Western Isles
Hebridean Mink Project
| Introduction | Introduction cont...| Mink
the species | Under threat | The European responsibility|
| Addressing the problem | News and updates | Links |
The new-look HMP is a £2.5million conservation
project which will see active management extended to Lewis and Harris
after the successful programme in the Uists.
The five-year partnership project comprises SNH, Western Isles Enterprise,
the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
Non-native American mink - fur farm escapees from the 1950's - are
aggressive predators and prey on ground nesting wader birds' eggs
and young and other prey.
The project was set up to prevent disturbance and losses to internationally
important populations of ground nesting birds prioritised under the
EC Wild Birds Directive. This includes migratory species within
designated Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
The presence of the mink poses a major threat to internationally important
breeding bird populations and the first phase of the project was set
up in 2001 to prevent mink from becoming established in the Uists.
Following its successful delivery in that area, work will continue
to ensure mink are removed from Lewis and Harris and to prevent them
from becoming re-established in the Uists.
RSPB will undertake bird monitoring and it is expected the Western
Isles Fisheries Trust will also carry out monitoring work on fry and
parr numbers in mink affected fisheries.
Since the start of 2007, trappers in the Western Isles have undertaken
rigorous training to ensure that the highest standards are met across
a range of disciplines. The 11 training courses ranged from
4x4 driving and quad training to powerboat and VHF work.
Trappers have been concentrating on South Harris to re-establish a
buffer for the Uists with work spreading north and west with some
targeted trapping round established tern colonies.
