A new exhibition examining the ecological impact of stoats in Orkney has opened at The Orkney Museum bringing together art, conservation and science.

Unnatural Arrivals: The Stoat Crisis in Orkney opened on 9 May and will run until 20 June 2026.

The exhibition has been created through a collaboration between Orkney based artists and the Orkney Native Wildlife Project.

Stoats were first confirmed in Orkney in 2010 and are not native to the islands.

Their arrival has created major challenges for local wildlife including ground nesting birds, birds of prey and the Orkney vole which evolved in an environment without mammalian predators.

The exhibition combines painting, sculpture, photography and three dimensional artwork alongside scientific material and practical conservation equipment including stoat traps.

Visitors can also explore audiovisual material and information panels explaining the scale of the conservation effort currently underway across Orkney.

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project is a partnership involving NatureScot, RSPB Scotland and Orkney Islands Council.

The project is leading what is believed to be one of the world’s largest invasive species eradication programmes on a populated island group.

Thousands of stoats have already been removed as part of long term efforts to protect Orkney’s biodiversity.

The exhibition invites artists to respond to the issue from ecological, emotional and ethical perspectives.

Themes explored through the work include island vulnerability, environmental disruption, coexistence and conservation intervention.

Some artworks directly reference scientific research and fieldwork while others offer more symbolic and reflective interpretations of the crisis.

Organisers say the exhibition aims to encourage informed discussion around conservation challenges rather than offer simplistic answers.

The exhibition also highlights the role museums and artists can play in helping communities engage with environmental issues affecting local landscapes and wildlife.