I NEVER intended to get directly involved with the Scottish Mink Initiative, although I welcomed it when the decision was made to control mink over most of the Highlands.
I found out enough to be able comment on the Initiative to other people and who they could to get in touch with.
All was well until one day, July 29 to be exact, this all changed. As mentioned in this column at the time, on the afternoon I was scribbling away on the PC keyboard in my study.
In reality, as usual, I was paying more attention to what was happening outside and was idly watching the mallard and mandarins on the pond. They suddenly started getting excited and calling, the mandarins with their coot-like calls. Some birds, both species, were diving and their attention seemed to be centred on the island. Then, to my surprise and shock, there swimming off the island was a black mink.
There had been rumours of a mink a year ago in the River Nairn below the house, although never confirmed. I had also heard of problems at a pheasant rearing pen and even a local fishery. None of these rumours was ever substantiated and I began to feel mink had just not come into this strath or catchment area.
My reaction to the mink appearing in the pond in the paddock was to put out two mink traps and, after taking advice, I baited them with tinned cat food that smelt horrible but I was told it would work.
Needless to say, the traps were not even investigated by anything as far as I could tell.
But then a confirmed report of a mink not far away plus the one in the pond made me think about the Mink Initiative and whether I should take part. In passing, I mentioned the mink to someone in Scottish Natural Heritage and he promised to get in touch with the mink control officer for the Cairngorms and Moray area. To my surprise within two days there was an email from Cat Robinson and we made arrangements to meet and she would bring over a raft and trap. Whatever they were I waited with some anticipation.
An enthusiastic and very helpful Cat duly arrived and I set my eyes for the first time on the raft and trap.
The raft is made of plywood and polystyrene and is two to three inches thick and 2ft by 4ft. In the centre is an oblong gap and in there sits a plastic container filled with a material called floral Oasis. This is covered with a thin layer of clay/sand mix and this is kept moist by water soaking up from below the raft. This is covered by a square tunnel that sits firmly on top of the raft and over the plastic container.
The raft floats on the water, generally in a river, and is firmly anchored to the side by a stake or tree.
The idea is that the mink will pass through the tunnel and leave its tracks in the mud mix. The raft is checked every two weeks, with due care being taken in flash floods. If there is likely to be prolonged snow or freezing weather, the raft is best taken out of the water until the conditions improve. Once the mink tracks are detected, special traps can be used to get them.
The Scottish Mink Initiative is a three-year partnership between many organisations, over 20 on the list I saw.
The aim is to protect nationally significant populations of water voles, salmonids, ground nesting birds and other riparian biodiversity. It is hoped to establish a framework that will lead to all areas being free of breeding mink in Northern Scotland.
If you want to know more about the project or help in any way, contact Cat Robinson at cat@rafts.org.uk or phone 07825 185178.
l The record of the week came from a reader who saw a stoat in his garden, having recognised it by its brown coat and black-tipped tail.
Not unusual one might say but this one was different as it was in the middle of Inverness. The query was whether this was a common occurrence and what affect would it have on other wildlife.
A number of mammals are regularly recorded in the city. Roe deer frequent large gardens and I have seen a fox dead in Hilton on the roadside. Hedgehogs are often road casualties and last year I often saw brown rats running across roads. Otters are seen along the river bank and rabbits on roundabouts.
A stoat is more unusual and is the first one I had heard of. However, stoats are very secretive and often go unseen, so I would imagine they are more frequent than is first supposed. They would find plenty of food in even smaller gardens as they will feed on small mammals and birds.
What would be interesting, as I said when I emailed the reader, is if it stays around in the winter as it would be intriguing to see if it changed into the white coat of ermine. Some such changes are due to the weather but the overall factor is hereditary with some changing and some not. An interesting record.
