Welcome to the thirty-first stoat snippet!
These snippets are 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
We have had a member of our Technical Advisory Group visit the project this week. He is the ex-head keeper at a 30,000 acre Estate in Upper Teesdale. He has been using his vast experience in stoat trapping to advise us about our plans to continue the trapping trial and also share his thoughts on how to optimise trap placement.
In other news, Scottish Natural Heritage is currently recruiting for a graduate placement to work on the Orkney Native Wildlife Project. We are looking for someone to develop and implement monitoring and surveillance techniques on the outer isles. This opportunity is open to anyone who has graduated in the last four years and would be an excellent opportunity to work on an exciting project. You can find more information here: www.snhjobs.scot
Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project
The traps are due to be checked again in two weeks’ time.
Incursion responses
Hoy: Work is continuing to try and determine whether there is one or many stoats present. The traps and cameras will be checked again next week.
However, we are also investigating a reported sighting. We really need people to be vigilant and to please remember, if you think you’ve seen a stoat on Hoy or South Walls please report it immediately by phone or email.
And we need more help!
We are currently looking for people from Hoy, or anyone who can access Hoy easily, to volunteer to be part of a local team skilled in finding stoat sightings! Suitable volunteers will be trained to use our thermal imaging camera and in other techniques. Do get in touch if you are interested.
Answering your concerns…
Remember, if you have any comments or concerns please contact north@snh.gov.uk or orkney@rspb.org.uk.
Once again, don't forget to keep reporting any sightings of stoats, 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 to keep up-to-date with the project, please follow our Facebook page