ISSUE
Eradicating American mink from Britain is becoming tangible after four years of baiting traps with their scent in Norfolk and Suffolk has created a mink-free zone. They are blamed for the population collapse of water voles and seabirds. Yet, water voles have declined because of habitat change as well as mink predation, and seabirds are under pressure from loss of fishing grounds and Avian flu.
Brought to Britain to be farmed for their fur, deliberate release by activists and occasional escapes have led to resident mink in our waterways. Experiments on fur farm mink found access to water was a resource they would pay the highest price for by pushing against weighted doors. When access to water was removed, their stress level rose as much as when they were denied food. Mink are sentient animals that love to swim. It isn’t their fault that human lust for their fur introduced them outside of their native range.