Stoats Invade Orkney's Outer Isles

Invasive stoats have been confirmed on Rousay, an outer island of Orkney, marking a significant setback for conservation efforts. The Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP), established in 2019 with a £15 million budget, is a stoat eradication scheme. Stoats were first discovered in Orkney in 2010 and had previously been confined to the mainland and south isles.

Project leaders expressed disappointment but not surprise, noting the high risk of spread. It remains unclear how the stoat reached Rousay, which is 1.8 miles from the mainland. Possibilities include swimming, accidental transport, or illegal release. The ONWP has trapped approximately 8,000 stoats to date.

The project's main priority is now removing the stoat from Rousay, an area crucial for native wildlife. This includes breeding seabirds, moorland birds like curlews, and the endemic Orkney vole. The timing is particularly concerning due to the current breeding season.

Complete eradication is deemed more feasible and financially sound than long-term containment, which would cost an estimated million pounds annually. The spread of stoats poses a severe threat to Orkney's unique biodiversity, which had shown signs of recovery in March of this year.