Species & Habitats
American Mink
Activity 9 - Producing an American mink leaflet
Background for teachers
The American mink is a carnivorous mammal that lives both on land and in water. It first became established in Britain in the 1950s following numerous escapes and releases from fur farms. It is widespread throughout most of the country where it preys on our native wildlife and especially threatens the water vole.
Curriculum
Biology Higher
Control and Regulation: the need to monitor wild populations; protection and conservation of endangered species; control of pest species
Biology Advanced Higher
Environmental Biology
Interactions in ecosystems: the damaging effects of exotic species
Curriculum for Excellence
This activity will help pupils achieve the four capacities of learning by:
- encouraging enthusiasm and motivation for learning;
- encouraging openness to new thinking and ideas;
- use of literacy skills;
- use of technology for learning;
- thinking creatively and independently;
- making reasoned evaluations;
- evaluating environmental issues;
- applying critical thinking in new contexts, and
- creating and developing.
Ages
16-18 years
Procedure
Ask pupils to produce a leaflet alerting the public to the threat posed by the American mink to Scottish wildlife.
- Pupils should include:
- description of the American mink;
- when and how it was introduced to Scotland;
- the problems it causes to wildlife and environment in Scotland;
- encouraging people to look out for mink and to report sightings; and
- measures taken to reduce its population.
They will need to:
- research information for the leaflet from the websites below;
- carefully consider the design of the leaflet;
- think up a title to attract peoples’ attention to read the leaflet; and
- consider the graphics they wish to use. Distribution maps for the species are available on the National Biodiversity Network gateway website.
Websites
- National Biodiversity Network gateway
www.searchnbn.net - American mink
www.snh.org.uk/trends/trends_notes/pdf/Introduced%20species/American%20mink.pdf
www.snh.org.uk/scottish/wisles/intro.asp
www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/trends/posters/NHT10.pdf
www.snh.org.uk/speciesactionframework/saf-americanmink.asp (for 16-18 year olds)
www.arkive.org/species/ARK/mammals/Mustela_vison/