Here we have information and pics about our predator control activities in our area.
To begin with, we'll give you some background information on some of our biggest enemies - the mink, the fox and the Hooded Crow (Grey Crow) and the Magpie.
Mink:
The Mink is a member of the weasel family. The species found in Ireland is the American Mink which is bigger than the European Mink. Mink are usually escapees from mink farms which were established here in the 1950's. In general mink are about 18 to 24 inches in length, including its bushy 5- to 7-inch tail, and weighs 1 1/2 to 3 pounds. The mink readily adapted to their new environment and spread rapidly, establishing themselves at the top of the food chain. Their typical habitat includes stream, river, pond, marsh, swamp, or lake.
Damage Caused by Mink
Mink will attack animals up to the size of a chicken, duck, rabbit, or new born lamb. Like some other members of the weasel family, mink can exhibit “surplus killing” behavior when presented with an abundance of food, such as in a poultry house full of chickens and are often considered to kill for "fun". Mink are capable of eating significant numbers of nesting waterfowl and young game birds. In addition, they kill fish of all species including ornamental pond fish. They typically kill their prey by biting them through the skull or neck. Two closely spaced neat skin punctures on the neck or skull are the sign of a mink kill.
Fox:
Foxes are crepuscular animals, being most active during the early hours of darkness and the early morning hours. Except for the breeding season they are solitary animals. They usually kill animals that are smaller than a rabbit, although fawns, lambs, and poultry will be taken if the opportunity arises. Red foxes are known to sometimes kill more than they can eat and bury food in caches for later use.
Damage and Damage Identification
It is not uncommon for foxes to cause serious problems for poultry producers where losses may be heavy among flocks of chickens, ducks, geese, and game birds. On an opportune basis foxes will also attack and kill young pigs, lambs, and small domestic pets. They are also prone to preying on wild pheasant, waterfowl, and other game birds, including some endangered species.
They have adapted well to urbanisation to the extent that they can now be found in almost all our towns and cities. They can cause havoc to gardens and sports pitches through digging, scraping and fouling. If they take up residence in residential areas under decking, sheds, or in basements etc they can cause a terrible smell through storing uneaten food which eventually rots.
Mink and foxes are known to completely wipe out entire hen houses, and show no mercy when it comes to pheasant breeding facilities, and many breeders / farmers have woken up to scenes of carnage as a result of a visit from a mink or fox.
Hooded Crow or Grey Crow:
The Hooded Crow is an Eurasian bird species in the crow genus. Widely distributed, it is also known locally as the Grey Crow in Ireland.
Except for the head, throat, wings, tail and thigh feathers, which are black and mostly glossy, the plumage is ash-grey, the dark shafts giving it a streaky appearance. The bill and legs are black; the iris dark brown.
The normal diet of Hooded crow is carrion, insects, snails, small vertebrates as well as stealing eggs from other birds' nests, but it is thought that they also require fresh green vegetation, seeds and grains thus they considered omnivorous birds.
Magpie:
Magpies are familiar birds to most, with their distinctive black-and-white plumage, and they are not easily confused with any other Irish bird. Seen at close range, the black feathers have a metallic sheen, bluish-purple on the body and green on the tail. The tail itself is a very striking feature; it is wedge-shaped and very long (about as long as the body).
Magpies are omnivorous. They feed mainly on the ground, eating a wide range of food, e.g., beetles, seeds, berries, small mammals, small birds and their eggs, nestlings and even reptiles. They may be often observed searching the roads early in the morning for road kill. They will often scavenge around homes, parks etc. searching out scraps.
Our Aim:
Our aim is to work with landowners and our community to establish the whereabouts of these pests, and to control their populations to a level where they are not causing damage to wildlife and livestock on such a great scale.
We realise that our task is great, but with no intervention at all these pests will be allowed to breed and keep growing in numbers and keep wreaking havoc on wildlife and livestock populations, so we must try all the same.
