A wild minkBACK in the spring the wind brought down a fine ash tree into a neighbour’s field. We struck a deal: if I cut it and split it we could share the wood. Just the job.

Then came an endless succession of other things to do - a bit of gardening, a spot of fishing, exploring the coast. Winter was yet far off, so far that it might never come.

 

Last week we spotted the first autumn colours, yellows and reds creeping into green leaves. It seems to be so early this year. Nonetheless, it was a reminder that shorter days are just around the corner. We find ourselves wondering what this coming winter will bring. Will it be the same as last time around? We certainly hope not.

We would need an extra bit of timber for the stove. Ah, yes, the ash tree. So we went and sawed and chopped or way through the day and now we have our reward in the form of a nice heap of logs that will carry us through a couple of weeks of whatever we might have heaped upon us. More, we need more.

A little face appeared in the stonewall to watch us at work. A young mink, just about half grown and as black as night, slid through a narrow gap, so supple it was almost oozing with fluidity. We went for a closer look. It was completely fearless, just gazing up at us as we stood within touching distance.

With its bright black eyes, quivering whiskers and soft coat it was really quite a beautiful animal. But mink are nobody’s friends. We would kill it if we could.

The hunt was not a difficult one. The little animal was quite content to sit between the stones and learn more about these strange giants that had invaded its world. When we got too close it disappeared, only to reappear five or six feet away to look and watch again.

We tried making squeaking noises to draw it out. No good. We could almost hear its little thoughts: ‘My word, look how big they are, yet what funny little voices they have!’ I do believe it was considering how best to add us to the menu.

We played the same game for 10 minutes or so before conceding defeat. We were never going to catch this creature.

There has been less evidence of mink this year. In summers past we would often glimpse them swimming on the lake or hunting along riverbanks. The National Parks and Wildlife Service put out tenders for mink control in recent times, so perhaps the work being undertaken is actually having positive effects.

Working together with Queens University Belfast, the wildlife service has a published handbook entitled ‘A Review of Mink Predation and Control in Ireland’ that makes very interesting reading. In it we find information on the estimated mink population (20,500 to 33,500) and the best ways of trapping them.

I always thought that food-baited traps would be the most effective, but good measures of success have been met with other traps baited with mink scent glands. This makes good sense, for the mink is a highly territorial animal. The males simply will not tolerate the presence of rivals in their home area.

As to the cost of trapping, I quote from the above mentioned handbook: ‘It was found that the population could be eradicated, at a cost of €1,062,425, by annual removal of 75 per cent of the population over a five-year period.’

Are there not a lot of fishing and shooting men that would contribute their efforts for free? Annual removal of 75 per cent of the adult population could be done almost for free.

Country Diary