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ID: Otter, Mink, etc?
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Not one for C&C … it sucks. But just wondering if anyone knows what it is. Spotted on a feeder into the Grand Canal in Kildare. Wasn’t as tame as I’d expect fro an Otter. Dark brown between 2 and 2.5 feet long, nose to tail.
I checked out some wildlife books in Easons and that little bit of a white smig would lead me to believe that it’s a mink.
If it’s in a “National Park” is it something the NWPS would want to be informed about so they could trap it?
Saw one one time in the canal outside of croke park when i was going to a match .For years i was sure it was an otter. until someone told me they are mink in the canal. Dangerous buggers.
funny thing though. When we think they are otters they are so cute. When we think they are mink they are horrible. Why when they look so similar
There’s a big size difference. The only otter I saw was about 3 foot long, much bigger than this chap. There are supposed to be Otters in the Grand Canal and in Pollardstown Fen.
I guess the attitude change comes down to the American Mink being an invader like the American Grey Squirrel. I don’t know if it’s stealing territory or not but maybe it is? I read somewhere that there was a trapping program but I don’t know if it’s still running or not.
Sorry to say you’re all wrong. This is the lesser spotted hairy snake…the buggers are everywhere!!
I saw 3 cornering a squirrel at raven point no more than 2 weeks ago. Be careful, they spit.
…must lie down now…
I guess the attitude change comes down to the American Mink being an invader like the American Grey Squirrel. I don’t know if it’s stealing territory or not but maybe it is? I read somewhere that there was a trapping program but I don’t know if it’s still running or not.
Main reason for getting rid of mink is the incredible amount of damage they do to other wildlife. They seem to kill for the sake of killing and they are very efficient predators. If you have mink in an area then its usually goodbye to Water Voles and most of your ground nesting birds.
That might explain why Pollardstown Fen is almost dead. Been there yesterday and today and hardly a sign of life. A year ago there were plenty of Reed Buntings, etc. Not so this year. Plenty of tracks that I reckon were from Mink though.
If the nature reserve was in the UK they would have had trappers in to get rid of the mink. I take it thats not the procedure in Ireland?
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