Mink predation on brown trout in a Black Hills stream

Jacob L. Davis; Jerry W. Wilhite; Steven R. Chipps

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USGS · 70193682

Mink predation on brown trout in a Black Hills stream

Jacob L. Davis·Jerry W. Wilhite·Steven R. Chipps

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Abstract

In the early 2000’s, declines in the brown trout (Salmo trutta) fishery in Rapid Creek, South Dakota, caused concern for anglers and fisheries managers. We conducted a radio telemetry study in 2010 and 2011 to identify predation mortality associated with mink, using hatchery-reared (2010) or wild (2011) brown trout. Estimated predation rates by mink (Mustela vison) on radio-tagged brown trout were 30% for hatchery fish and 32% for wild fish. Size frequency analysis revealed that the size distribution of brown trout lost to predation was similar to that of other, radio-tagged brown trout. In both years, a higher proportion of predation mortality (83–92%) occurred during spring, consistent with seasonal fish consumption by mink. Predation by mink appeared to be a significant source of brown trout mortality in our study.

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Jacob L. Davis, Jerry W. Wilhite, Steven R. Chipps. 2016. Mink predation on brown trout in a Black Hills stream. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70193682

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