Quelle surprise!

Watching the BBC National News today (08/03/13) and lo and behold - only two days after ToaBV - there they are, featuring a piece on the plight of the Water Vole (although failing to explain the prime reason for the Water Voles dramatic decline - see previous post).

The BBC article showed a nice young man from Dorset Wildlife Trust, explaining how they were clearing river banks to create a more suitable environment for Water Voles, whilst a number of fluorescent chaps from the Environment Agency felled branches, to build a mink restaurant in the middle of a stream (dear auntie Beeb thought that the little floating island represented a safe home).

It's nice to know the BBC are following my lead (if not my blog), but I just hope that they had decided not to mention, the only real way to help save the savaged Water Vole population, lest they offend the squeamish British Public. If not I fear the well intentioned good people of Dorset were wasting their time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21685649

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est

A while back I remember taking umbrage (not the place where the Archers live) at an article written by Robin Page, which seemed to promote an, if it’s got eyes it dies, attitude, to most non-native species and pretty much anything else with the temerity to nibble his rhubarb stick, let alone breath the same air as cattle.

I don’t intend to throw my three pennyworth into the badger v bovine TB debate in this piece – but for a rather interesting twist to that story, check out professor Alice Roberts article in the Guardian, which suggest that cattle may well have first contracted TB from humans – look out homo erectus Robins got his gun.

Now - cue embarrassed blushes - I am about to side with Mr P in what I regard as the open and shut case against the American Mink.

Cute? - not if your a Water Vole or Kingfisher

Following escapes from fur farms between the 1920's and 1950's, the Mink (Neovison vison) has become widely established throughout the UK. Studies conclusively show, that Mink have had a major impact on our native fauna through predation of birds and small rodents. Particularly vulnerable species are kingfisher and the water vole (Arvicola amphibious) (Macdonald & Strachan, 1999), (Strachan, Strachan & Jefferies, 2000).

The studies conclude that, when added to existing habitat degradation, the pressure of mink predation has directly contributed to a 90% decline in water vole populations in many areas.

The Wildlife Trusts (along with other conservation bodies) advocate that (targeted, legal, humane) mink control is essential, if we are to conserve remaining key populations of water vole and to prevent the wholesale slaughter of birds, fish and small mammals by this indiscriminate killer.

Bold as brass - this mink showed little fear when I discovered 

it hunting around the back of our reserve buildings

Why then, does the authority, which manages my beloved local nature reserve, throw up their arms in helpless indifference, when I complain about the number of mink running around the Centre out-buildings and setting up home within yards of their offices. Clear evidence of their infestation and breeding can be seen, but will anybody do anything to prevent them spilling out across the whole reserve? No. The attitude seems to be - it’s too late, what can we do.

In 1992 Water Vole were confirmed as still being present on our site, but already at that time the numbers were identified as in decline, due to the effects of mink predation. Sadly, little if anything was done and Water Vole have not been recorded now for a number of years. Water Shrew (a much smaller mouthful) are still present, but how long will it be before they start to disappear, along with the Moorhen, Coot, Little and Great Crested Grebe and locally breeding ducks. Perish the thought that the Oyster Catchers and Lapwing, that also attempted to breed last year (but unfortunately got washed out) should try again. As for our plans to build a Kingfisher nest site – I don’t think I could bear to face the consequences.

In Scotland and many areas of England, it has proved possible that with a properly conducted programme, involving authorities, conservation bodies and volunteer groups, mink numbers can be sufficiently reduced, to allow Water Voles to recover and repopulate areas where previously they were thought to have gone for ever. It shows that it just needs the right attitude and a modicum of effort.

Come on you dithering councils and procrastinating authorities Qu'est-ce que c'est.