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  1. #1

    Advice to Keep Mink out & Save A wee Baby for the Winter

    Hello to you all! I am in need of help, although to late for my koi, as to how to keep, what I think was a mink or minks, out of my pond in the future.

    Last weekend, I was horrified to find all but one of my beautiful babies gone - 11 in total. Ranging in sizes. So angry & so very sad. The pond itself was covered, so I know it couldn't have been a heron. The only evidence were scales and fins inside the pond. It makes me sick to think how my poor babies died. I am thinking it was a mink because the cover(s) were not disturbed and the only way something could have gotten in was between the gap of the waterfall & the first cover. And no evidence of anything outside the pond.

    Anyone dealt with this before? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    And.....the only remaining survivor is a tiny baby, maybe an 1.5" in length, that I would love to save and keep in a tank for the winter months so it has a chance at survival. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can catch it?

    Thank you all in advance for your help.



  2. #2
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    Some friends of mine have had this issue in their koi pond a few years back.
    Unfortunately mink were released in some parts of the country a few years back (they are not native to the UK, are you in the UK?). This was done by ALF activists releasing mink from mink farms to 'save' them. Many mink perished because they were unable to fend for themselves or find enough food to eat. Those that survived have gone on to breed in certain areas. If you are unfortunate enough to live where they are, then it is a very difficult problem indeed to deal with. My friends didn't restock their pond after all the koi went- they got some ducks instead.

    The problem you will have if it is mink is that they are very agile and able to get through small gaps, and climb. A mesh electric fence around the perimeter of the garden or pond area could be one answer- but they now know there are fishy snacks to be had so are likely to want to come back for more.

    Are you sure it was mink? Otters can also do this kind of things sometimes.
    P.S. If you trap a mink then it is illegal to release it again as it is not a native species.

  3. #3
    Thank you for your reply -- I am actually in the US. I know we do have mink here and there is a large pond across the street from me. My brother also suggested an otter. I just know it was something very agile, like you mentioned. Nothing moved, nothing disturbed, just all fish gone. I am so worried that my husband is just going to want to give up on koi keeping because he feels defeated. I just love them so much and immensely enjoy the hobby. And thank you for the tip as well.

    I am trying so hard to catch the one last baby, as I know it won't last the winter if it stays in there. Any experience with that?

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    Quote Originally Posted by desenag View Post
    Thank you for your reply -- I am actually in the US. I know we do have mink here and there is a large pond across the street from me. My brother also suggested an otter. I just know it was something very agile, like you mentioned. Nothing moved, nothing disturbed, just all fish gone. I am so worried that my husband is just going to want to give up on koi keeping because he feels defeated. I just love them so much and immensely enjoy the hobby. And thank you for the tip as well.

    I am trying so hard to catch the one last baby, as I know it won't last the winter if it stays in there. Any experience with that?
    I expect the last fish will be feeling very nervous at the moment, so will be quite difficult to net. I find in that situation it can help to drop the water level, and also to catch them at night (using a head torch so you can see them) as they tend to be calmer and stiller than in daytime.
    You will need to get it a couple of friends for company once out and in a tank, as they don't like being alone- it causes stress to fish.

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  6. #5
    Thank you for the great idea. I did read that while researching online. Problem is, the baby is black but I will give it a whirl. I have a tank set up in my office at work with some friends waiting :-) Just want to give it a chance to survive.

    Thank you again!

  7. #6
    Thank you again, for your great advice. I caught my little survivor....I believe it's Mom was our lone black butterfly koi that had a beautiful gold 'outline'. I hope he/she lives a long healthy life and I have named it Seizon-sha which means survivor in Japanese. Again, thank you. I hope that my husband hasn't been so discouraged as to 'shut it down' - it's my peace.

  8. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion pondwithnoname's Avatar
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    Have you considered employing a commercial trapper, unfortunately once a predator knows where it can get an easy meal it will return.
    Alias PWNN - Steve
    My favourite and recommended web site is......
    http://www.mankysanke.co.uk/
    http://www.freewebs.com/koikoi/

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    Quote Originally Posted by desenag View Post
    Thank you again, for your great advice. I caught my little survivor....I believe it's Mom was our lone black butterfly koi that had a beautiful gold 'outline'. I hope he/she lives a long healthy life and I have named it Seizon-sha which means survivor in Japanese. Again, thank you. I hope that my husband hasn't been so discouraged as to 'shut it down' - it's my peace.
    Awww that's good news, hope the little fish gets on ok.

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  12. #9
    IMG_0801.jpgThank you! This is my little survivor.

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    just seen date

 

 

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