Welcome to everyday Lets Talk

Good morning everyone

Another lovely day here - hope everyone has a great day.

Lai

Hi All

I don't get much time to post but I am really enjoying this site, wild about animals is a really nice site with loads of excellent pictures and information.

Doing my clicks and will try and post a little more.

Hope your evening is fun. sambuka

Don't worry Sambuka - it's great that you can look in and post when you have time, and lovely that you can click for all these worthwhile causes

Enjoy your evening too.

Lai

good afternoon one and all
from a very windy but sunny tamworth
unfortuneatly not had chance to go ramberling this weekend but will try and get out in the week and take some pics
hope everybody if having a fab if not windswept sunday afternoon

staffslass
xxxxx

Mmmmmmmmmm it's windy here too - washing just went flying off the line

Look forward to your photos in the week Staffslass.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Lai

It's been really windy here in North Wales, the washing as drying as Mrs S put it on the line. Sambuka your doing great on the Forum, thanks for clicking it does make a difference, and we only expect people tp post when they have time, so dont worry about it. I'm glad you like the forum, and are getting information, and enjoyment from it thats why we created it so people who enjoy wildlife no matter what sort would be able to chat to like minded people.

Staffslass you cant get out every Sunday, it's just when you can, and your contributions to the forum since you've joined have been greatly appreciated, it's great to have new members from different parts of the Country, who share their passion for wildlife with us through their Photos, and words
WS

Thanks Lai and Whitestarling. Glad to be helping with the clicks and do enjoy looking around the site, just need to find a little more time to post. sambuka

Morning everyone from a dry and windy Cheshire.

The weekend went far too quickly - and sadly Pete saw an American Mink in the river which is really bad news for the water voles. Many years ago some animal activists released them and didnt think of the repercussions for wildlife. We haven't seen them for a while but obviously they were still here, no wonder the water voles have all gone. Such a shame. Please don't be offended i have nothing against the mink but in the right place!

Have a good day wherever you are.

Lai

Lai I feel the same, I have nothing personal against the Mink but they are wipping out our water voles. Sometimes animal activists do alot of good but sometimes they are also very misguided and this was one of those cases; I know they were only trying to do good for the Mink but they have caused a huge repercussion for the water vole, it's very sad.

littlewid-x-

I found this link on Water Voles they are a protected species, that is habitat wise, but it does'nt say anything about reporting Mink or how to get rid, the problem is they have no natural predators, although I'm sure I've heard or seen a programe where Otters in a habitat will keep them away.
http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/urbanwt/ecorecord/bap/html/vole.htm
WS

Thanks WS - i am not sure, i guess we can try with a trap but i need to look into that. Even with a humane trap then what do you do? You can't release it/them further down the river, and i am not sure if the RSPCA or similar would take them. A problem i think

American Mink - Mustela vison


The mink is a medium-sized member of the weasel family. The first American mink were brought to British fur farms in 1929 and all wild mink in Britain today are descendants of escapees. The natural wild colouring is a glossy dark brown, appearing almost black in some light. Commercial farming selectively bred much paler colours, hence most of those in the wild in Britain are a lighter brown.
Mink spend up to 80% of their time in their dens, sleeping, grooming and eating food they have carried home. Frequently found near water, they are often mistaken for otters, although mink are in fact considerably smaller.
Mink are a major factor in the decimation of the water vole population, because they are small enough to follow their prey down its burrow.


Lai

Been checking on this for you Lai, and this is the Legal position, when you have captured a Mink
Wetlands for People and Wildlife

The best time of day to check traps is early morning (mink, and many other waterside animals are
most active at night). Removing animals in the morning ensures that they suffer the least exposure to
light and heat during the day.

If it is not possible to check traps on a particular day, ensure that the entrance is pegged open on
the preceding day (rather than removing the trap).

Some landowners install a small flag device which triggers when the trap is activated. This can be a
visual aid to show when traps are occupied.

Non-target species (e.g. otter, water vole, stoat etc) must be released.

Consideration must be given as to how other pest species are dealt with (e.g. brown rats) if caught.

Once a mink has been caught, it is illegal to release it back into the wild, or keep it
captive without a licence.
Dispatching mink

The only accepted way to kill captured mink is a clean shot through the head

Shooting should be done with a 0.22 calibre rimfire rifle, powerful air gun or shotgun (note that
many firearms require a licence or certification).

Bullets with re-enforced tips are also recommended.

To make shooting easier, use a wooden “comb” to corner the animal in one end of the cage.

The body should be buried in an appropriate location, unless frozen for research purposes.

This is the link to the site
http://www.sussexotters.org/pdf/Mink%20Control%20for%20Wildlife%20Conservation.pdf

Now thats a problem for some one who loves wildlife, it's not the Minks fault it does what comes naturerly, but all the other wildlife suffers, because humans intervened in the first place
WS

Thanks for that WS - i have PM'd you

Lai

What a hectic day it is turning out to be.

Everytime I get on to have a look I have to stop and go back to work!!! Wonder what I get paid for lol.

SM

HI Guy's

It's late to be saying Hello, I've got the housework bug, I was cleaning alot over the weekend and been at it again this evening.....think its because its been so hot Bentleys been shedding hair like mad, he does anyway with his Lupus but just lately i'm finding it hard to keep up......I could've sold puppies with the amount of hair he's shed

Off out round a friends for coffee tomorrow evening and a good old natter and then on Friday i'm goin got another friends t take Nero and her dog Poppy up the park for a run and then back for coffee, she has just had alot of work done to her house so I think a good nosey is also in order......i'm sure all the girlies on here will understand that

It's been getting cooler here of late which is nice, much better for walking the boys, tonight they met up with Poppy a 13 year old Boxer, who decided she didnt want to walk with her owner, she was going to stick with the boys which pleased them and then Nero met his girlfriend Ruby, a little Spaniel who is just a bit older than Nero......the boys definiately had the ladies tonight

Hope everyone has had a good day.

littlewid-x-

Doogs! Do not worry about moaning!! I think you have every right to and it always help to let of steam!!! It is absolutely shocking that they didn't tell you about the fractures!! I would be furious!! My back problems are nothing in comparison, but I understand how you feel! When mine was at its worst every movement set off a spasm. Luckily as I used to work at Northants Cricket Club I was able to pop and see the physio!! I hope your check up goes ok! Have they given you any exercises to do?

Isn't it lovely when you can get the house to yourself for a bit of a me time? Love being able to watch what I want when I want!!

Right, I've just been told me car is ready so I am off to pick it up didn't fancy walking home at lunch time!!

That sounds awful Doogs, poor you, i really hope they can do something about your back. Not something i know anything about, but it certainly doesnt sound right that you are still suffering with it.

The Game Fair sounded fun - all those gorgeous gun dogs. Ian must be to do all that in 24 hours, at least you can have a weekend doing whatever you feel like - bliss! Enjoy your meal out, i love Italian, its always good.

As for filing - mmmmmmmmm. My favourite is file 13 (the bin) saves so much time

Hope your car's okay now Anne-Marie.

Its raining here so just got wet coming home with the dogs - off to dry out my

Lai

Just off out but wanted to say hello to everyone.

Doogs that is not good about your back, fractures can be hard to detect in the elderly but in the young they are pretty prominant, so pretty rubbish of the hospital.
Hope your appointment went well and if you need to chat afterwards about anything your not sure of just give me a PM, i'm dealing with spinal fractures and the consequences all day, all part of the day job, so seriously I am here if you want to run anything by me or ask any questions, please dont be affraid to ask.
I hope you have a great evening tonight and wish your Dad Happy Birthday

Funny you mention a Gun Dog Display, on the 17th of this month I have entered Nero into our vets Companion Dog show, its in aid of the Greek Animal Rescue who the vets do alot of work with and its part of the Broadwater carnival, Nero is entered into the fun section, I wouldnt enter him into the world of competitive Pedigree shows, we are going for the laugh and a good day out, he is entered into the waggiest tail.....the boy could take off with his tail.....and the handsome Dog.....he is handsome to me and all the lady dogs seem to love him but I bet theres some even younger Dude there to steal his thunder it will be a laugh anyway.

Thank god I dont have to do filing.....have a really brill secretary that does that.....when she is on holiday I go into mode.....Big Time......I have to remember my Alphabet

I'm rambling away here so I had better and get myself out before I meet myself coming back as they say.

Have a good evening everyone and remember Doogs i'm here if I can help at all.

littlewid-x-

Doogs that really is bad news about your back, and for it to have gone on so long. As I've said before I was bad with sciatica, and still have trouble now. So I know it's no fun, and how painfull backs can be. I hope the Hospital, finds something to help.I did eventualy get to go for physio, and that has helped. Dont worry about moaning, you moan all you want if it makes you feel better.
WS

Overcast day today, but still warm!

Doogs the Game Fair sounded fab, but your poor back. I sympathise with you. TT has herniated disks with partial removal and gets very bad back pain as well.

I hope you had a lovely meal last night.

Off to do some work now, its been getting busier in here. Ever since they made more people redundant Im now getting the easy technical stuff to do even though Im a lowly secretary. And yes I hate filing too!

SM

Behind every successful person there is a brilliant secretary SM -

Lai

I second that Lai, I couldn't do my job half as well without my secretary, secretarys are life savers at work and no-one should ever say they are just a secretary, its often the secretary that keeps the wheels turning.......and she spots all my typos

littlewid-x-

Your right there LW nobody should ever say their just or I'm only, unless people are looking for someone to blame
WS