Report from George Markie
Minkcredible £1.6m wildlife cull traps just 200 in a year... £8250 an animal
By Mike Merritt in the Sunday Mail, 9 th March, 2003
A £1.65MILLION project to catch wild mink on Scottish islands has trapped just 200 in a year.
That puts a price of £8250 on each animal's head, making them some of the dearest mink on earth.
An average mink coat - once seen as the ultimate fashion statement - consists of 60 skins. On that basis a coat made from isles' mink would cost almost £500,000.
Despite having nearly 2500 traps baited each day, a dedicated team of 10 trappers have caught an average of less than two mink a month each on Uist and Harris.
But the price hasn't put off Scottish Natural Heritage which is expected to seek even more government money to extend the scheme to the rest of the Outer Hebrides where 15,000 mink are on the loose.
The animals infested the Outer Hebrides after escaping from failed island fur farms in the late 1950s and early 60s.
Over the decades their numbers have swelled and there are growing fears that the mink could destroy vital ground-nesting seabird colonies.
David MacLennan, SNH area manager for the Outer Hebrides, hailed the success of the scheme. He said another 70 mink had been caught this year so far and added: "We are dealing with a low density of mink in the areas we are looking at and they are not easy to catch.
"If this project is successful it could be extended to the other islands, possibly in 2005.
"We are encouraged by the numbers caught. They are picking up all the time and it costs money because it a very labour intensive job."
The mink are trapped using steel wire traps baited with fish but the trappers have been experimenting with an extract of concentrated sweat glands taken from dead mink.
Mr MacLennan said: "It is proving a highly effective bait and is increasing the success of the trapping.
"Some people may think this is a funny subject but it is very serious.
"Experiences of similar problems from throughout the world tell us that the only permanent solution is eradication."
The mink are not killed by the traps, which are designed in such a way to allow the safe release of other animals - including otters - caught in them by mistake.
Any mink found in the traps are killed by a single shot from an air pistol.
© Sunday Mail, 9 th March, 2003
 |
 |
 |
| Return to index | Return to Exotic Scottish Animals | Return to American Mink |