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MN rat and mink numbers #6343684
10/09/18 12:07 AM
10/09/18 12:07 AM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline OP
trapper
Calvin  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
Just read my latest outdoor news publication.

I see that the Biologist John Erb states that rats and mink "aren't doing all that well". I find that head scratching as we are in our 5th year of good water levels...and I'm seeing more rat ponds popping up anywhere I've been.

Erb did reference back to 20 or 30 years ago. Not that we have to go back that far, but wondering if people agree with his statement...or are we seeing a good rat and mink population these days?

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343687
10/09/18 12:19 AM
10/09/18 12:19 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
trapper
trapper les  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn
Erb is out of touch, and temporarily forgot the cyclic nature of predators and prey.


Seems to be a lot of mink around, and you can see a rat about anywhere despite the drought we had. They are flipping on every water way.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343688
10/09/18 12:33 AM
10/09/18 12:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222
MN
Y
yukonal Offline
trapper
yukonal  Offline
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Y

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222
MN
A bunch of ponds and ditches that I normally trap in Sherburne County are dry. Haven't seen a rat house in the last 2 years.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: yukonal] #6343735
10/09/18 05:56 AM
10/09/18 05:56 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
N
nightlife Offline
trapper
nightlife  Offline
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N

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
Originally Posted By: yukonal
A bunch of ponds and ditches that I normally trap in Sherburne County are dry. Haven't seen a rat house in the last 2 years.


Lots of water here but not many rat huts this year but there seems to be an abundance of mink have seen a good doz or so cross the road and stopped counting at 50 the ones that did not make it across

Up untill last year there were a good number of huts everywhere but this year there are only a handful



�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.�
― Robert A. Heinlein
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343767
10/09/18 07:16 AM
10/09/18 07:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
O
Osky Offline
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Osky  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 9,294
Northern MN
By visual survey only this summer I believe mink are up in my area, otter and rats may be down a bit.

Osky


"A womans heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth, and I can find no sign on it"

Jabless in Minnesota

www.SureDockusa.com
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343779
10/09/18 07:32 AM
10/09/18 07:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,152
Northern Minnesota
BernieB. Offline
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BernieB.  Offline
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Posts: 5,152
Northern Minnesota
Rats have been down for many years but I have been seeing more the last couple years. Pretty wet late summer and fall around here which means there should be more rat huts in the marshes.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343809
10/09/18 08:39 AM
10/09/18 08:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
trapper
trapper les  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,381
williams,mn
It's actually been dry here all summer, but every time I stand still at a beaver control job, I'll see a swimming rat. For years we hardly had a rat very far from the lake.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343818
10/09/18 08:50 AM
10/09/18 08:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,554
Slaughter Slough, MN
Dead Coyote Offline
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Dead Coyote  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,554
Slaughter Slough, MN
Around SW MN, we had so much rain and flooding this Spring and Summer. Skrat numbers are way down. With the 4" of rain the past couple of days, it won't get any better either. Skrats don't like rising and falling water level's period. The marsh's around here had three big Douches of water come thru them in the last 6 month's. A lot of Mink and Skrats died with their young. While trying to shoot some carp this spring, I seen numerous dead Skrats and a couple of Mink. What else could kill water dwellers and not eat them. Floods don't mix well with any critter.


Live everyday like it is the last day of your life!
MJPPTA 1%
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343821
10/09/18 08:56 AM
10/09/18 08:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,783
MN
1
160user Offline
trapper
160user  Offline
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1

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,783
MN
If we get any more rain here I will need to start exploring coyote and fox floaters.


I have nothing clever to put here.





Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343885
10/09/18 10:10 AM
10/09/18 10:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,971
South Dakota
R
Rat Masterson Offline
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Rat Masterson  Offline
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R

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,971
South Dakota
Looks like rats are down here, we have had a gradual slide the last 4 years.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343886
10/09/18 10:10 AM
10/09/18 10:10 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
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MnMan  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
Rats seem to be down in my small area and have been for the last two years..... mink as well. Otter populations seem to be up, though.


I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343911
10/09/18 10:58 AM
10/09/18 10:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
From what I'm seeing around here Is that the rats have been flooded out of their normal haunts and are building In these shallow water ponds. When the water goes down and It freezes up they are going to be In world of hurt.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6343978
10/09/18 01:32 PM
10/09/18 01:32 PM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,971
South Dakota
R
Rat Masterson Offline
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Rat Masterson  Offline
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R

Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,971
South Dakota
Better kill them all then Beav.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344024
10/09/18 02:26 PM
10/09/18 02:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
It's In the plans. colony traps In the runs. In and out In 2 days.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344051
10/09/18 03:48 PM
10/09/18 03:48 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 402
South Central, MN
B
Blindsniper Offline
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South Central, MN
I had a big drop off last year in rat numbers in my ditches. Mink were far and few between from what I could tell. We've flooded at least 5 times this year, but we have plenty of good habitat around for them yet.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344199
10/09/18 07:28 PM
10/09/18 07:28 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
we don't have many rat huts around this area at all. But most of the rats I have trapped in the past were all in the bank. I don't trap a lot of rats so I am not the one hurting the population. Haven't really looked for much mink sign with the low mink prices I don't bother chasing them.

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344331
10/09/18 09:35 PM
10/09/18 09:35 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
Seen marten and mink running here today when I went out in the bush.When you see animals running in the bush in daytime it usually means its going to be a good year.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344340
10/09/18 09:42 PM
10/09/18 09:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,968
WI
N
nimzy Online content
trapper
nimzy  Online Content
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,968
WI
Dang narrow leafs

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344384
10/09/18 10:41 PM
10/09/18 10:41 PM
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 533
MN
S
SkyeDancer Offline
trapper
SkyeDancer  Offline
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S

Joined: May 2015
Posts: 533
MN
I keep my feet dry and trap canines. As wet as it has been this year i am really glad I spent time making waxed dirt this summer

Re: MN rat and mink numbers [Re: Calvin] #6344388
10/09/18 10:44 PM
10/09/18 10:44 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline OP
trapper
Calvin  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,944
South metro, MN
Les,...Interesting on the Mink as Erb said mink are down, particularly in the northern part of the state.

Trapstickman smile Doesn't surprise me your seeing both higher otter and lower mink and rat populations. Otters eat em like popcorn I suspect.

Also makes sense with you guys who live in stream country. The floods this year are never good for either rats or beaver.

Nightlife.... Not sure what part of the state you're in, but they aren't even building here yet. Hopefully some get building for you soon.

Nimzy, I see the MN DNR are now spraying wetlands in an attempt to control (or knock back) the narrow leafs. According to their reports, they are making progress. Not sure if it's just a drop in a bucket or not, but maybe a good start to controlling the narrow leaf. Any idea if WI is doing the same?

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have more confidence in our own observations, personally.

Last edited by Calvin; 10/09/18 10:49 PM.
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