It’s war! Battle joined against unwelcome US visitors in Perthshire.

Concern at high toll on Scottish native wildlife wreaked by ‘ferocious’ nonnative species

A wildlife watchdog wants to drive meddlesome mink from the Perthshire countryside.

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative has appealed for help getting rid of populations in highland and eastern areas of the region.

The American mink was introduced to Scotland from the US for fur farming in the late 1930s.

They are described as “opportunistic and ferocious” hunters that take whatever prey is available to them, often killing more than they require for food.

According to project officer Mark Purmann-Charles, their presence has had a devastating effect on native Scottish species, particularly groundnesting birds and water voles.

He said: “This time of year is critical for our mink work.

“One female mink hunting a 4km stretch of river can take 100 water voles over the three to four months of feeding her young – that is 10 water vole colonies, often an entire local population, wiped out.”

He added: “We really want to remove them in spring before they breed and their young spread widely.

“We’ve already got some fantastic volunteers helping the project, though we are always keen to improve that.”

The group is keen to secure more volunteers in areas around Blairgowrie, Rattray, Coupar Angus, Carse of Gowrie, Aberfeldy and Pitlochry.

“It would also help to have more people involved in the Luncarty and Stanley area, too,” said Mr PurmannCharles.

Volunteers can help by adopting a mink raft and monitor it.

The raft is made up of a small tunnel with a clay pad. Helpers will be asked to check for footprints in the clay.

With the help of volunteers, the project is building a network of rafts north of Perth, in the River Tay and River Tummel catchment areas.

Project manager Callum Sinclair said: “The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative is building on the work of previous minkcontrol projects.

“To make a difference at this scale, we are working with 10 different fishery trusts and pooling our efforts.”

Professor Xavier Lambin, from Aberdeen University’s School of Biological Sciences, said: “The American mink is an opportunistic predator that is also a very effective coloniser of new areas.

“From our previous work in Scotland, we have gathered good information on mink behaviours, likely locations for breeding females and where the most suitable mink habitats lie.

“With that knowledge, we can target efforts to these areas to have maximum impact on mink numbers.”

To get involved in the project, email Mr Purmann-Charles at markeskrivers@ gmail.com or call 07741 639556.

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One female mink hunting a 4km stretch of river can take 100 water voles – that is 10 water vole colonies, often an entire local population, wiped out

Rafts with clay pads are being left in the areas where the mink live so that when their presence is detected, the relevant authorities can step in and remove the animals from the environment.