Current Removal Procedures

Invasion Curve: The difficulty of removing an invasive increases 
as size of the area and time the invasive has been present increases. 
The text boxes above provide examples of the likelihood of eradicating 
the American mink based on the size of the area.

Because the American mink have posed such a large problem in Europe, many eradication efforts have been made and are currently underway. So far eradication efforts have been most successful in small controlled islands onto which have low risk of American mink being introduced. However, the Spanish government is currently dealing with the ecosystem impacts of the American mink and are working to eradicate it. At this point, it would be nearly impossible to eradicate the American mink on mainland Britain or mainland Europe, so the best we can do in these situations is to control the American mink populations so that they do not grow even more.



We can look into some current methods of American mink control and eradication success stories!

Biocontrol: introducing an enemy (predator, competitor, etc.) that controls populations of invasive species (Groom, 2006)

Eurasian Otter

As discussed on the previous page, reintroduction of the Eurasian otter, a native dominant competitor of the mink, may be a method of naturally controlling the American mink populations (Kauhala, 2006). Reintroducing the Eurasian otter will reduce American mink density, exclude mink from shared habitats and impede mink colonization (Melero et al., 2012). This method is favorable because not only is the invasive being controlled, but Europe is reestablishing a native species that has been previously impacted by pollution. The reestablishment of otter populations will not likely have an unintended negative effect on the European ecosystems because it is a native species naturally found in these areas.

Mechanical control: the physical removal of an invasive species (Groom, 2006)

In mechanical control, American mink are often removed by trapping or hunting. By selectively killing American mink, the mink populations may come under control. However, the downfall of mechanical control is that on a large scale, it becomes very difficult and expensive (MacDonald, 2003). 

Hiiumaa Island: A successful example of American mink eradication
Graphic created by Noelle Le Tourneau
Information Courtesy of Bonesi et al., 2007

Mechanical control has mostly been successful on small islands, such as Hiiumaa where it is easy to set up reserves for native species because of isolated island biogeography. In 1998, American mink were eradicated on Hiiumaa island, which was then established as a sanctuary for the European mink. Hiiumaa Island serves as an excellent reserve for the European mink due to its small size and geographic isolation. Small areas are easier to monitor and island geography makes it more difficult for the American to re-enter the area and re-establish itself. On the island, community members helped to physically remove American mink by trapping and hunting.

"Mink Raft": an eradication effort put forth by 
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust in Scotland

Different mechanisms for capturing the mink have also been developed. In Scotland, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust "Mink Raft" was first implemented in 2002 as a detection and capture method of American mink. This simple design (pictured on the left) has a clay mat, which may capture mink footprints if mink are present. Once it is confirmed that there are mink in the area, based on the appearance of tracks, a trap is set inside the raft to catch mink.
For more information on how a raft works and how build one, click here. If interested, here is a video about the raft method in action.




Although there is no definite method of how to eradicate the American mink, it is important that we focus on preventing American mink from colonizing further and that we reserve areas to protect the species that the American mink threatened, such as certain waterfowl and the polecats (Melero et al., 2012). In order to prevent further invasion from the American mink, modern day fur farms should closed down when possible, or highly monitored at the very least. A community approach is most effective, so the education of the European community on the American mink should promote involvement in controlling and eradicating this invasive! 
It is important for the future that we recognize the risk of invasion, so we can avoid intended or unintended introductions for economic reasons (Essl et al., 2011). Europe should no only emphasize prevention measures, but also provide control for invasive species. Although a species may cause an economic benefit at one point in time, it may likely have disastrous effects on future ecosystems in that area. Eradication efforts for invasives are extremely costly, time and monetary wise.

Invasion debt: When considering your current consumer use commercial animal products, consider the effect that that species may have on ecosystems in a few decades!

Overall, we should be aware of the ways that our economic demands of today may affect the ecosystems in many years. We should be weary of the ways that mass scale farming of invasives may affect us in the future, whether it poses a threat currently or not.