nobby63 Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Hi Lads as the topic, Found a dead fish carcas round a fishery on my permission and im worried its a mink ? the prints measurement was roughly 2/2.5cm long and if you agree its going to cause alot of headache, the fish that was taken must of weighed a good 6/7 pounds. :unsure: Tried to get the best photo as possible and internet pic to compare so what your thoughts ? and again in an enlargment,the next photos are examples of mink Any Help is Appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulf2461 Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 i think its an otter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterside Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Agree its your worst nightmare mate an otter, I have a lake in the cotswold which is mainly carp proper old english fish up to 40lbs in weight, the otters more or less cleaned me out in a very short space of time. We then spent 7k on otter fencing the entire lake around 15acre. One of the members caught a guy red handed only last week pushing a baby otter through the otter fence. When challenged he ran off. Most are hand reared and introduced by the do gooders and the antis! If people remember on their bill it was hunting fist then fishing then shooting! The otters are a real menace they will destroy a fishery overnight. The law is very clear on control of these its simple you harm an otter in any way you will be prosecuted! Legally you are not even allowed to humane trap them. Inform the fishery and do all you can. Its happening up and down the country and needs to be stopped so many people are losing their livelihoods due to these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Agree its your worst nightmare mate an otter, I have a lake in the cotswold which is mainly carp proper old english fish up to 40lbs in weight, the otters more or less cleaned me out in a very short space of time. We then spent 7k on otter fencing the entire lake around 15acre. One of the members caught a guy red handed only last week pushing a baby otter through the otter fence. When challenged he ran off. Most are hand reared and introduced by the do gooders and the antis! If people remember on their bill it was hunting fist then fishing then shooting! The otters are a real menace they will destroy a fishery overnight. The law is very clear on control of these its simple you harm an otter in any way you will be prosecuted! Legally you are not even allowed to humane trap them. Inform the fishery and do all you can. Its happening up and down the country and needs to be stopped so many people are losing their livelihoods due to these. As bad as the cormerant :sly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creakindoor Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Otter prints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Could you lay some sand down to get decent prints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobby63 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 Cheers for the reply lads im back down in the next couple of days and will take a look again round the pond for any other activity and see what the out comes is while Ive been away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 If that prints are smaller than a two pence piece i seriously doubt its an otter.Imo its mink fella,as an otter print is way bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ91 Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 If that prints are smaller than a two pence piece i seriously doubt its an otter.Imo its mink fella,as an otter print is way bigger. I agree with the above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbiter Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 ill go along with mink mate.... DAZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 mink and simalar to a hob ferrets print Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 No 4 fenn trap and plenty of them dotted about in under ground baited box's will give you your answer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Best way to trap a mink:- Get a sheet of celotex (4 inch or 100mm, the thick stuff) and cut 600x1000 (roughly) get a cage trap and put it on the top, tie some string round the sheet and over the trap to secure them both together. Get some hessian and lay ot over the top, put some natural camo on top too. Put a tin of sardines, rabbit guts, mackrel, anything that smells and chuck it at the back of the cage trap. get a long peice of string and tie it to the bit you wrapped round, or to the back of the cage trap. Float the raft onto a river or pond and use the long peice of string or rope to tie it to a tree or post so it doesnt float down the river, every morning, just grab the string, pull the floating trap in and check the trap, a very good feeling when the door is shut and there is a screaming mink inside, then deal with it humanely! 3 years ago we had a mink problem and caught 13 in 1 month using this, a very simple but effective method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Cant tell from the photos but they look like 4 toe prints to my eyes hence not a mink as they have 5 toes similar to all members of the weasel family. Got mink today don't mean you wont have tommorow and vice versa. Best practice is floating boards with plastacine or similar on and a bait (not when its this cold though) the idea is you trap only when you identify via print or visually) trapping means constant checking under law and you dont want to be doing it to get an odd rat now and again. Dont fret on the fish front unless its a sensitive area the loss will be minimul in terms of fish stock, water birds and voles are the real victims. I dont see Otters as an issue on open river systems as they are very territorial and you need a healthy river to support them anyway, Having fished in healthy rivers along side them is an honour! If you dig a hole in the ground, fill it with water and stock it with food (fish) in an un-natural way on the otherhand nature can and will put things back in Natural order For any who think that fishing might i suggest Golf? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
955i Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Personally by the length and narrowness I would say its a rat footprint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remy 700 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) Thats a rat Edited February 4, 2012 by remy 700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
410PHIL Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Looks like grey squirrel or possibly rat it is to long and narrow for mink. Cheers 410 phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 if that mud is soft,an otter would leave deeper prints,id say mink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted February 4, 2012 Report Share Posted February 4, 2012 Otters leave big prints, mainly because they are big animals. I'm no expert but I think mink prints are a lille bit bigger than those in the photos. I'd go with rat aswell, possibly... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobby63 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 (edited) Great replies lads and taken on board your comments I visited the pond while the snows been down and could only find rat prints and fox As theres a lot of dog walkers visit the pond area. But what is strange the owner has recieved e-mails offering quotes for otter nets for his waters :o , within the time span from finding the fish carcas to present day I thought rather strange But is this becoming a problem for alot of fisheries and coarse ponds alike Thanks again lads and if the problem persists will keep you all updated. Cheers Keith Edited February 9, 2012 by nobby63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Fox and Otter prints side by side for comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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