Welcome to the twenty-sixth 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.
If you are new to these snippets and want to know more about the project, check out this blog.
Orkney Native Wildlife Project
As you will know from previous snippets the trapping trial and community consultation have now finished and we’ve been analysing the results. We had the interim review meeting with HLF earlier this week. It was a very useful meeting and the discussions we had will help us as we continue with the project development before submitting the full funding bid later this year.
We’d like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thanks to everyone who shared their views with us during the consultation. We should have all the results of the consultation ready to share not long after Easter. But don’t forget that if you have any questions or concerns you can still get in touch.
Invasive Species Week
This week is the start of Invasive Species Week, run by the Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS). In 2015, the NNSS and Defra launched the first Invasive Species Week, bringing together a range of organisations to raise awareness of the issue of invasive non-native species and inspire people to #GetINNSvolved and stop the spread.
We will post and share posts on Facebook throughout the week with information about a variety of invasive species issues. On the last day the theme is #getINNSvolved, so we will suggest ways you can all get involved with the Orkney Native Wildlife Project and other invasive species issues across Orkney.
Then on Saturday 31st March we will be holding a joint event at RSPB Scotland’s Brodgar nature reserve for the Easter weekend. RSPB Scotland will lead a guided walk focusing on native and non-native species, while ONWP staff will be around to answer any questions. There will be a self-guided nature trail quiz around the reserve for the whole weekend too so pop along whenever you are free.
Incursion responses
Hoy: Work continues on Hoy to try to determine whether there are multiple stoats and how widespread they are. This week following the bad weather, the camera traps picked up some great footage, including a slightly pink looking oystercatcher and a mountain hare travelling across the beautiful landscape.
No stoats have been caught or picked up on camera this week. So overall, we’ve caught no stoats but had one confirmed and one potential sighting on camera.
Please remember, if anyone thinks they have seen a stoat on Hoy or South Walls please 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.
And remember, to keep up-to-date with the project, please follow our Facebook page