[edessex]

I appear to have gained a couple of small black(ish) ferrets or something similar.  Is there any good sites to ID exactly what they are?

What would be the best way to catch them?

[dyedinthewool]

They might be polecats their black/brownish with buff coloured chests and markings on their face.

[edessex]

I should have said; there were no markings on the faces... Thats whats thrown me off!

[littlelugs]

are you sure they are not mink?

[edessex]

That looks about right!  Are they native and/or endangered?

[littlelugs]

http://www.gwct.org.uk/research__surveys/predation/predation_control/mink/2553.asp
lethal around poultry and waterfowl, the above link is very informative. hope this helps.

[edessex]

Perfect... I'll try and catch the sneaky little buggers then.  One kept coming about 5ft away but wouldn't let me grab it!

[sokel]

We had a mink problem about 5 years ago, it was taking chickens heads off at an alarming rate and we also lost an elderly cat at the same time.
We set traps but had no success catching it then the river flooded and we never saw it again and  we will never see it again

[edessex]

These ones seem to have been back again, I think they sleep either under one of the sheds, or in the engine bay of an old car I have...

I set up a couple of large rat traps, but they are the wrong type, I'll have to dig out the more sensitive ones!  I was going to try and build a tunnel trap, but I've not had the time...

[Anke]

Get the local gamekeeper to set the traps, they should also have the right traps for mink.

[sokel]

The game keeper here set our traps, they where made of wood with mesh ends and a metal trap in the middle

[GSH]

 
Get them killed as quickly as you can.  They are a menace to poultry and wild birds and there eggs........orrible things.
 
p.s trying to pick them up not to be recommended 

[edessex]

trying to pick them up not to be recommended 

Lol, can't be any worse than ferrets!

[sokel]

trying to pick them up not to be recommended 

Lol, can't be any worse than ferrets!

Believe me they are 10 times worse than ferrets only good mink is a dead one

[edessex]

Same teeth, same jaws, how are they worse? Lol