Stoats Reach Outer Isles of Orkney

Why this is here: The ONWP has trapped around 8,000 stoats since the start of its eradication scheme in 2019, making it the world’s largest effort of its kind.

Experts confirm invasive stoats have spread to the outer isles of Orkney, Scotland. The Orkney Native Wildlife Project (ONWP) photographed a stoat in Rousay last week. This marks an expansion beyond Mainland and the south islands, where the non-native predator has been confined since 2010.

The ONWP, a £15 million eradication scheme, has already trapped roughly 8,000 stoats. Project lead Sarah Sankey notes the team anticipated spread to other islands, but is surprised it took until now. It remains unclear how the animal reached Rousay, which is about 1.8 miles from the mainland.

The ONWP is now focused on removing the stoat, as its presence threatens native species like the Orkney vole, hen harrier, and short-eared owl. Determining the stoat’s sex and whether others are present is a current priority, as a breeding female could rapidly increase the population. The project continues to assess the best path forward for managing this invasive species.