redrobbie Posted October 26, 2018 Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 So £6 million granted to get rid of Orkneys Stoats . Would a similar project be feasible to rid Shetland of its feral polecats which must do a lot of damage to wildlife of all sorts . https://www.orcadian.co.uk/6-million-stoat-project-to-bring-more-than-20-jobs-to-orkney/?fbclid=IwAR2_hPEG5Mj0sluWAYTMUtN5oz0AQ8jCqvCIO43dOkfJj1b5WHlGskTfT6s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted October 26, 2018 Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 why bother. then you would have more of a rabbit issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George. Posted October 26, 2018 Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 When stoats have been around Shetland since the 1700's, why worry about them now. Shetland Biological Records Centre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrobbie Posted October 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2018 (edited) Its not stoats i was on about it was feral ferrets/polecats . Interestingly polecats are known to kill stoats and their young . The project in Orkney has received £6 million in grants which will fund 22 full time jobs in rural parts of those islands . Edited October 26, 2018 by redrobbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claadehol Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 For the sake of the ground nesting birds in Shetland, removing the feral ferrets altogether would be a great thing. The council put a price on their heads at one time and the numbers were certainly being reduced as a result. However, in their wisdom the council decided after a year or two to call a halt to the programme. That was a mistake, as the numbers soon recovered. The hedgehog is also an alien species as far as the northern isles are concerned and they should also be removed. They also do great damage to ground nesting birds by eating the eggs and the nestlings. This is a problem for many birds, skylarks, meadow pipits, ringed plovers, lapwings, etc. Hedgehogs were removed from part of the western isles not long ago for exactly that reason. They have been introduced by misguided people, another big mistake. Considering the quantity of predatory birds, crows, ravens, several species of gull, and the skuas, the last thing ground nesting birds need are introduced predatory mammals. Hedgehog numbers have plummeted on the mainland where they belong, they need help too. So when going south for a holiday take one with you, it would help both causes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances144 Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 We've trapped 7 polecats in under a month this Autumn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suuusssiiieee Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 Quite a few indoors at Lerwick Toon Hall. that need sorted out too. sludgegulper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted November 13, 2018 Report Share Posted November 13, 2018 ^ They're trying to 'flush' them out every time it rains, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George. Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) Don't forget it often rains, apparently. Edited November 14, 2018 by George. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 as all land mammals are introduced species it would be a sad shetland if they were all removed. are we to remove humans as we kill loads with our cars ect. hedgehogs are in decline nationally lets protect ours. now rats are becoming more common and pose a bigger problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 as all land mammals are introduced species it would be a sad shetland if they were all removed. are we to remove humans as we kill loads with our cars ect. hedgehogs are in decline nationally lets protect ours. now rats are becoming more common and pose a bigger problem. Remove humans ? Why not. Just let nature run the place.. Except that both hedgehogs and rats devastate hatches of ground nesting birds. Where are you going to draw the line ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George. Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Is an otter a land mammal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulb Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 it was introduced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George. Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Round about when? The nineteenth century, the one before? Did the Vikings bring them in or was it as far back as mesolithic man? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted November 14, 2018 Report Share Posted November 14, 2018 Round about when? The nineteenth century, the one before? Did the Vikings bring them in or was it as far back as mesolithic man? https://www.shetland.org/things/explore-nature/sea-mammals paulb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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