Mink 'control' policy in bid to save water voles

A mink control policy was approved by Leicestershire County Council's cabinet

A policy to control invasive minks in Leicestershire and Rutland in a bid to protect water vole populations has been approved.

On Friday, Leicestershire County Council's cabinet passed the plan to support the conservation of water voles, which environmental groups say have declined by 97% nationally since 1950, largely due to mink.

A document explaining the policy states only live-capture traps can be used on minks and any non-target species must be released unharmed.

It adds that methods to "capture and dispatch" mink are "humane, safe and targeted".

The authority said while there is no definitive answer on the population of mink in Leicestershire, there has been a decline due to ongoing mink control.

The council said this new scheme allows for a common policy across Leicestershire and Rutland to control mink population.

A council spokesperson said mink control is "a national issue" and "an important part of ensuring endangered water vole populations can recover".

The spokesperson added: "We have identified the water vole as a priority species in our Local Nature Recovery Strategy and are working with the Water Vole Recovery project to help boost their numbers in Leicestershire.

"Any work to control mink in the county would follow the highest national standards and would not be a threat to any other animals."

The county council says water vole populations will never truly recover without full mink control

The policy document explains The Leicestershire and Rutland Water Vole Steering Group (LRWVSG) consists of a partnership of organisations committed to native wildlife conservation

The group has an agreed vision to support water vole recovery in the two counties, which includes the "humane control" of mink population.

Minks are a semi-aquatic mammal and females can enter burrows to hunt water voles, which are unable to escape, the county council said.

The species is native to North America, but was brought to Britain in the 1920s to be farmed for fur.

Some escaped and others were released by animal rights activists.