Gamekeeper: why mink trapping along the river should never be neglected

My first encounter with mink was when I was an underkeeper at the Acton Reynald estate in Shropshire. Mr Clarke (the headkeeper) and I looked over a bridge one day and saw a group of a dozen or more mink swimming in the small river. There was a fur factory in a nearby town and an anti-fur group had let them out. Rushing back to set cage traps, we returned the following morning to find the traps full. Other mink were sat around the cages as they were used to them. I shot several of these with a .22 rimfire. The numbers of mink that were released caused great damage to wildlife on the surrounding rivers and ponds.

I have never forgotten this and in the midst of everything I have to do on the shoot, mink trapping is something that I do not neglect. I have about four miles of river on the shoot and any waterways can act as a route in and out for mink. We all know the problems that the American mink can cause, and a female mink is small enough to enter a water vole hole and kill the occupant. They will tackle amphibians, fish and ground-nesting birds as well as gamebirds. They have been an ongoing nuisance since they started breeding in the wild in the 1950s. I employ a few methods of dealing with them.

When is the best time to trap mink?

Late winter and early spring are a good time to trap, before females have kits to feed. A female can have up to eight kits, so removing just one can be a tremendous bonus. If you do catch a female, keep the traps going as males may have come into the area to look for the female.

One giveaway that may reveal a mink is present is the absence of moorhens, which make easy targets. Look for mink droppings and footprints that are star-shaped. Be aware that in spring there may still be heavy bouts of rain that will cause fluctuating water levels. This can cause a trapped mink to drown in a cage trap. So keep an eye on the weather and if heavy rain is forecast either remove or deactivate your traps as welfare is vital. You may also consider the point that floods could wash your traps away.

Cage traps and the best bait for mink

I like to use cage traps from Collins Nets of Bridport. They are well made, strong and double as squirrel traps. Cage traps can be set in recessed holes dug into riverbanks and baited with tinned sardines, rabbit or deer guts. In the old days I used to fill eggshells with cat food.

This prevented the bait making a mess of the cage and the eggshells provided added attraction. Bait should be kept fresh and old bait removed from the area. By setting the cage in a tunnel the mink is forced to enter it. If the trap is set in the open, the mink may circle the trap and attempt to pull bait through the sides. Make sure the bait is beyond the treadle, so the mink has to fully enter the trap to reach it.

You can also try mink rafts fashioned from polystyrene and plastic sheeting. A good site to place these is where a stream enters a river. Don’t ignore wet ditches near release pens. I once had a release pen 20 yards from a ditch. The scent from the pen drifted down the water-filled ditch to a river two miles away and drew mink to the pen.

The rafts should be securely anchored – to a tree, for example – and there is a clay pit on the raft that will reveal any footprints from mink that are using the area.

Adding a trap to the mink raft

When it has been established that mink are present, a baited cage trap can be added to the raft and concealed under a plastic cover. This can be camouflaged with vegetation both to make the trap look more natural and to conceal it from prying eyes. To despatch a mink humanely I use a ‘comb’ of the type used for squirrels to secure the mink at one end of the cage and then use an air rifle, taking the shot to the back of the skull at close range with the mink properly restrained.

Be aware that rats may enter the traps and get caught or climb and urinate on them. Always wear gloves when handling traps and if you catch a rat, or suspect rat activity, wash the trap in the river or stream. As with any traps, when you cease your trapping activity, clean the traps with a power washer, for example, and place them in a dry place such as a shed. Traps are expensive and if looked after will give years of use.

Try combining your trapping routes – whatever you are after – with your daily rounds as it all saves time. Remember that traps must be checked daily.

Mike Appleby runs the Honeycombe Shoot in Dorset with his wife, Antonia.