Posted by Philip Kirkham on December 11, 2006 at 8:26 AM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6168443.stm
Posted by Pete Etheridge on December 11, 2006 at 8:44 AM
Good news indeed - let's hope it's not too little too late...
Posted by Dave Courtenay on December 11, 2006 at 8:50 AM
Why do we always leave it until there only a couple of percent of a species left before action is taken,fingers crossed they pull through as they are part of the food chain,if they go it will affect others
I'll fill you in a bit more on the Danny/Tom saga and it is positive albeit a bit late.
At the time I had spoke to the warden, since then I have spoke to the authority, and pointed out a few facts etc. The warden is caught up in the politics and HSE of CC employment and I have some sympathy for them.
At the same time as this, I have been told that an elderly lady had her small dog attacked by "something" at the side of the waters path - apparently the dog and lady where in a bit of a shocked state - I think the local papers got a hold of this.
Also a number of people apparently watched as a Mink strolled up the path, dived in to water, grabbed a vole and had lunch; they where reported not to be amused.
The problem is now being addressed. There are Live traps down ( but I have been told that only during the week - not the weekend as this might upset some people ) and they are reducing the mink population.
It is my own opinion that it will be a year or so before any population can be built up again providing there is at least a couple left. Other than that a re-introduction may be needed.
What I was shocked to be told is that the one captive breeding program has alledgely been asking £800 for a vole (not proven as fact yet) - if so, the mink don't appear to be the only predator in this game.
The lesson to learn in this is that conservation is a constantly active process in maintaining a balance and that balance includes the balance of life and death, especially with respect to alien species - two introductions from N.America (Grey Squirrel and Mink) have had a severe effect upon our native nature.
It is worth noting what time scale 'active' means in this instance; on one Sunday there where 15 vole sightings in 30 minutes, on the following Sunday there was 1 sighting in 4 hours - active means having traps to hand for instant deployment upon suspicion.
In this instance it is probable that the politics - potentially due to percieved public backlash of cages - meant that any action was simply too late - but I hope not.
PS sometimes it is better to work quietly behind the scenes instead of tackling things in a open public manner.
Posted by Mike Smith on December 11, 2006 at 11:01 AM
Experience from local bailiffs to the Theale gravel pits complex near Reading makes slightly more sobering reading. Mink are bl**dy difficult to totally eradicate, you need a continuous trapping regime over many years, a one year hit will not work.
On one tributory of the Kennet river/canal the bailiff has been trapping mink for over 10 years, he pulls out a minimum of 30 mink a year, I think the most he caught one year was 45. Clearly an active displacement/territory filling goes on on this stretch of water, this volume of mink cannot be from a self sustaining/ breeding population alone. The canal seems to be acting as a "super" nature highway from Swindon into London, allowing the vacant/trapped territories to be quickly repopulated.
If you are in fairly isolated water courses than mink trapping can be successful, but if there is an interconnecting water system life is not so simple as the Theale experience demonstrates.
Neither does it help when the eco warriers liberate several hundred mink at a time into the river systems!
Discussion
4 repliesAt the time I had spoke to the warden, since then I have spoke to the authority, and pointed out a few facts etc. The warden is caught up in the politics and HSE of CC employment and I have some sympathy for them.
At the same time as this, I have been told that an elderly lady had her small dog attacked by "something" at the side of the waters path - apparently the dog and lady where in a bit of a shocked state - I think the local papers got a hold of this.
Also a number of people apparently watched as a Mink strolled up the path, dived in to water, grabbed a vole and had lunch; they where reported not to be amused.
The problem is now being addressed. There are Live traps down ( but I have been told that only during the week - not the weekend as this might upset some people
It is my own opinion that it will be a year or so before any population can be built up again providing there is at least a couple left. Other than that a re-introduction may be needed.
What I was shocked to be told is that the one captive breeding program has alledgely been asking £800 for a vole (not proven as fact yet) - if so, the mink don't appear to be the only predator in this game.
The lesson to learn in this is that conservation is a constantly active process in maintaining a balance and that balance includes the balance of life and death, especially with respect to alien species - two introductions from N.America (Grey Squirrel and Mink) have had a severe effect upon our native nature.
It is worth noting what time scale 'active' means in this instance; on one Sunday there where 15 vole sightings in 30 minutes, on the following Sunday there was 1 sighting in 4 hours - active means having traps to hand for instant deployment upon suspicion.
In this instance it is probable that the politics - potentially due to percieved public backlash of cages - meant that any action was simply too late - but I hope not.
PS sometimes it is better to work quietly behind the scenes instead of tackling things in a open public manner.
On one tributory of the Kennet river/canal the bailiff has been trapping mink for over 10 years, he pulls out a minimum of 30 mink a year, I think the most he caught one year was 45. Clearly an active displacement/territory filling goes on on this stretch of water, this volume of mink cannot be from a self sustaining/ breeding population alone. The canal seems to be acting as a "super" nature highway from Swindon into London, allowing the vacant/trapped territories to be quickly repopulated.
If you are in fairly isolated water courses than mink trapping can be successful, but if there is an interconnecting water system life is not so simple as the Theale experience demonstrates.
Neither does it help when the eco warriers liberate several hundred mink at a time into the river systems!