Mink targeted in new Highland cull

BREEDING American mink are to be culled in the largest ever attempt to remove the animal from the Highlands.

The Scottish Mink Initiative is joint initiative by 20 organisations, including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage and Aberdeen University. It aims to protect native wildlife, such as water voles, ground nesting birds and economically important populations of salmon and game birds.

Gunnar Scholz, the initiative’s Highland Mink Control Officer, said: “The Highland region is important because we have currently a low density mink population present in the area. We will be working towards a reduction of mink living in the area and, more importantly, towards preventing new mink moving into the Highlands from further south.

“It is a big challenge and won’t be possible without dedicated local volunteers. Many people and communities are already involved in the initiative, and are doing a fantastic job. Over the next few months, we will be doing more to promote the importance of mink control and recruit even more volunteers.

“By working strategically with the community I hope to set up a volunteer network to monitor mink movements using mink rafts and establish an alert system to help us prevent further spread of the species. While animal control will be necessary, animal welfare considerations will be paramount to our operations."

With its aim to create a 20,000 km² safe haven free from breeding mink, the Scottish Mink Initiative builds on the success of previous mink control projects in the Cairngorms National Park and north east Scotland. It will establish a strategic monitoring and control zone across the north, extending from the mid-Tay to the South Esk, around the east coast to the River Nairn, and across from Dornoch and Cromarty on the east to Ullapool on the west.

* Anyone interested in taking part in the initiative should email mink@rafts.org.uk.