scottish mink initiative update. ann-marie macmaster (rafts)
TRANSCRIPT
Ann-Marie MacMaster
Scottish Mink Initiative Coordinator
Scottish Mink Initiative - Overview
Began April 2011
Built and expanded on
predecessor projects
Volunteer-based
Multi-catchment scale
Covers ~30,000km² of Northern Scotland
Across north Tayside, across Aberdeenshire,
Moray and the Cairngorms National Park to the
north and east Highlands
Project
Area
Project
Area
Objectives
Remove breeding mink from the north of Scotland
Ensure the long term sustainability of mink control in the project
areas through the coordinated and resourced transfer of
responsibility for on-going mink management to local organisations
Raise awareness of the benefits of a community-based and adaptive
management approach to an invasive non-native species
programme
The Volunteer
Volunteer based project - wildlife professionals, farmers,
gamekeepers and local residents
Training and equipment provided
Volunteers choose how involved they
want to be:
monitor only;
monitor and set and check traps; or
monitor, set and check traps and dispatch.
Mink monitoring and trapping
Results – 998 active rafts
Results
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Nu
mb
er o
f ra
fts
and
vo
lun
teer
s
Year
Number of active rafts and volunteers
cumulative number of active rafts cumulative number of active volunteers
Results
-400
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
400
500
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Nu
mb
er o
f ra
fts
Year
Loss and gain of rafts
number of rafts opened number of rafts closed
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Nu
mb
er o
f vo
lun
teer
s
Year
Loss and gain of volunteers
number of new volunteers number of volunteers lost
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Nu
mb
er o
f m
ink
Year
Number of mink removed
4 main genetic groups
Rough east/west divide on
mainland
Mink found in north west
Highlands are sourced from coastal
Fraser, et al 2013
Biological Conservation, 167
Results: Population genetics study
Fraser, et al 2013
Biological Conservation, 167
Large scale immigration & emigration
250000 300000 350000 400000
75
00
00
80
00
00
85
00
00
Mink immigrants Deveron
87 % of mink caught in Deveron,
Bogie & Isla catchments traced to
a parent were born elsewhere in
NE Scotland
By working on a multi-catchment
scale, sources of incoming mink
are severely depleted
SMI area as at February 2015
Coordinating action over multiple river catchments
The Challenge: to maintain volunteer
enthusiasm in the face of declining mink
Solutions
Ensure volunteers feel valued and involved
- maintain regular contact (by e-mail/
telephone/text/meetings)
- provide feedback (website/
newsletter/ minkapp feedback)
Whilst out checking rafts volunteers are
encouraged to record native species and
other invasive species
The Future
Currently seeking funding for multi-invasive species project
Extend work area in a southerly direction on the west coast
Move away from single species projects
Non native invasive plants – more opportunities for volunteers
Use of Minkpolice in remote areas/sparsely populated/areas
where volunteers have dropped out
