The American Mink is a non-native predatory species that was introduced into Britain in the 1920s and has since caused considerable irreversible damage to natural habitats and local species. For example, lapwing birds and water vole populations have been threatened to extinction in this region. There has been an exponential growth in the American Mink population ever since fur farming has been made illegal in the UK in 2000. The invasive species is now being targeted for extermination by trained operators, with support from local conservationist and animal welfare groups, who are laying down traps to control the American Mink population growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (Basc) claims the animals have decimated populations of lapwing birds and water voles.
• According to Basc, the extermination of the mink has the support of many animal welfare bodies – backed by strong scientific grounds supporting this method of control.
• Fur farming was made illegal in the UK in 2000 and it is claimed the mink population increased in the wild even further.

“The American mink is in every river in Wales – pushing some native species to the brink of extinction, some conservationists are warning.”

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-39968853