About 2,000 traps have been ordered. Carcasses will be sent for analysis to the York-based Central Science Laboratory, which is coordinating the trapping program and associated research.
"Mink are deadly," says Archie Campbell, a Western Isles councilor. "On the Uists, the balance of wildlife has remained intact—until now. We're keen that mink never get established in these islands."
Minks Can "Kill at Will"
Mink are resourceful survivors, with needle-sharp teeth. They have no predators and so can virtually kill at will. On Lewis, many smallholders no longer keep ducks or chickens.
The Western Isles Mink Control Group has been trapping the animals in the south of Harris since 1992—but this did not prevent them crossing to the Uists.
Last year, Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned the Central Science Laboratory to assess the problem, and to consider options ranging from doing nothing to eradicating the animal completely in the Western Isles.
This study identified the best option as a phased scheme, which would first eradicate mink from North Uist and Benbecula. The experience gained would then be used to tackle the much bigger problems with mink on Lewis and Harris. And it would provide estimates of the time and costs involved in the removal of mink—running into millions of pounds.
George Campbell, RSPB regional manager, says: "Tackling the mink problem is a huge undertaking, but we have an opportunity to make significant progress."
The Uist Mink Group was set up in 1999 and has carried out trapping with limited funds. Traps were set last winter along the machair and peatland moors to try to contain the invasion, with data collected to predict movements this autumn.
"The exercise is so costly because the mink are trapped before being destroyed and such traps need to be checked regularly so other animals don't stray into them," adds Mr. Campbell.
On the mainland, mink have been known to kill pheasant, woodcock, duck, pigeon, oystercatchers and lapwing. A recent study in Argyll highlighted the devastating effects of mink on wild bird populations. In ten years, terns, gulls and black guillemots have declined by over half and are now totally absent from many areas.
Jeff Watson, northern director of Scottish Natural Heritage, says: "It's in everybody's interests for a solution to be found in the Western Isles and the only permanent one is complete eradication. This is a huge undertaking. To leave behind just one pregnant female mink could, in theory, result in recolonization."
Copyright 2001 The Daily Telegraph (London)
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