A Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden, and shots of an adder and slow worm taken around Lochluichart and Benn Eighe.
Laura Gauna
Mink traps
David's article in Lochside this time around, mentioning the mink traps he found, is timely, with the announcement on the 12 May, that there will be a cull of mink across the Highlands.
I have been in touch with the Scottish Mink Initiative’s Highland Mink Control Officer, Gunnar Scholz, who has confirmed that once a trap has been placed it is a legal requirement to check it every 24 hours, and the trap has to be placed in a position that takes into account any potential rise of water levels overnight. If in doubt the trap should be relocated or closed for the day.
We all know we have a thriving family of otters locally. And although mature otters will be too large to gain entrance to a mink trap, cubs, however, ARE at risk.
Otters are inquisitive creatures, and cubs more so - and it has been recorded that young otters have been caught in such traps.
Potentially the cub dies because of the time away from it's mother, it dies in the trap because it hasn't been checked for longer than the legal 24 hours, or it simply drowns because water levels have risen.
If anyone is setting traps locally, and they are unable to check within the legal guidelines please ask for help - I'm sure we can set-up a group to assist, rather than put otters (or any other bird or mammal) at risk. Please contact the newsletter team, or if you need further advice regarding trapping mink, or if you'd like to help with the scheme, contact Gunnar Scholz direct.
Note: Otters are a protected species, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly kill, injure, take, possess, sell or disturb otters (whether live or dead), intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct their place of shelter or protection.
Press Release: New initiative begins to remove mink from the Highlands
The Highlands are set to become a key target area in the largest ever initiative to remove breeding American mink from north Scotland. Covering 20,000 km², from rural north Tayside across Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Cairngorms National Park and the Highlands.
Aiming to protect native wildlife, such as water voles, ground nesting birds and economically important populations of salmon and game birds, to help protect local economic stability for the benefit of local communities, the initiative signals a £920,000 investment in native wildlife conservation, thanks to support from Cairngorms National Park Authority, Highland, Moray, Rural Aberdeenshire and Rural Tayside LEADER 2003 - 2007 Programmes and SNH through the Species Action Framework.
Gunnar Scholz, the Scottish Mink Initiative’s Highland Mink Control Officer, said: “The Highland region is important because we have currently a low density mink population present in the area.. We will be working towards a reduction of mink living in the area and, more importantly, towards preventing new mink moving into the Highlands from further south.
It is a big challenge and won’t be possible without dedicated local volunteers. Many people and communities are already involved in the initiative, and are doing a fantastic job. Over the next few months, we will be doing more to promote the importance of mink control and recruit even more volunteers. By working strategically with the community I hope to set up a volunteer network to monitor mink movements using mink rafts and establish an alert system to help us prevent further spread of the species. Any locals interested in helping the initiative can contact me at gunnar@rafts.org.uk. The success of this initiative relies on community support and involvement, and we hope that by working with landowners we can deliver real, tangible results to benefit local communities now and in the future.”
Gunnar Scholtz, Highland Mink Control Officer
T: 07825 184 080 E: gunnar@rafts.org.uk
W: www.watervolescotland.org
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Laura's photographs made me realise how little I know about these three wild creatures.
So, I thought I'd find out a little more - firstly from www.rspb.org. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is about blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. It has a very distinctive bouncing flight and spends most of its time clinging to tree trunks and branches, often trying to hide on the side away from the observer. Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring 'drumming' display. The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown. They can be seen in woodlands, especially those with mature broad-leaved trees, although mature conifers will support them, and in parks and large gardens. Will come to peanut feeders and birdtables. Not found in the far North of Scotland. (Ed: humm, do you think we should tell someone?) Only a handful of pairs nest in Ireland, but numbers are increasing. Common in England and Wales.
The Adder
From the Foresty Commission website www.forestry.gov.uk - Adders are relatively common in areas of rough, open countryside and are often associated with woodland edge habitats. They are less inclined to disappear into the surrounding undergrowth when disturbed and so are probably the most frequently seen of the three British snakes. The best time to see them is in early spring when they emerge from their hibernation dens. By mid April, the males have shed their dull winter skin and are ready to mate. There is a lot of frenzied activity on warm days. The 'dance of the adders' was thought to be a mating display, but it is a larger male attempting to drive off a smaller one. The snakes writhe around each other in an impressive way, often covering the ground at great speed.
The adder is the only venomous snake native to Britain. They are not aggressive. Adders will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on. No one has died from adder bite in Britain for over 20 years. Treat adders with respect and leave them alone.
The slow worm
The slow worm looks like a snake in some respects but the fact that it has eyelids, a flat forked tongue and can drop its tail to escape from a predator gives its true identity away. It is a lizard. It is often found in gardens and is widespread throughout the British Isles. It is naturally absent from Ireland. It's appearance is always shiny, the males are a greyish brown, the females brown with dark sides and a thin line down the back. Slow worms give birth to live young in September. The young are very thin, about 4cm long with black bellies and gold or silver backs with a thin black line down the middle. They can be found in almost any open or semi-open habitat. It likes warmth but instead of basking in the open sun it prefers to hide under a stone, log or piece of discarded rubbish such as a sheet of corrugated iron or plank of wood exposed to the sun. Slow worms are also keen on compost heaps where they find warmth and plenty of food. They feed on slow moving prey, particularly small slugs. Slow worms are protected by law in Great Britain against being killed, injured or sold or traded in any way.
Jackie West
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