Western Isles
Hebridean Mink Project
| Introduction | Introduction cont...| Mink
the species | Under threat | The European responsibility|
| Addressing the problem | News and updates | Links |
Addressing the problem - the HMP, its aims and objectives, methods
The Overall Objective of the Hebridean Mink Project is to prevent significant disturbance and losses to internationally important populations of ground-nesting bird species, prioritised under the EC Wild Birds Directive, and regularly occurring migratory species within designated Special Protection Areas. The project will therefore aim to:
- protect vulnerable ground-nesting bird populations on North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist by the removal of mink from these islands.
- reduce mink populations on South Harris to the extent that the risk of recolonisation of North Uist is minimised
- collect data on effective control methods
- assess the effects of mink removal on the status of protected bird species.
- promote an awareness of bird conservation issues and the international importance of the Western Isles, including the risks posed by mink to island populations, and to disseminate the findings amongst other European countries facing similar problems.
The Hebridean Mink Project: Methods
The project operates with the equivalent of 11 full time posts over a five year period; 10 trappers and a manager. Six trappers will trap mink in North Uist and Benbecula. A further four trappers will trap in the south of Harris to prevent recolonisation of the Uists. Research work will also be carried out by a Phd student.
The traps used are small cages hidden under turf and bated with fish. They contain the animal but cause no physical harm. Every trap involved in the project is checked at least daily and all mink caught are destroyed humanely using one shot to the head with an airgun.
Mink are also widespread in Lewis and Harris and the long term aim is to remove them entirely from the whole of the Wester Isles. An important part of this project therefore will be to assess the mink populations at different densities, and their responses to control, in order to develop a model for determining a possible strategy and the costs of a second phase on Lewis and Harris. This will require detailed scientific assessment of mink trapping, independent surveys of mink abundance in the trapped regions and construction of a mink control model.
Annual surveys and monitoring of breeding bird populations will be carried out on North Uist and Benbecula to assess the effects of the project as control proceeds.
A community liaison committee is being established to invite participation of local interest groups and those with experience of mink trapping. An information leaflet on the project is being produced for distribution on the islands and elsewhere. Press and media coverage is encouraged to raise awareness of the project and its objectives. The findings will be published in scientific literature, and a European Workshop will be held at the end of the project to disseminate the results.