Farmers on mink invasion warning (From Warrington Guardian)

Farmers on mink invasion warning

FARMERS in Winsford and Middlewich have been warned to be on their guard against a mink invasion.

Last September, animal rights activists released 7,000 of the ferocious creatures from a farm in Onneley in Staffordshire.

Around 4,000 of the mink were captured soon after their release, but many escaped into the wild.

Now there is growing evidence that mink have arrived in Cheshire - and that is bad news for farmers and local wildlife.

The mink, which is native to North America, is a ruthless predator which poses a serious threat to poultry farms and holdings which specialise in game bird and fish-rearing.

Mink are already believed to be living on the Duke of Westminster's estate in Eccleston, near Chester, with the duke himself claiming to have seen the creatures there.

Steve Woolfall, keeper of natural history at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester, says it is "quite possible" that the mink have made their way up to Cheshire from Staffordshire.

And with mink enjoying aquatic habitats in the wild, the area in and around Winsford would seem to be ideal for them.

National Farmers Union spokesman Robbie Mason said: "When the mink were freed last year it was thought that many of them would perish in the winter.

"However, the winter we have had has been far from harsh, so it could be that there are a large number of mink still around.

"If they have adapted to life in the wild that would be bad news for indigenous species because they are pretty good killers.

"There are some wild mink in the county anyway and they are, for example, held responsible for the demise of the water vole population.

"Mink are not creatures to mess with, and they pose an obvious threat to certain types of farms.

"We would certainly advise farmers to be on their guard."

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