Trapping Question

[bobbypetrolia]

This ones for you guys;
About 11 days ago, we went outside to quite a grisley sight. One of the little farm kittens had been taken from the cat-house and partially eaten by something. Funny thing was, only the head was eaten. We had wrote it off to being a 'coon or stray dog, till it happened again night-before-last. I got looking around, and picked up the tracks. Followed them down to a hole in the river bank then got out the book of tracks. Looks like a mink. The hole was about 4-5 inches across. Thing is, we have never seen a mink out here before. Talking to an old trapper and checking online; it (and he) says domestic cats make up part of a minks diet, if available. Also, the mink will follow a pattern, much like a wolf checking his territory; which seems to explain the killings 10 days apart.
Question is.........how do I get him? Aside from sitting in the window all night for 10 days or putting a trap out (we have several cats and 2 dogs); what is the best idea? Going down to the hole in the river bank? What is the best trap to use? Do snares work on mink? Any info would be appreciated; headless kittens on the back patio is kinda disturbing.

[packhuntr]

Hey Bobby, sorry to hear of the loss. Hopefully you can clean up the problem soon. If i were you, id build a small box style cubby out of plywood. Make it so it is about 16 inches from front to back, and closed at one end. In the front be sure to build it so it is about the same size as a 110 conibear. Throw some bait in the back of the box, {use beef liver} mink like it. If you try other baits, you might lose time trying to figure it out cause they are pretty fussy. Even fish heads and guts will go untouched for a long time, believe it or not. At any rate, set your 110 in front of the box staked and secured. Set it just down the bank from his hole, or where ever you can keep an eye on it without bothering it too much. Check it daily. Another way to get him would be to set a leghold near the entrance to where the cats are somewhere. If hes going through a small hole somewhere or somewhere tight, you might be able to get him there in some way shape or form as well. Hope you get im, good luck!!! Take care

keep a strain on er.

[Mintaka]

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[bobbypetrolia]

I just got a PM'ed saying I need a license for this thing. Are you kidding me? I do not want to spend one cent on putting this thing down.........does this make me a poacher? What if I shoot the damn thing when he's gnawing on on of these cats? I don't want to break the law, but he started it.........

[Reddog]

Conibears are your only choice. Because the use of legholds for any of the weasel family is illegal and against the international humane trapping agreement unless they are set as a drowning set. You would have to get pretty lucky to get a good shot at him anyhow. Have you tried calling fish and wildlife? Do you know any licensed trappers? I'm sure they would come take care of your problem for free. Are you located in the lethbridge area?

[Da Jimmer]

Have you tried to find out it you could qualify it as predator control?

[Reeves1]

Originally Posted by bobbypetrolia

I just got a PM'ed saying I need a license for this thing. Are you kidding me? I do not want to spend one cent on putting this thing down.........does this make me a poacher? What if I shoot the damn thing when he's gnawing on on of these cats? I don't want to break the law, but he started it.........

I call BS !
I had a Badger take out all my breeder Quail while I was away working. The wife called F&W and they came out & set some snares. No permits required.
I would advise calling them and explaining it to them. Odds are they'll tell you to take it out however you can.
You have every right to take care of what you have on your property.

[Bushmaster]

Not sure of how your cathouse (didn't even know they were legal in Alberta) is setup but is it possible a Great Horned owl is the culprit??

[swampman_22]

If I were You i would suggest a blind set on the trail to the hole in the bank.

[sourdough doug]

I think BP rectified the problem, probably some time early in Mar.