The West Iceland Nature Research Center has requested the cooperation of mink hunters in a research project aiming to gather more information about mink populations in Iceland, RÚV reports.
In order to conduct the research, the centre has requested catches be sent to them until the end of 2018. The aim is to gather information on size, age, fertility, and physical condition of the population. The research will be carried out in collaboration with two Polish universities with the hope findings will be useful both in Iceland and abroad.
Mink is not native to Iceland, but rather an introduced species, and it has a negative environmental impact, especially on bird life. No records are currently kept of its numbers. Róbert Stefánsson, director of the West Iceland Nature Research Center, believes mink numbers are growing following a slight decline. Hunting is one factor that has helped keep their numbers down in recent years.
“It is sometimes said that one needs to know the enemy in order to conquer it. The goal of hunting mink is first and foremost to reduce harm to the environment and knowing more about the population can help with this struggle, and with the possibility of managing the hunting in such a way that it has the largest possible impact on the mink population,” stated Róbert.
