Mink in the Drink

[Billhook]

Since we stopped people and their dogs coming down to the lake , the wildlife seems to have returned.  Some welcome others less so.  I was walking quietly around the lake when I saw this movement in the pool where the water exits the lake and enters the chalk stream.  The wind was blowing in his direction (sorry if I misgendered him!) but he did not seem that bothered by me.

https://youtu.be/qVn13qunuwQ

[Bob_z_l]

You are a lucky man. Lovely bit of video. Thanks

Mrs saw one earlier in the year. I never seem to be fast enough to catch anything on camera. 

 

 

 

[Billhook]

Also we came across this big boy, a Signal Crayfish, again not that welcome but perhaps the Mink was after them

That one was more than the width of my outstretched hand at about 9 inches.

Would one that big be able to fend off a Mink with its huge pincers or are Mink too fearless and strong?

 

 

[Bob_z_l]

Without sounding hateful. 
I hope  you killed it.

 

Have a load of them in the Mole down the road.  You've doubled up on the voracious killers.

What's next? Red Kite's  :-)

 

[eggsarascal]

Mink decimated the fish stock in the river Stour in Sudbury, Suffolk many years ago when the anti’s broke into the local mink farm and set them all free.

[Billhook]

1 hour ago, Bob_z_l said:

Without sounding hateful. 
I hope  you killed it.

 

Have a load of them in the Mole down the road.  You've doubled up on the voracious killers.

What's next? Red Kite's  🙂

 

Are they good to eat?

[Bob_z_l]

Nobody has said. 
I know you needed a licence to catch them. Said to be as difficult to find as rocking horse flop.

 

Then if a fisherman landed one they had to kill it or face the chance a ministry fine if found out.

 

It seemed a waste. They were so prolific and looked like langoustines  you'd have thought they could have been managed and harvested to a respectable level.   

[eggsarascal]

5 minutes ago, Billhook said:

Are they good to eat?

Yes, the ex Mrs Egg used to trap them on the Stour until the rangers took her traps.

[roys]

Why did they take her traps?

[Bob_z_l]

14 minutes ago, roys said:

Why did they take her traps?

Invasive species. Need a special licence.