Several sightings of American mink across East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Several sightings of American mink across East Lancashire
11:00am Saturday 11th August 2012 in News
SEVERAL sightings of American mink - classed as a dangerous predator to Lancashire water voles - have been made by conservationists.
Nature lovers are being asked to be on the lookout for the tiny creatures, which are also known to attack rabbits, frogs, squirrels and small birds.
Enviromental campaigners are eager to curb the spread of the mink, many of whom have either escaped or been deliberately released from fur farms in previous years.
But there have been reports of the interlopers across East Lancashire as part of a project to combat non-native species.
Supporters of the Lancashire Invasives Project are on the lookout for American mink, Himalyan balsam and Japanese knotweed as part of an ongoing study.
The earliest spotting was close to Gazegill Beck, just north of Newby, near Rimington, followed by a report that a mink was active to the west of Barker Brow, Ribchester, near the River Ribble.
In the past three or four months there have been further sightings associated with the River Calder, off Marthholme Lane, between Great Harwood and Simonstone, and Wood End, between Higham and Reedley.
And there were two reports, within days of each other, that mink were in and around Spring Wood, at Great Mitton.
A spokesman for Ribble Rivers Trust, which is behind the study, said: “Mink are voracious predators, preying on fish, mammals and birds. They will take large salmon many times their own size.
“They also contribute to the continuing decline in the population of water voles as they are small enough to enter the voles’ burrows.”
One of the main aims of the project is to successfully capture and rehome the minks. Further reports can be made at www.lancashireinvasies.org
Comments(13)
Your ferret stinks
says...
1:52pm Sat 11 Aug 12
shytalk
says...
8:25pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Stuart Farquar
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9:17pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
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9:52pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
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9:54pm Sat 11 Aug 12
shytalk wrote:What sort of gun have you got? or is an air rifle.
seen two in the last 12 months. one near Waddington that i managed to shoot, and one between sabden and clitheroe sat on a wall..These things are very dangerous and would have no issues with attacking a small child.. If you see one keep well away from it.
Your ferret stinks
says...
10:45pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Stuart Farquar
says...
11:18pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Michael@ClitheroeSinStraights are allowed to say Beaver but the gays can't say **** !?! outrageous !!!
ce58 wrote:
I seen quiet a few beaver's mostly the accy slap breed
parrotcity
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11:45pm Sat 11 Aug 12
Your ferret stinks
says...
11:03am Sun 12 Aug 12
shytalk wrote:Interested to know what you did with the dead mink?
seen two in the last 12 months. one near Waddington that i managed to shoot, and one between sabden and clitheroe sat on a wall..These things are very dangerous and would have no issues with attacking a small child.. If you see one keep well away from it.
pocketdragon
says...
1:20pm Mon 13 Aug 12
Your ferret stinks wrote:made it into a coat. Much more useful!
shytalk wrote: seen two in the last 12 months. one near Waddington that i managed to shoot, and one between sabden and clitheroe sat on a wall..These things are very dangerous and would have no issues with attacking a small child.. If you see one keep well away from it.Interested to know what you did with the dead mink?
pocketdragon
says...
1:22pm Mon 13 Aug 12
Your ferret stinks wrote:not really, depends on your aim, your rifle power and how many pellets you hit it with... i will be sure to shoot one if i see it.
Be very lucky to kill one of these mink with an air rifle
Your ferret stinks
says...
3:25pm Tue 14 Aug 12
pocketdragon wrote:Thats alot of 'ifs'
Your ferret stinks wrote:not really, depends on your aim, your rifle power and how many pellets you hit it with... i will be sure to shoot one if i see it.
Be very lucky to kill one of these mink with an air rifle
Roversboy says...
12:16pm Sat 11 Aug 12