NewBiz   10 #1 Posted April 16, 2019 I've had an animal helping itself to my horses carrots, apples etc in my feed shed for some time. When I closed the wooden door it gnawed it's way through it, leaving a Tom & Jerry esq hole. I'd assumed it was a squirrel, but yesterday I caught a glimpse of it as it shot under the shed on my approach, and it was black, and larger than a squirrel. My thoughts are it could be a mink.  Has anyone else come across wild mink in Sheffield? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
lil-minx92 Â Â 10 #2 Posted April 16, 2019 Giant rat? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NewBiz   10 #3 Posted April 16, 2019 But rats aren't black they're grey aren't they? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
tinfoilhat   11 #4 Posted April 16, 2019 More Brown. But, at a distance, with wet fur it might appear black. And rats can go surprisingly large. More chance of it being a rat than a mink. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NewBiz   10 #5 Posted April 16, 2019 It wasn't at a great distance, no more than 4 or 5 feet, ( but it was a fleeting glimpse) and it was dry yesterday. It was definitely black.  I wish ha d a webcam I could set up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
iansheff   83 #6 Posted April 16, 2019 (edited) Well depending where you live this might help, tells you places where there are most rats in Sheffield. https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/latest/these-are-the-most-rat-infested-streets-in-sheffield-does-yours-make-the-list-1-9714217 Edited April 16, 2019 by iansheff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Nankypoo   10 #7 Posted April 16, 2019 (edited) 7 minutes ago, iansheff said: Well depending where you live this might help, tells you places where there are most rats in Sheffield. https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/latest/these-are-the-most-rat-infested-streets-in-sheffield-does-yours-make-the-list-1-9714217 A ranger told me there are plenty of mink in Atterclife on the canal and Don . This came as a result of me asking where all the rabbits that I used to see on the canal bank and on the field at Woodbourne Road had disappeared to this was also why there used to be water voles in the Don and canal and aren't any more. Well done those animal rights activists  Edited April 16, 2019 by Nankypoo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
shepcanon   10 #8 Posted April 16, 2019 Saw a mink killing a rat on the river Don at Hillsborough. Quite a sight Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NewBiz   10 #9 Posted April 16, 2019 Oh actually 2 years ago the place was alive with rabbits, and now there aren't any. 2 hours ago, Nankypoo said: A ranger told me there are plenty of mink in Atterclife on the canal and Don . This came as a result of me asking where all the rabbits that I used to see on the canal bank and on the field at Woodbourne Road had disappeared to this was also why there used to be water voles in the Don and canal and aren't any more. Well done those animal rights activists  i've done a fair bit of googling today and apparently there was already a well-established wild population long before any mink were released by animal right activists Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
dmhr   10 #10 Posted April 16, 2019 Daft question, but aren't mink carnivorous rather than omnivorous ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
NewBiz   10 #11 Posted April 17, 2019 Yes! I've just googled it and they are described as carnivores, rarely eating vegetation (I had thought they were omnivores ) so the plot thickens😲 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
lil-minx92   10 #12 Posted April 17, 2019 Its a big dirty rat! It probably has a nest under your shed. Just leave some veg outside for it so it doesnt have to gnaw through the wall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...