You can find this blog on the Podcast as Wildlife Matters Investigates
Wildlife Matters investigates the cruel and brutal hunting of otters and mink, an illegal and immoral so-called sport. The article questions why we are still hunting these animals.
As Spring arrives and days grow longer, fox and hare hunters turn their attention to the mink. Between April and October, packs of hunters roam the riverbanks searching for innocent creatures.
This practice is even more despicable because the animal they hunt was previously an otter, a protected species since 1978. While only 17 hunts are officially recognised, the Hunt Saboteurs Association knows 20 more unregistered packs are eager to partake in this vile pastime.
Each hunt comprises 12 to 16 hounds, with a mix of otter and foxhounds. In addition to hunting mink, they will kill anything they come across, and there is a concern that they may be killing otters as the species return to more rivers.
The establishment of beavers in the River Otter raises fears that they may become targets as the Culmstock Hunt frequently uses this river.
Apart from the wildlife killed by mink hunts, untold damage is done to the fragile flora and fauna along the riverbank. Mink tend to run to the ground, and there is a lot of digging out, which destroys riverbanks and trees.
Hunt members and supporters follow with the hounds carrying otter poles. These are 6-foot-long wooden staves with a blade on the end. The hunters mark their “kills” with a notch on the pole. Some hunters bring young children dressed in hunt uniforms to walk with the Hunt while conducting their killing spree.
Mink hunts are challenging to find since their “meets” are kept secret, and the number of people involved is much smaller than those involved in fox hunts.
You may question the hunting of American Mink, a non-native species, in the UK’s rivers.
However, Mink are semi-aquatic mammals that belong to the same family as weasels, ferrets, and otters. Our species in the UK are descendants of the American mink, which was originally brought to the UK for fur farming in the 1920s.
Contrary to popular belief that animal rights campaigners of the 1990s were responsible for the abundance of mink in our countryside, after releasing them from the hell of the fur farms, the non-native population took hold following inevitable escapes from fur farms.
It has been confirmed that minks were breeding in the UK as early as 1956.
In 1978, hunting otters was banned in the UK. After this ban, hunters started to hunt the American mink, which belongs to the same family as otters, under the pretext of controlling an invasive non-native animal harming native species like water voles.
However, the real reason behind their actions was their love for killing wild animals. Although hunting impacted the native otter population, the primary reason for the decline in their numbers was the presence of toxic pesticides like dieldrin and Aldrin, which are now banned due to their harmful effects on human health.
So, what happens during a mink hunt?
The hunt pack includes huntsmen, terrier men, and other staff who follow the hounds. They walk, wade, and swim along riverbanks where minks and otters nest.
Former otter packs usually keep more pure-bred otter hounds. Foxhounds and labrador-foxhound crosses are common, and terriers are used to flush out the hunted animal if it goes to the ground.
Minks prefer a relatively small territory, often less than a single mile of the riverbank, whereas otters need a large and variable territory. As a result, minks can escape the hunt hounds by hiding in smaller holes in the bank or undergrowth and climbing trees. The huntsmen often knock a mink from a tree using their otter poles or by throwing sticks and mud. The poor mink then falls to death, either by the fall or to the pack of hounds.
When caught, a mink is killed by hounds, terriers, huntsmen with sticks or terrier men with spades. Sometimes, the mink is drowned. Hunting minks is a brutal and barbaric way of killing animals, and it is inhumane.
Since mink breed in February and March, there is a high chance of young litters being killed by the hunt or its hounds. They may die slowly of cold, hunger, or dehydration. A single hunt can kill several minks in a day.
Mink hunts use terrier men with spades and terrier dogs to dig out any Mink that goes to the ground – the same cruel role terrier men and their dogs have in fox hunts.
Most Mink and Otter packs hunt twice weekly, often on a Wednesday and a Saturday, just like fox hunting. Bank holidays (particularly May and August) are critical dates for the Mink hunts and frequently involve joint meets, where two or more packs hunt together for a day.
Mink hunts are very sedate compared to fox hunts and often stop at local pubs for lunch, although why does any pub welcome such a despicable and antisocial group?
Mink hunts are more difficult to locate than fox hunts, as they have smaller numbers and do not publicise their meet days and areas. Hunt sabs have had increasing success in recent years based on their knowledge of the Mink hunt’s known vehicles, favoured meet spots, and kennel locations. They also receive anonymous tip-offs from members of the public.
When in the field, monitors often face an agonising challenge: immense terrain ten times larger than that of a fox hunt area and vicious hostility from the hunt staff or terrier men.
Hunt sabs, stay vigilant and know that Mink hunts do not like attention. Many hunts will pack up at the sight of Sabs with cameras. Some frustrated hunts will quickly turn to violence towards Sabs, who they feel are ruining their day of hunting.
Hunt sabs use tactics similar to those used to disrupt illegal fox and hare hunting to stop mink hunts. These tactics may include getting between the hounds and the hunted animal, covering the animal’s scent, and using voice calls to halt or call off the pack.
It is important to note that mink and otter hunting with packs of hounds is illegal. If you see mink hunting in your area, you can report it to Hunt Sabs by calling their ‘tip-off’ phone number confidentially and anonymously. The tip-off line number is 07443 148426.
Further Reading
Mink Hunting The Secret Summer Bloodsport by Hunt Saboteurs
Mink Hunting by League Against Cruel Sports
Mink and Otter Hunts by Save Me Trust
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