We have mink living wild up here but a couple of years ago some s**thead of
an AR dipstick decided to " liberate" about 1,600 mink from a local mink
farm.  The result was total carnage.  We managed to coexist quite well with
the now indigenous mink population..............they lived on the fish in
the river and ground nesting birds' young, with the occasional rodent for
good measure.  But when these others were released into the wild, people's
pets were being killed in their gardens ( rabbits, guinea pigs and cats and
one small elderly dog) as well as chickens and ducks from allotments and
almost all the fish stock and wildlife on the river disappeared, including
the local kingfishers.
 
My friend found a mink in his chicken run one day when I happened to be
visiting,.  It was a normal wild coloured, dark brown with a white bib.
Prior to that he'd trapped a blue one, obviously from the fur farm.  We
reckon the wild one must have had to come inland for food after the others
had been released as they'd eaten all the food.  They are blood thirsty
little killers, so warn the people with the chinchilla to be extra
vigilant.  If it's been there once, chances are it'll come back looking for
easy meat!  :-(
 
K.
 
LOST DOGS UK (List of Lost & Stolen Dogs)
http://www.pavilion.co.uk/lostdogsuk/
            A Free, Internet & Web Based Service to Dog Owners
[Posted in FML issue 2778]