3/8/2020 Peggy Popp [email protected] Or 608

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp Peggy2.423@Gmail.Com Or 608

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Advanced Topics in the Care of Small Mustelids Weasels and Mink

NWRA Symposium February 2020

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 There are several handouts

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 What are the challenges? ‐ Easily Stressed

‐ That high metabolism

‐ An “uncanny ability to escape”

‐ Requires appropriate pre‐release conditioning

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Orphan Calls ‐ Mink and weasels nest in dens: if an infant is found outside the den with no parent in sight, it needs help. ASAP ‐ If a juvenile is found without a parent nearby, it needs help. ASAP ‐ Mustelids are clear exceptions to the “watch and wait” rule. They need help, ASAP.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 These two were first seen on a bike trail; I received them about 18 hrs later but one was dead on arrival.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 A mink without a waterproof coat is too young to be on its own. It needs help, ASAP. (It’s also too young to swim.)

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Weasels and mink are both rabies vector species –always take appropriate precautions.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Mink have particularly strong jaws and a tendency to retain their grip, with the potential to cause considerable pain and tissue damage.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Figure out what you have • Assess the body condition • Consider poisoning • Consider environmental toxins

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Assess evidence of disease • Assume starvation/emaciation • Capture myopathy concerns

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Figure out what you have • Assess the body condition • Consider poisoning • Consider environmental toxins

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Family: Mustelidae Subfamily: Mustelinae (weasels, mink, badgers, wolverines); [Subfamily Lutrinae (otters)]

Genus: Mustela Genus: Neovison

Weasels (Mustela) Mustela (Putorius) nigripes Black footed ferret Neovison vison (Was M. (Lutreola) vison) Mustela frenata Mustela nivalis [rixosa] Mustela erminea American Mink Least Weasel Short‐tailed weasel Long‐tailed weasel “ermine” and “stoat”

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Marten

Fisher

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Stone or Beech Martin The beech marten (Martes foina), also known as the stone marten, house marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America and is present in Wisconsin, particularly near the urban centers surrounding Milwaukee. It is also present in several wooded, upland areas in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, and in nearby woodlands of Walworth, Racine, Waukesha and probably Jefferson Counties. North American beech martens are likely descended from feral animals that escaped a private fur farm in Burlington during the 1940s They have also been listed as being released or having escaped in 1972.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Wild vs Domestic American Mink ‐ Size: Domestic mink are often larger, with the males 3 kg(vs wild 1 kg) and the females 1.7 kg (vs 0.7‐0.8 kg) ‐ Appetite control may be off, leading to obesity

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Wild vs Domestic American Mink

‐ Domestic often have a larger, more broad head with smaller ears

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Wild vs Domestic American Mink

Color ‐ Wild mink are chocolate brown ‐ Domestic are bred for various colors and some even have spots

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Wild vs Domestic Mink ‐ Wild mink have long guard hairs, giving an unkempt look ‐ Domestic have short, plush, very even coats, and may have extra skin flaps

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Domestic mink should not be “rehabbed and released” ‐ After a hundred generations of selective breeding and captivity they are no longer equipped to survive in the wild ‐ They are detrimental to the wild mink population

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 If you have an escaped farm/ranch mink, it must be kept in strict isolation from other mustelids until tested for ADV (Aleutian Mink Disease Virus)

What is Aleutian Mink Disease Virus? Aleutian Mink Disease Virus, or ADV, is a parvo virus that infects mink, ferrets, raccoons, skunks, and possibly other Mustilidae. Currently, there is no evidence that it can infect other mammals outside the Mustilidae family. Because it is a parvovirus, it is very hardy and can live outside the body of a host for a long time. To kill the virus, you must use a parvocide or a 10% bleach solution. Because it is a virus, ADV can mutate. Currently it is known that there are at least five strains of ADV that can infect mink. It is believed that there are also multiple strains of ADV that can affect ferrets. Like different strains of the flu in humans, some strains of ADV may be more contagious and more deadly. ‐ the American Ferret Association, https://www.ferret.org/read/aleutianarticle.html

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 So if you have a domestic mink who ya gonna call? The Mink International Rescue and Recovery Team 1‐888‐723‐4409 [email protected]

minkinternationalrescueandrecovery.com

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Figure out what you have • Assess the body condition • Consider poisoning • Consider environmental toxins

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 5 of 6 died within 8 hrs of admission

Healthy Healthy

Very thin

Thin OK for a soft release juv

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Figure out what you have • Assess the body condition • Consider poisoning • Consider environmental toxins

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Exposure to rodent poison ‐ • Primary, by eating the whole prey, including stomach contents • Secondary, by eating the poisoned rodent (mouse, vole, rat, muskrat) • Tertiary, by eating another animal poisoned by a poisoned rodent

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Figure out what you have • Assess the body condition • Consider poisoning • Consider environmental toxins

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 • Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, methyl mercury) • Lead from both land and aquatic prey • Cadmium and mercury, usually from aquatic prey • Methyl mercury most toxic • Bioaccumulation in small rodents • PCBs –jaw lesions, swollen gums, loose teeth. Mink are both particularly sensitive to PCB exposure and exposed through consumption of aquatic prey.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Evidence of disease • Assume starvation/emaciation • Capture myopathy concerns

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 • Canine distemper • Toxoplasmosis • Leptospirosis • Canine heartworm • Canine parvovirus • Pneumonia, other respiratory • Tick‐borne • ADV (Aleutian disease virus)

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 See the handouts

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Evidence of disease • Assume starvation/emaciation • High risk of hypoglycemia • Use caution with IV or sub‐q fluids • Do not tube or force feed • Capture myopathy concerns

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 A Note On Mustelid Metabolism • It is very fast! • Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER), kcal/day: 70 x body wt (kg)0.75 x 4 for mustelids; weasel MER is much higher than other mustelids (up to x8 for LW) due to their long & slender body shape. • Smaller animals have a higher metabolism rate than larger ones • GI Transit time is less than 3 hours

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Critical Care Initial offerings should be well diluted, to a cream soup consistency

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Assume they are very hungry

and also probably hangry

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Upon Admission

• Evidence of disease • Assume starvation/emaciation • Capture myopathy concerns • Consider transporting with a “worry toy” and/or a blanket. • Cover the carrier.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Signs of Stress

• “Poofing” • Vocalization • Fear behaviors

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Signs of Stress • “Poofing” • Vocalization • Squeaks • Screams • Shrill cries • “Lost calling” • Fear behaviors

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Singles, Snuggle Pets, and Heartbeats Snuggle Puppies and heartbeats are excellent for stress Heartbeats: $10 management of orphans, especially eyes closed orphans.

$20/$30‐40 Contact me for details on wholesale $$

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Signs of Stress • “Poofing” • Vocalization • Fear behaviors • Cowering/hiding/backing away • Fear aggression

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Signs of Stress

• “Poofing” • Vocalization • Fear behaviors These signs may occur singly or in combination and are aggravated by hunger.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Mustelids respond rapidly to stimuli such as light, sound, new smells, and movement. Each of these will increase the stress of an already stressed animal. Isolate in a dark, quiet space until they are comfortable in their new surroundings, and provide a minimum number of consistent caregivers.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Give them: ‐ something to eat (critical care, etc.), ‐ access to a hiding place and/or cover the carrier, ‐ leave the room if possible, ‐ minimize exposure to noise and commotion, ‐ and let them calm down (especially if you have a screaming mink).

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Medical Considerations

• Fast GI Transit time (< 3hrs) • Vaccinations (use ferret guidelines) • Anesthesia – • Avoid halothane

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Canine Distemper

In Ferrets: Ferrets are highly susceptible to infection with canine distemper virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Early signs of infection include lesions in the skin, lips, and footpads, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal tract. Ferrets may recover from the acute phase only to develop neurologic signs at a later date. Affected ferrets can develop tremors, seizures, and coma. The disease is nearly invariably fatal in ferrets. Diagnosis can be made through fluorescent antibody testing of blood smears and conjunctival scrapings and by PCR on whole blood. Euthanasia should be considered for seriously ill ferrets. Vaccination is protective, but the availability of vaccines licensed for use in domestic ferrets is unpredictable at best. There is currently one canine distemper virus vaccine licensed by the USDA for use in domestic ferrets (PUREVAX Ferret Distemper Vaccine [recombinant canarypox vector vaccine], Merial, Duluth, GA), but it has limited and sporadic availability. Some clinicians are using vaccines licensed for use in dogs in off‐label fashion in ferrets (e.g., Nobivac Puppy‐DPv [modified‐live virus vaccine against canine distemper virus and parvovirus], Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ). The benefits for the off‐label use of vaccines, particularly modified live virus vaccines, must outweigh the risks for adverse reactions.

From: Neurologic Diseases of Exotic Companion Mammals, Pacific Veterinary Conference 2016, Lauren V. Powers, DVM, DABVP (Avian Practice), DABVP (Exotic Companion Mammal Practice), Avian and Exotic Pet Service, Carolina Veterinary Specialists, Huntersville, NC, USA

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Avoid Using Halothane

An initial dose of 4 mL [halothane] provided complete anesthesia after 105 5 (SD = 37 s, N = 7). Once anesthetized. stand‐up posture and complete recovery occurred after a mean (SD) of 123 s (55 s) and 175 s (69 s). respectively. Multiple applications yielded longer and more variable induction times (311 :t 109 s). but similar stand‐up (136 :1:80 s) and recovery times (182 i83 s). Halothane provided rapid (<2 min) induction on calm mink but all animals experienced traumatic anesthesia and recovery. One case involving multiple applications resulted In the death of one animal. The authors conclude that single applications of halothane may be used for anesthesia of American mink for short (<2 min) periods. but that the difficult recovery of immobilized mink precludes the overall acceptability of this agent.

Field Anesthesia of American Mink (Mustela vison) Using Halothane by Serge Lariviére, Lyle R. Walton, and John A. Virgl; Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation, Summer 2001 (J. Wildlife Rehab. 24(2): 18—20)

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Housing and Enrichment • Housing • As much space as possible • Crammed with as much Stuff as possible • Use the air space! • Minimum Standards for Juveniles Outside: 6’ x 8’ x 8’ • Mustelids desire to hide, especially when sleeping

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Housing (continued) • Mustelids are scent markers => clean/replace furnishings only 25% at a time. • Dense furnishings are necessary for psychological well being • Provide multiple tunnels and a burrow system, plus nest boxes and/or nest area • Provide a litter box for mink (square high back; wood pellets, dirt, or sand is a good substrate)

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Provide cover and multiple nest/den spots

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Zip tie all possible joins, especially the top of MidWest nation cages.

MidWest Ferret (mink only) and Critter Nation (mink or weasel) cages are excellent for weasels and mink , and can be assembled in a modular fashion.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Cage curtains for a sense of isolation. Café curtains on a bungee cord is easy and inexpensive.

Use square high back rabbit litter boxes for mink. Don’t bother setting one up for weasels, except as a dig box. A thin layer of wood pellets or sand make a good substrate (they don’t bury their waste, only food gets hidden). Clean daily for best results –they won’t use it if it’s dirty.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Weasel litterbox

Mink litterbox

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Housing and Enrichment • Enrichment • Exploratory • Toys • Tunnels • Water Features (mink) • Ranging • Predation

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 The clear ferret tunnels are very cool, but quickly become quite disgusting with cached food and are difficult, if not impossible, to thoroughly clean.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Always ensure they can easily get in and out.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Ring toys are bad! Don’t use them. If they can put their head through the rings can get caught around torso and neck, leading to a panicked mink.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Unlike SOME wildlife, mink do not poop in their water (weasels … not so much)

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Housing and Enrichment • Enrichment • Exploratory • Ranging • Climbing structures and shelves • Wheels • Predation

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Housing and Enrichment • Enrichment • Exploratory • Ranging • Predation • Hunt • Chase • Random feeding times and locations

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Use bedding etc from live rodents as enrichment, and to enhance frozen rodent presentation.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Pre‐release Conditioning • Exposure to Natural Prey • Hunting Skills • Agile and Active • Concealment • Mink waterproof coat

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Pre‐release Conditioning • Exposure to Natural Prey • Hunting Skills • Agile and Active • Concealment • Mink waterproof coat

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Fun Fact Weasels hunt by scent and motion detection skills. They can smell prey from quite a distance, and can track the most convoluted trail by scent, but without movement they may not be able to locate the prey.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 • Killing technique is instinctive, but efficiency improves with practice • FINDING prey and hunting is a learned skill, and there may be a window of opportunity to learn the technique. • Feeding at random times and in random locations may enhance post release survival.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Teaching them to hunt

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Hunting a live rat recently released into the cage.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Pre‐release Conditioning • Exposure to Natural Prey • Hunting Skills • Agile and Active • Concealment • Mink waterproof coat

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Desperate attempts to escape and “cage rage” indicates a need for more space and more enrichment, not necessarily that the animal is ready for release.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Release • Release mid ‐ late summer, or early fall • Control stress during transportation • Soft release in suitable habitat • Minimum 2 weeks of post‐release support

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Weasel “Mouse Café” box for leaving food post‐release. The door can be locked open at a set width; the pvc provides an alternate exit to avoid being trapped by a predator.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 Mink are left with a cat carrier to serve as a “Rodent Café”, where frozen rodents can be left as supplemental food. Trail cam monitoring indicates other animals generally do not choose to take frozen rats (unless resources are very scarce), and generally stay clear if mink are regular visitors to the Café. She was also left with a favorite toy.

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 The “Camper Weasels” were left with their travel cage as well as a “Mouse Café” box

3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754 3/8/2020 Peggy Popp │ [email protected] or 608‐620‐8754