Mink...

[Xtopher3]

so I heard a loud splash last night out at the pond...went to check it out, and although it was a little cloudy from something stirring up the water, I figured it was Big Blue, our football size Koi...although I couldn't see him...

Strong skunky smell...but there are lots if skunks in our neighborhood so didn't think much of it...

Checked on the pond first thing this morning...the 5 shubunkins were swimming around, the fathead minnows were scarce and the 2 big koi (big blue and OJ) were nowhere to be seen...assumed something scared them and they were in the fish cave...

Was putting an aerator in the pond this afternoon, ahead of winter, so figured while I was in the water I would check the fish cave...nothing...

Started looking around the garden...finally found the remains of big blue and oj neatly stacked together in a "hole" behind the waterfall...

Has got to be a mink...although not sure how he got in my yard...removed the bodies (buried them deep in my veggie gardens) and poured bleach down the mink hole...

So now what? The pond is covered with netting for leaves, although i have heard netting won't stop a mink and clearly didn't last night...are my fish just waiting to be dinner now?

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[GBBUDD]

Have a heart trap and fill it with fish th e n take him far far far away

 

[Xtopher3]

Just saw the little bugger in broad daylight...pretty cool critter actually...

But eviction is imminent...

 

[addy1]

Yeah remove, dislike moving wild life, but I have read once it finds your pond it is a sushi bar until it is empty.

Good luck! Keep us posted, sorry you loss your two big koi

 

[JamieB]

Catch it quick! If possible, you might secure your favorite fish in some kind of indoor pond, wading pool inside in a basement or concrete floored room, if you can’t catch it in a reasonable amount of time and have a floor that can take the weight. By removing the fish, it might reduce the minks desire to stay and munch.

 

[Xtopher3]

The trap has been set (thanks for the recommendation @GBBUDD)...

He hasn't been seen today...my 5 shubunkins all seem to have managed to stay alive so far...not sure about the fathead minnows although they're likely the fastest fish in there...

Wish he wasn't so voracious...hes pretty cool to watch...I actually told my wife that if he gets all our goldfish, I might just bite the bullet and let him stay...he can eat all the fathead minnows he can catch (free supply from the creek)...and keep my neighbour's rats in check

 

[GBBUDD]

Just be careful knowingly feeding wildlife can be illegal depending where you are and how you go about it.

And if your koi were that big you may not see a hungry mink for a while. I am no mink expert but some animals can george them selves and go weeks months even years without another meal

 

[Xtopher3]

Ya @GBBUDD I hear you about feeding wildlife...more restocking my pond with free fish...love those fatheads too...little cruise missiles...

He didn't actually get to eat that much of my koi...which was surprising...but he sure was "fishing" yesterday during the day!!!

Best case scenario is he gets caught in my trap and I can find him a new home far away...

 

[GBBUDD]

good luck

 

[JamieB]

Mink eat their weight in meat every day, and are known to kill every chicken in a hen house despite not eating them. They are in the weasel family, like skunks and badgers, so they can dig and stink, not sure how stinky mink can get, just be aware that it’s a possibility they will be musky.

 

[GBBUDD]

They can get REAL Bad WE HAD A MINK FARM WE USE TO DRIVE BY WHEN I WAS A KID AND TRUST ME IT WAS BAD....

 

[pebbleoz]

Gosh and I thought Kookaburras were a problem!
Good luck catching your mink.