SNH investigation of potential stoat sighting on Sanday

Since stoats were first recorded on Orkney in 2010, they have spread across the mainland and the connected isles. They are skilled hunters and their presence could have a devastating effect on Orkney’s rich and diverse wildlife.

The sighting – on the north end of Sanday – was reported through a Facebook post on the Stoats in Orkney page in late December. SNH staff then spoke to the person who saw the animal, and are reasonably confident it was either a stoat or a weasel.

SNH staff are working together with the Sanday ranger and the RSPB to set up monitoring equipment and a localised trapping grid around the area where the potential stoat sighting was made. Tracking tunnels with ink pads to record animal footprints will be used, as well as a wide range of other monitoring tools. The trapping effort is aimed at capturing any stoats that may be present on Sanday, and will adhere to high standards of animal welfare.

Any evidence of stoats on non-linked isles like Sanday is problematic: if allowed to colonise, the stoats will considerably increase the threat to Orkney’s native wildlife, as well as increasing the costs and complexity of the project to remove them.

Graham Neville, SNH Northern Isles and North Highland operations manager, said:

“We’re working quickly to put in place monitoring and trapping to detect and hopefully remove any animal that might be present on Sanday. We’re looking for volunteers to help set up the monitoring and trapping on the island.  If anyone on Sanday is interested in helping, please get in touch with us in the Kirkwall office on 01856 875302 or with the Sanday Ranger on 01857 600359.”

Stoats are not native to Orkney, though they are widespread on the mainland UK. As they have no natural predators on Orkney, they prey on the native wildlife of Orkney, such as Orkney voles, and internationally important populations of ground-nesting and wading birds. They can also affect hen harriers and short-eared owls by eating their prey.

The cost of invasive species to the Scottish economy is an estimated £245 million per year and they are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide. Globally, invasive species have contributed to 40% of animal extinctions in the last 400 years. The battle with invasive non-natives aims to eradicate, or limit the spread of species which have found their way here.

Controlling invasive, non-native species is part of The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Route Map, published by Scottish Government in June 2015. This map sets out the big steps needed to implement the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 2020 Challenge, including ecosystem restoration, investment in natural capital, quality greenspace for health and education, wildlife conservation and the sustainable management of land, freshwater and the marine environment.

ENDS

Media queries: For more information, contact SNH press & public relations officers for Scottish Natural Heritage, Vicki Mowat on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk (Tues-Fri), or the main SNH press office on 01463 725 022.