Eradication project sees mink set to disappear from the Western Isles

The animals have become scarce on North and South Uist and Benbecula following work by the Hebridean Mink Project.

During the last three months in the project area, only one female and her two kits have been caught, in the Carminish islands on the south coast of Harris.

The first phase of the project, which began in 2000 and is costing 1.65 million, aims to eradicate mink from North Uist and Benbecula and drastically reduce their numbers in South Harris. Organisers say the complete eradication of the non-native species across these islands is now extremely likely to be achieved within the remaining few months of the project.

The work is backed by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Scottish Executive, Western Isles Council, Western Isles Enterprise, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Central Science Laboratory. Half the budget has been provided by the EU LIFE Nature Fund, set up to protect bird habitats.

A bid will be made later this year for the 3 million needed for phase two which will tackle the bigger problem of clearing mink from Lewis and Harris. Mink were introduced to the islands in the Fifties and Sixties, in attempts at commercial farming in Lewis. When that failed, the animals were released or escaped and spread rapidly.

Up to 10,000 adult mink are thought to have colonised the islands with several hundred in the Uists. The voracious animals have been blamed for killing poultry, raiding fish farms and threatening internationally important bird colonies in the islands for decades by eating chicks and eggs.

David Maclennan, the project chairman, said: "We are really pleased with the progress that has been made so far."