Minks Damage Archipelago Environment

The study, a doctoral dissertation presented by Karen Fey at the University of Turku, shows that much of the damage done by minks in the wild is a result of their hunting of moles. A fall in the mole population reduces plant species diversity on the islands of the archipelago. At the same time, indigenous predators suffer in the competition for food. Minks are an intrusive species and moles have no natural defences to deal with them.

By eating birds' eggs and fledglings, minks are also responsible for a fall in the diversity of bird species. Hunting by minks has lead to a collapse of the frog population on outer islands in the archipelago.

An official programme has been successful in nearly eliminating minks in the Utö and Trunsö areas. It is unlikely that minks can be totally annihilated, but the research points out that efforts are needed to reduce the population to as low a level as possible. She says that no more should be released into the wild from fur farms and that work should be done to increase their natural enemies such as eagles and owls.