Can you help stop march of invasive American mink?

Volunteers are being called upon to monitor and control populations of American mink introduced across the north of Scotland.

The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative, managed by NatureScot and in partnership with 10 fishery trusts and the University of Aberdeen, has been tackling non-native invasive species in northern Scotland since 2018.

The project is looking to recruit volunteers to expand and improve its American mink detection and control network.

The American mink was brought to Scotland for furfarming in 1938 and, following both escapes and deliberate releases, became established in the wild in the 1960s.

Their presence in the Scottish countryside has devastating effects on native biodiversity, particularly groundnesting birds and water vole populations.

Water voles are the UK’s most rapidly declining mammal and predation by the American mink is a major cause of their decline.

Scottish Invasive Species Initiative project manager Callum Sinclair said: “American mink pose a serious threat to Scottish wildlife and can wipe out local populations of vulnerable birds and mammals.

“We are currently in the midst of a global biodiversity crisis – removing this threat is a vital step to safeguarding the future of native wildlife in Scotland.”

NatureScot is looking for people to keep an eye on mink rafts which lure the animal in and it will then by humanely despatched by the project team.

No experience is required to adopt a mink raft and anyone can sign up.

The project team will provide all necessary equipment and training, help setting up the raft and they are always contactable if you need advice or assistance.

Scientific adviser to the project Professor Xavier Lambin, from the University of Aberdeen, said it was a crucial time of year to be looking out for and capturing mink.

Prof Lambin said: “Over the spring months we will see an increase in mink activity as they enter the breeding season.

“Males will be moving around large areas looking for mates and females will be establishing breeding territories.

“We want to detect and capture females before they have a chance to reproduce.”

More information on the initative can be found on www.invasivespecies.scot

THREAT TO WILDLIFE: The American mink is a threat to ground-nesting birds and water vole populations.

Mink rafts are used to capture the invasive species.