Stoat Eludes £150,000 Hunt on Remote Orkney Island

A large-scale operation costing approximately £150,000 to track down a lone stoat on the Orkney island of Rousay has thus far been unsuccessful in capturing the elusive animal. The stoat, believed to be male, was first reported on Rousay in April, with its presence confirmed the following month. This prompted an immediate effort to locate and remove it before it could establish a breeding population.

Extensive Search Operations Deployed

Since May, conservationists have deployed 229 traps and 59 cameras across Rousay. The search also involves specially trained detection dogs capable of identifying stoat droppings and other signs of their presence. Despite these extensive measures, the stoat's most recent confirmed sighting was captured on camera on September 6.

The significant expenditure on the operation was revealed through a Freedom of Information request. NatureScot documents show that an additional £148,790 was approved in June to bolster the response on Rousay. This funding was requested by the Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP), which emphasized the urgency of removing the stoat to prevent it from establishing itself and potentially spreading to other islands in the Orkney archipelago.

Officials expressed concern that a breeding population on Rousay could provide a pathway for stoats to reach other islands that are currently free of the invasive species. People living on and visiting Rousay have been urged to report any sightings or signs of the predator. The additional funding has supported increased staffing, including a dedicated trapper, as well as vehicles and specialized equipment.

Invasive Species Threat to Native Wildlife

Rousay was previously considered a stoat-free zone. Stoats are an introduced species in Orkney, first discovered in 2010. Their arrival is believed to have occurred either through accidental transport in hay on ferries or intentional release to control rabbits. Prior to the Rousay incident, stoat distribution in Orkney had been largely concentrated on Orkney Mainland and the southern islands connected by the Churchill Barriers. The proximity of Rousay to the mainland raises concerns, as stoats are known to be capable swimmers.

The presence of stoats poses a significant threat to Orkney's unique native wildlife. Rousay is home to important nesting populations of ground-nesting birds, including curlews, lapwings, and oystercatchers, which are vulnerable to predation. The Orkney vole, a species found nowhere else in the world outside the archipelago, is also at risk. The vole is a crucial food source for rare birds of prey such as hen harriers and short-eared owls.

Broader Eradication Program Underway

The hunt for the stoat on Rousay is part of a larger £16 million eradication program aimed at removing stoats from Orkney entirely. This wider initiative, delivered by RSPB Scotland, NatureScot, and Orkney Islands Council, has been ongoing since 2019 and has resulted in the elimination of over 9,000 stoats. The project aims to reduce the risk of stoats spreading between islands as their numbers on Orkney Mainland decline. A spokesperson for ONWP stated that the response on Rousay was a short-term solution to ensure the island was addressed appropriately.