank. Here's what one trout producer in Vermont told me:

...but I have lost thousands of trout to predation from mink over the years. In one example (years ago), predation by mink caused the loss of 100 nine inch trout from a single tank (every single trout in the tank) in a single 24 hour period!

Ceciil, you're right. They WILL go on a killing spree. They've been known to kill every chicken in a coop overnight. But, they won't stick around long. He had all those fish killed in a night as well. They aren't good news for producers such as yourself, but I don't think normal (is there such a thing? ) pondmeisters have much to worry about.

You're absolutely right. Just as if I was a "normal" pondmeister I would let the herons live and let live. But with my operation being more intensive...

I've got the minksters down in my creek. I've witnessed them during the daytime only twice. They're on the "cool" critter list for me.

I like them a lot better than whistle pigs.

I like mink. I figure the few fish or desired critters they take out are offset by the muskrats they remove. Only exception is that I have had to catch a few that we raiding our chicken house. They get can in a small space and do a lot of damage in a hurry.

Am I detecting a theme in your posts TJ? First ninja sturgeon wrassling, now Mink wrassling? I am thankful that you don't own sheep.




I recognize this, this is city-boy speak for you screamed like a little girl and ran away screaming with your arms flailing over your head. I know this is city-boy speak because I did the same thing at our ranch once. But it wasn't over some sissy mink. For me it was a Mountain Hare, a really angry Mountain Hare.

Great story TJ!

Tastes like chicken;-)
Mink are oportunists & blood thirsty killing machines. Guess that's just part of why I like them so much. They're a Rat trappers nightmare though ruining every pelt along your line around a pond eating a hole in the rats head.
Rats taste like chicken too;-) .. not really but they are good with rice & gravy.

I had a mink last Friday eat the brain out of a trapped skunk. Actually it extracted the brain and eat it about 40 ft away; probably didn't like the smell of the victum.

Why would they eat the brain, but not spend time eating the flesh?

I don't know why they do it Bruce but that's what they do to the muskrats as well.

IIRC, the brain is the most nutritious part next on the list are the entrails. A mink could have been what I saw. It was fast and I only got a glimpse of it before dispatching the PVC.

Glad you know what you're dealing with now.

To gain the life-time accumulated knowledge and life-time accumulated experience of their sworn enemies.

Shesh, don't you ever watch TV?

Bruce - Eating just the brain by mink does not make any sense to me either when there are lots of other tasty body parts that have easier access. Go figure. Monkey brain is supposed to be delicacy in Japan. Maybe someone knows why mink often select just the brain? Any mink experts here?

Bill, what do ya do with a skunk in a trap? I have a tough time carryin em off the porch with a shovel after the dog deposits them there. Just hate when that happens, makes the trailer stink worse than usual.

Bob-o, my son uses a hypodermic on the end of a stick to poke him in the chest. Don't remember what's in the hypo.

Chanel #5?

Chloroform is what's used to inject in a skunk to kill it without stinkin' up the place. And, yes, if you move slowly, you can inject it.

Skunk injector? Dang who do you have to tick off to get stuck with that job?

When you trap critters, and catch and catch the little black and white striped kitties, there's not too many options on letting him go without you getting hit. Even shooting them isn't a sure thing on a scentless demise. The Chloroform works very well.

JHAP got moderated - hee hee.......

I had to ask & my son uses acetone in the hypo.