Seil Chat

Mink Control Programme

It is apparent that our bird population has been reduced over the years by these destructive predators, and that the situation is worsening. Mink have been seen crossing the road by Balvicar Stores twice in the last couple of months.

It was suggested that the Community Council consider a control programme to trap and destroy them. We wrote to Scottish Natural Heritage asking their advice and they said they would support us and supply traps if we could:-

~ advise them about the sites needing protection
~ assure them that traps would be checked every 24 hours
~ ensure that we have people capable of dispatching trapped mink humanely, using the approved method.

We are aware that some people might be sensitive about culling animals and we would have to be careful not to catch domestic pets and other wildlife.

We would appreciate your views and would also like to hear from anyone who would be prepared to help.

Please call Stuart Reid, Secretary, on 300 311 or reply to this post.

Pat, here, from the cattery and Argyll Animal Aid.

Yes, I'm aware of the mink problem, and while I don't like the idea of any animal being killed because 'man' so decides (you only have to look at the hedgehog cull further north), I do understand that sometimes it just has to be done.

With one condition, though - that it is done humanely. I know of mink being killed not far from here, where they are trapped and then the trap thrown into a loch so that they drown. I was told 'it only takes 3 minutes'. Well, that's a damn long time to be under the water and fighting for air.

As usual the problem has been caused by people, and the animals are the ones to suffer.

Pat

smallpaws wrote:As usual the problem has been caused by people, and the animals are the ones to suffer.

So are you proposing that we cull the people - humanely of course?

As someone who has had a large amount of experience in mink control and have today returned from the Island of Seil. I feel I should fill in some gaps about the mink problem in Scotland.

As most will know, the mink is an introduced species for the purposes of fur farming and due to escapees and releases by animal 'lovers' has resulted in many areas in the decimation of wildlife.

The last mink control programme I was involved in was where one female mink managed to enter a cage with over 100 fancy fowl at a childrens farm and in the space of one night had killed 100% of the birds. In addition, 10 pet rabbits were killed in the same night.

Mink are subject to kill frenzy and will not kill just enough to feed. I find it incomprehensable that those people releasing them into the wild, where they have no natural predator, have probably been directly responsible for the death of countless native animals and birds. This is NOT saving the mink this is sentencing local wildlife to almost certain death.

It is illegal to release mink into the wild under the Imprted Destructive Animals Act 1932 and also the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Once trapped in a humane trap they must be dispatched. Under NO circumstances should a trapped animal be drowned. Not only is this cruel to the animal but is illegal.

Methods for doing this are either "decanting them into a sack and hitting them over the head with a blunt object" or shooting in the trap. For obvious reasons I prefer the latter method as it is quick and, in my opinion, causes less stress to the animal.

I count myself as an animal lover and have been since my teenage years and do not wish to see any animals harmed unless completely necessary. However, having had experience of what a mink can do in a natural ecosystem it is important that the problem be controlled at the earliest opportunity to preserve the wonderful range of wildlife you have on the island.

seil clubber wrote:

smallpaws wrote:As usual the problem has been caused by people, and the animals are the ones to suffer.

So are you proposing that we cull the people - humanely of course?

How very funny that you should just pick that bit out to comment on! ROTFL. It's a pity though that somebody didn't shoot those who imported the mink in the first place, or the animal rights idiots who released them into the wild.

Pat

Oh dear! the poor old mink (and Pat)!

Howzabout this for a solution........

Small Paws expands to become a mink sanctuary & receives all those trapped

The fishermen donate their leftovers as a goodwill gesture

Mink lovers sponsor an individual (mink)

Small Paws has males neutered

When they die (the mink - of natural causes) Pat sells fur hats and gloves.

Everyone is happy, even the mink.

Yeah, OK, done!

Pat

Okay, on a serious note...

it seems that the Community Council has agreed to the trap setting & slaughter solution. Is our community happy about this and is this really the only solution?

Not happy here, but I don't know of any other solution.

Looking after a cat which had been shredded by a mink is the nearest I've ever been to one.

Pat

Non indiginous species ,get rid of them!!.....And the S.N.H

Although I think the re-introduction of Bears and Wolfs would be a fantastic idea...... a good use of land, I can see it now...

In amongst the wind turbines above Ardencaple Estate a pack of wolves tear an unsuspecting Gore-Tex clad outdoor enthusiast limb from limb, while his partner is chased through the undergrowth by a hungry European Brown Bear......

Just hope she's a member of the SNH.

Pat

Yes lets hope so, lets hope we can keep Seil an SNH free zone for another few years!

Minimum wrote:it seems that the Community Council has agreed to the trap setting & slaughter solution. Is our community happy about this and is this really the only solution?

Happy? We're ecstatic! A new business opportunity for the Jean and Alistair at the Stores - after golf club hire and French baking it's bespoke mink coats. That'll keep the blue-haired ladies of Seil happy until David Cameron leads the Tories storming back to No.10.

OOOh! David Cameron, now there's a good loking young man,he's top of my list of eligible married men. Up there with the Duke of Argyll.
Why if I was only 30 years younger I would surely try and have an affair with him.!!

But I must be happy with life at Tory Row looking out over the sublime view and sniffing the raw sewage as it burbles out of Seil sound.... When will they finish that sewage works/Mayan temple at Clachan Seil..?

Mmmm... can any one else remember why there is only one Tory MP in Scotland Surely they wer'nt that bad??????

Can someone remind me what Tories are?

The word Tories was originally used to describe rural bandits in Ireland. Fortunately they managed to come up in the world, something the MacPhees failed to do

So, correct me if I'm wrong - these rural bandits were blue haired elderly ladies wearing mink coats?

You're at it again! Any excuse you can find to malign your mother-in-law.