A bold new plan has been launched to finally rid the Outer Hebrides of invasive American mink.
The initiative, named Saving Nature Outer Hebrides, aims to build on years of hard-won progress made under the Hebridean Mink Project.
The presence of mink has long been a threat to vulnerable ground-nesting birds including Arctic terns and red-throated divers.
Previous efforts have seen numbers fall drastically, giving bird populations some breathing space to recover.
However, conservationists say that unless mink are completely eradicated, that progress could be undone.
NatureScot, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Community Land Outer Hebrides have now secured £94,000 from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund to ramp up efforts.
The funding will support the development of a new, focused strategy aimed at total elimination of the species from the archipelago.
NatureScot’s David Maclennan said the groundwork laid by earlier trapping had created a real opportunity to finish the job.
He praised the resilience of local efforts and confirmed that the new strategy will use lessons learned from the past alongside the latest techniques.
According to Maclennan, while eradication is challenging, it is now firmly within reach.
He added that a clean sweep would not only protect local wildlife but would also prove the most cost-effective path in the long run.
This new phase marks a shift in approach, with greater ambition and a strong focus on lasting results.
Murdo Mackay of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said it was vital to ensure past gains are not lost.
He reaffirmed the council’s full support for the mission and the importance of seeing it through to the end.
Kevin Adams of Community Land Ownership Outer Hebrides described the project as “vital” for protecting the region’s unique natural heritage.
He said local communities were strongly behind the project and eager to see its goals realised.
The Outer Hebrides are internationally important for breeding seabirds, making the success of this programme significant well beyond Scotland.
By stamping out the last remaining mink, the hope is to allow these fragile ecosystems to flourish once more.
The coming months will see the plan developed and refined in close collaboration with experts and local stakeholders.
If successful, it could serve as a model for invasive species control in island communities across the globe.
