Scotland tries to eradicate its mink population

From BBC News:

One by one, American mink are being removed from rivers in Scotland, in what has been described as the biggest conservation scheme of its kind. These animals first arrived in the UK in the 1950s, imported from America to be farmed for their fur.

But after some escaped - or were released - they have spread around the country, and scientists estimate there are now tens of thousands throughout the UK.

And the predators have had a devastating impact on local river wildlife, affecting birds such as moorhens, coots, widgeon and teal, fish and most markedly water voles, which have declined by more than 95% over the last 50 years...

Even animal welfare organisations like the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals make exceptions to their strong stance against killing wild animals when it comes to invasive species...

"We very much find evidence that water voles are making a comeback - some areas that have not seen water voles for 10, 20 years are now being reoccupied. And we expect species like moorhens will make a recovery. They used to be abundant, but we don't see many now.

The story reminded me that mink were found to be responsible for the bizarre phenomenon of the "dog suicide bridge" in Scotland, where 50 dogs have jumped to their deaths.