Nerz Schleswig-Holstein

The European mink is a small, slender mustelid with a dark brown, almost black coat. Its most reliable identifying feature is the white edging on both the upper and the lower lip. It is one of the most threatened mammals in Europe, listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, named on Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and given strict protection under the German Federal Species Protection Ordinance. In Germany the species has been regarded as extinct since the early twentieth century, with isolated reintroduction projects running in a few federal states. The decline was driven by historical hunting for the fur trade, by the destruction of riparian habitats and by displacement through the introduced American mink. Hunting the European mink is out of the question, and any suspected sighting must be reported to the responsible nature conservation authority.

The American mink, generally known in hunting practice simply as the mink, originates in North America and reached Central Europe via the European fur trade. Animals that escaped or were released from fur farms established free-living populations that now occupy many freshwater habitats, with a strong upward trend especially in eastern Germany and Schleswig-Holstein. The American mink is larger and more robust than both the native polecat and the European mink, the coat is dark brown to black, and the key distinguishing feature is a white patch confined to the lower lip while the upper lip remains entirely dark. This single feature allows a confident visual identification against the strictly protected European mink, in which both lips show a white edge. A safe identification is essential, as a confusion with the protected European mink or with the polecat can have serious consequences.

The American mink is tied to water bodies, lives along river banks, lakes, ponds and floodplain woodland and rarely strays more than a few dozen metres from the water's edge. It is mainly crepuscular and nocturnal, an excellent swimmer and diver, and feeds opportunistically on fish, crayfish, amphibians, water birds together with their clutches and chicks, and small mammals. Because of this prey spectrum it is regarded as a serious threat to ground-nesting birds, amphibian populations and small waterfowl and is listed on the Union list of invasive alien species of Union concern. This places a clear obligation on member states to contain its spread, which is why the German Hunting Association recommends consistent hunting pressure.

Because the mink is crepuscular, nocturnal and strongly tied to water, trapping with suitable, officially approved live-capture traps is by far the most effective method. Box traps and tilt-board traps set along bank trails, at bridges, culverts and reed belts, ideally combined with artificial narrow passages built from natural material, have proved their worth. Daily inspection of the traps in line with the relevant state hunting law, the formal qualification certificate for trapping and the use of traps that meet the standards of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards are essential. In addition the mink is taken from a high seat at water bodies and bait sites, often in combination with predator control on raccoon and raccoon dog. Hunting seasons and the legal status of the species differ considerably between the federal states, with year-round hunting in some and closed seasons in others, so the current state regulation must be checked before every outing.