Welcome to the sixteenth weekly stoat snippet!
These snippets will be a short update on progress with both the Orkney Native Wildlife Project and the Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project, as well as addressing any concerns that folk have raised with SNH and RSPB Scotland.
Orkney Native Wildlife Project
So far this year, we have had two consultation events followed by talks. The first was on the 5 January at the St Magnus Centre in Kirkwall and the second on 8 January in Stromness Library.
There are plenty more events planned in January and February including many on the outer isles and we would encourage folk to come along and take part.
And if you haven’t already had your say about the project through the community consultation questionnaire, you can find it at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ONWP or as a paper version at various locations around Orkney.
Upcoming events:
To keep up-to-date with upcoming community consultation events, please take a look at our Facebook page or future blogs. For more information about these events, phone 01856 875302 or 01856 850176 or email north@snh.gov.uk or orkney@rspb.org.uk.
As part of the project we hope to roll some educational sessions and resources, developing this over the five years. This week we did a trial lesson with Orphir primary school to introduce the project and to explore the topic of native species and invasive species with a focus on the stoat eradication.
The day was a great success and we all learnt a great deal, so we looking forward to using this to develop sessions with other schools once the project is rolled out in full. We want to use the next month to consult with as many teachers in Orkney as possible about this programme, so if you have not yet heard from us, or wish to discuss potential lessons in future, do please get in touch with us on amy.king@snh.org.uk
The trapping trial is continuing and seems to be going well with 22 stoats caught so far. It will continue for the next six weeks. We should have the early data processed in the next few weeks to be able to share the highlights with you. We were asked last week, why we are not checking the traps every day. This is because the traps are lethal traps and therefore checking them daily is not required. Our trapping method is designed to maximise efficiency while maintaining best practice animal welfare standards. Remember, if you have any questions, you can pop along to one of the consultation events or contact us on the email addresses below.
Here is a photo from one of the cameras on the Mainland:
Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project
The January checks of one of the five trap areas have been completed. The other areas will be checked over the coming weeks.
Potential incursion responses
Rousay: We would ask folk who live or visit Rousay to remember to get in touch if there is even the slightest suspicion that they have seen a stoat.
Hoy: We are continuing the work on Hoy to try to determine whether more than the one confirmed stoat is present on Hoy and how widespread they are. Another 15 cameras went across on the ferry yesterday and the team are continuing to expand the monitoring area. So far, there has been no signs of stoats, but we would encourage anyone who thinks they’ve seen a stoat on Hoy to report it immediately by phone or email.
In fact, if you live on any of the islands, and think you have seen a stoat, it is essential that you contact us as soon as you can by calling 01856 886163, by emailing north@snh.gov.uk or through the ‘Stoats in Orkney’ Facebook page.
Answering your concerns…
Remember, if you have any comments or concerns please contact north@snh.gov.uk or orkney@rspb.org.uk.
And, once again, don't forget to keep reporting any sightings of stoats, including those in winter coats, whether on the mainland or outer isles, as soon as possible, to SNH by calling 01856 886163, by emailing north@snh.gov.uk or through the ‘Stoats in Orkney’ Facebook page.