Game Conservancy Trust: Mink control gains momentum
Monday, 16, Apr 2007 12:00
Mink control gains momentum
More than 50 conservationists representing wildlife trusts and environmental organisations from as far afield as Cornwall, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Aberdeen recently attended a very successful mink control refresher workshop run by The Game Conservancy Trust in Fordingbridge, Hampshire. The aim of the workshop was to pool knowledge and experiences, while benefiting from the latest research by the Trust on mink control, in order to maintain this national effort to save our threatened water vole population.
To reflect further research developments in mink control, delegates to the conference were presented with the Trust's updated GCT Mink Raft guidelines, which include all the latest information necessary to use the rafts, as well as explaining, why to use rafts, how to construct them, how to identify mink tracks and much more besides. The revised guidelines are now available free from the Trust by post or they can be downloaded from the Trust's website at www.gct.org.uk
The GCT Mink Rafts consist of a buoyant base that supports a simple tracking device, covered by a wooden tunnel. The tracking device uses a mixture of clay and sand worked together to form a paste and spread over floral Oasis foam. The foam wicks water up from underneath the raft keeping the paste permanently moist so that it can clearly record the tracks of visiting wildlife, including mink.
Rafts should be located alongside marginal bank-side vegetation (the sort of habitat in which a mink hunts voles and riparian birds) and tethered securely with rope. The Trust recommends that on linear water courses rafts should be spaced 1km apart. For those interested in buying ready-made rafts, these can be purchased from Forsham Country Arks in Kent who are manufacturing a good quality flat-pack mink raft made to the GCT specification. These cost £39.00 including VAT and can be ordered by telephoning Forsham on 01233 820229.
Notes to editors:
The Game Conservancy Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out scientific research into Britain's game and wildlife. We advise farmers and landowners on improving wildlife habitats and we lobby for agricultural and conservation policies based on science. We employ 14 post-doctoral scientists and 50 other research staff with expertise in areas such as birds, insects, mammals, farming and statistics. We undertake our own research as well as projects funded by contract and grant-aid from Government and private bodies. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for grey partridge and joint lead partner for brown hare and black grouse.
*Together we can reverse the decline in our native game and wildlife species. Become a member today and you can help conserve the countryside for generations to come. Your membership subscription will help fund our vital game and wildlife conservation research. Join online at www.gct.org.uk