Floating mink trap in the harbour

Time's up for the River Nairn mink?

Picture taken by Tommy Hogg last November

The BBC reports:
"The largest ever initiative to remove breeding American mink from the north of Scotland is under way. The Scottish Mink Initiative aims to create a 20,000 sq km safe haven for native wildlife in rural Tayside, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Cairngorms and the Highlands."

The mink on the river have shown themselves to be not entirely shy of mankind and their antics can sometimes be amusing but their impact on wildlife can be devastating. Their days could well be numbered.

Nairn Mink

Thanks to Jingle Bangles for this picture of one of the Nairn Mink. These local creatures seem to be losing a lot of their shyness.

Do mink like snacking on ducks?

Further to the photographic evidence provided by Tommy Hogg to the presence of mink down by the harbour it is interesting to note that the BBC report into a survey into the prospects of mink eradication on Skye quotes:
‘They prey on water voles and have been blamed for almost wiping out ground-nesting birds on Sandaig and the Sound of Sleat on Skye.’
Perhaps they have been attracted to the harbour area by the increase in duck numbers in recent years. They have in fact been present further up the river for some time. Two years ago this observer saw a mink drag a fully grown rabbit into the river just below the railway bridge. The mink drowned the rabbit and then proceeded to haul it up into its burrow underneath some exposed roots of an alder tree. Perhaps the hoodies and black back gulls are not the only culprits down by? More evidence of the varied diet of mink can be had from a report in 1998 following the release of thousands of mink into the New Forest by animal welfare numpties:
‘Yesterday, on the advice of police, residents were locking up their cats and dogs, and mounting armed patrols on their properties. The mink have already taken out a Chihuahua and had a go at some piglets. Locals have been warned not to approach them, if they feel a sentimental attachment to all 10 of their fingers. Landowners have been advised to shoot on sight.’

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Minking the system

Thanks to Tommy Hogg for this excellent picture - it will enlarge a little.

Earlier this morning a flotilla of mink sailed past Swan Island, their heads just visible above the water but a V shaped ripple giving away their individual positions. They crossed to the wall by the pumping station and began to explore their way along towards the Bailey Bridge gathering a large audience of human admirers as they continued on their expedition. The presence of the human race did not seem to intimidate these creatures at all. Once past the other side of the bridge their antics caused much amusement as they tried to climb the wooden piles and parts of bare stone wall with varying degrees of success. One of them installed itself in a recess in the wall and seemed to have made itself quite at home. Below a larger mink made efforts to get the youngsters back into the water by dragging them by the neck. For around twenty minutes the mink road show continued.

Time to keep your mink on a lead?