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Minkbusters – who ya gonna call?
When a wildlife trust in the south of England needed help with mink control, they knew who to contact.
Faced with a shortage of volunteers with the necessary skills to humanely trap and dispatch the invasive predators, along with problems accessing some waterways, they turned to their local BASC team.
The BASC South East England team swung into action. They first reached out to members who might have access to land and could help with trapping and dispatching. Then they quickly set up two mink courses in partnership with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).
Protecting native species
Designed to equip participants with essential skills, the course highlighted the impact of invasive mink on native wildlife. American mink are voracious predators, especially of vulnerable native UK species like water voles.
Due to the demand two courses were run on two different days, and more than 30 people took part. Each day included a classroom session covering mink biology, identification, and humane control methods. Attendees learnt about legal and effective traps, how to identify non-target species, and the ecological reasons for controlling mink.
Afterwards, participants moved outdoors for practical training. Guided by BASC and BBOWT staff, they learned to identify mink activity, set traps correctly and humanely dispatch trapped mink.
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BASC South East regional officer Reece Dunn said: “Initiatives like this play a crucial role in controlling invasive species. This is vital to preserve the UK’s natural ecosystems for future generations. We were delighted to assist the BBOTW with their mink control programme. If any other wildlife trusts need a similar helping hand, they should get in touch with their local BASC team.”
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