River Tay sees surge in American mink captures during 'dispersal season'

Daily Record

a day ago

The non-native invasive animals have been spotted in the River Tay catchment and 11 have been trapped in the last week alone, according to the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative.
The River Tay has experienced an increase in the number of mink captures as 'dispersal season' kicks-off.
‌
These non-native invasive animals are seen throughout Scotland, but the surge has been "particularly pronounced in the River Tay catchment", as reported by the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative – a collaborative effort aimed at controlling invasive species along rivers and watercourses in northern Scotland.
‌
After a quieter breeding period, there's been a notable rise in mink captures, with 11 trapped in just the past week.
‌
The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative said: "The Tay is a bordering region for our project and always catches high numbers compared to other areas, as mink will move in from uncontrolled areas outside the project.
"This is a particularly important time of year to be monitoring and trapping as the mink are dispersing and moving around. We ask all volunteers to please ensure their rafts and traps are active where possible – and to get in touch with your local contact if you need anything."
American mink pose a serious threat to native wildlife in Scotland, including ground-nesting birds and the endangered water vole, which is Britain's fastest declining mammal.
This small, semi-aquatic mammal inhabits both freshwater and saltwater environments, often found near waterways, lake shores, and coastal areas.
Belonging to the 'Mustelid' family, the American mink shares its lineage with creatures such as the otter, stoat, pine marten and weasel.
‌
American mink can be distinguished from their European counterparts by their dark brown or black fur, a slender snout and a small white patch on the chin or throat. Their tails are somewhat bushy and roughly half the length of their bodies.
‌
The European mink also has a white chin, extending to the upper lip. European mink are not native to the UK either.
Mink are predominantly solitary animals, each maintaining its own territory. A typical territory for a female mink along a linear waterway spans 1-3km, while male territories are larger, up to 5km, and may overlap several female territories.
As carnivores, mink have a diverse diet that includes rabbits, water voles, rats, birds, eggs, fish and domestic fowl.
‌
Mink mate between February and April each year, with four to six kits born during April and May. The kits are weaned after eight weeks, become fully independent after 14 weeks and reach sexual maturity in the spring following their birth.
The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative engages volunteers in its mink control project. They utilise mink monitoring rafts to determine if mink are present in an area.
Once detected, traps are set to capture the mink, allowing for their humane dispatch.
‌
The mink monitoring raft floats can be spotted on the banks of rivers or burns. The mink will then explore the structure and navigate through the wooden tunnel. Within the tunnel lies a clay pad, where the mink will imprint its paw marks for identification purposes.
Upon discovery of the distinctive prints of a mink, the group will then be aware of their presence in that vicinity. At this point, a live capture trap is set up within the tunnel with the aim to ensnare the mink.
To report a sighting of an American mink click here.