Three steps in the fight against invasive species

BASC’s Ian Danby covers the strategies for controlling invasive non-native species in the UK and the vital role of volunteers from the shooting community in executing the steps involved.

There is no doubt that volunteering is critical part of most invasive non-native species (INNS) interventions and shooters are an important part of those efforts. In fact, I am sure you already have a species or two in mind that you’ve crossed paths with as you read this.

Volunteers are always needed and are widely active across the three key strategies set down by the GB Non-native Species Secretariat – which sets out to keep the UK safe from invaders. So, let’s look at the steps.

Step 1: prevention

The first step is preventing the arrival of INNS in the first place. Some of this work is around horizon scanning what species may be making their way to the UK, how they might do that and therefore how we can cut that pathway off.

Some pathways might appear entirely controlled by the state, such as border checks for INNS as they come into the UK. However, there are several pathway action plans that have been developed by the sector to voluntarily adjust practice or adopt best practice to reduce the risk of arrival or transmission of INNS.

If you fish, then you may well know there is an angling pathway action plan and two key elements. One is to prevent spreading of INNS between waters and the other is wider biosecurity advice for fishery owners.

For individual anglers, the check, clean and dry campaign is key to help ensure that your kit does not transfer INNS between waters. We have promoted this to members as well because it is applicable to anyone who goes between areas of water, including people who use flight ponds or dyed-in-the-wool wildfowlers.

Shooting's role in prevention

Turning to shooting, we play a pivotal role in prevention of the distribution of INNS through accidental or intentional means.

There may be no further burden of proof than suspecting intentional release, but when you see the movement of species like muntjac deer, for example, across to Northern Ireland you have to wonder how it got there. Was it brought in by people and why might they do that?

It is important that anyone new to shooting is learns quickly from us and their peers that some species cannot be moved. The accidental movement of INNS species is something we all must be vigilant for.

This is best addressed by following good biosecurity advice. BASC has biosecurity advice tailored to each shooting discipline? See here for more.

Step 2: early detection

The second strategy area is the early detection of any INNS followed by rapid response. Shooters have a vital role here because we are fortunate to have access to private land off the public right of way network. We also run tech like trail cams and go out at antisocial times of day with binoculars, thermal and night vision kit.

Shoots have been invaluable in detecting lost pets like racoon dogs that would be a serious threat if they became established.

We have helped with UK-wide campaigns too, like the invasion of the Asian hornet that gathers pace each year. This is often by reporting sightings and either facilitating government agencies to take rapid eradication measures, or directly assisting with the latter ourselves.

If you need to report a sighting of an INNS, you can do this through the GB Secretariat’s website, which also contains a list of what to look out for and images to help you identify them. Visit these pages here for more on this.

Step 3: long-term management

The final strategy is area is long-term management, which applies when a species is well-established and the objective shifts to minimising their impact.

Species like grey squirrel and mink are two key examples that spring to mind, and ones where the shooting community helps to control them through our general wildlife management work.

This makes us a valuable resource for projects working on species recovery where success depends on the control of INNS, such as red squirrel and water vole.

BASC is a signatory to UK Squirrel Accord and we recently promoted their grey squirrel barking stripping survey. This an easy survey for a shoot to do and provides you with feedback on whether your grey control is sufficient to enable a healthy woodland.

You’ll also likely to know that BASC and our members have long been active in water vole conservation and we are proud to be part of the Waterlife Recovery Trust.

Ultimately, shooting and its people underpin the successful prevention, early detection and long-term management of INNS. Thank you for the hours you willingly give to protecting our native species, and if you would like to find out more about INNS in the UK, visit our website or look up the GB Secretariat here.

Taw and Torridge wildfowlers cause a stink for mink

4 August 2025

Taw and Torridge Wildfowling Club has recently launched a mink control programme as part of its wider conservation efforts.

BASC recruits and trains wildlife trust volunteers

23 May 2025

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust ask BASC for volunteers for mink control to assist in water vole recovery

Ian Danby

Ian Danby is BASC's head of biodiversity and collaborates with the Non-native Species Secretariat to help minimise the threats to UK wildlife from invasive non-native species.