Welcome to the eighth 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
You’ll remember that one of the things we are doing in the development phase is trapping trials to perfect the method for trapping stoats so that we have the best chance of complete success during the full eradication.
This week we have been working on that, including refining the trap design following discussions with folk living in one of the areas where the Biosecurity Project is taking place (see below).
Orkney Mainland Predator Invasion Biosecurity Project
The fourth check on the traps is happening this week and we are about half way through this. They have caught a couple more stoats and we should be able to give more of an update next week.
This week we also visited some folk who had raised a concern about the traps. We are continuing to work with them to discuss these concerns as we refine the trap design for both the Biosecurity Project and trapping trials.
Potential incursion responses
Rousay: No change on Rousay. No stoats have been caught and there have still been no further reports of possible stoat sightings.
Hoy: The traps and monitoring equipment on Hoy were checked this week. No stoats were caught, there were no signs of stoats on the cameras and no further sightings have been reported. The tracking tunnel evidence (footprints and fur) are still being analysed but we are fairly confident that they are not from stoats. This is all positive news.
Answering your concerns…
Remember, if you have any comments or concerns please contact north@snh.gov.uk or orkney@rspb.org.uk.
And don't forget to keep reporting any sightings of stoats, 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.