Madam, – A recently completed distribution survey conducted by NUI Galway has shown American mink to have spread throughout the island of Ireland.
This alien, invasive species has found its way into the wild through accidental escapes and deliberate releases from fur farms in Ireland.
As they are not native to the island, the mink cause huge disruption to the ecosystems they enter. They may compete for resources with our native carnivorous species, they predate heavily on native prey species (including many protected wading birds’ eggs) and help to propagate parasites and diseases that affect other species.
The release of mink into the wild in Co Donegal may have been carried out with the best intentions to save individual mink, but the damage the mink inflict on untold numbers of native animals, and the horrific death through starvation and injury caused to these mink themselves means this action is definitely not the answer. Animal rights activists should campaign to the relevant Government department for the closure of fur farms. This recent action is only making things worse. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Compassion in World Farming – Ireland totally condemns the release of thousands of mink into the wild from a fur farm in Co Donegal. Mink, which are a non-native species, are a serious danger to Irish wildlife.
Intensive mink farming is inhumane and unnecessary. We urge the Government to bring forward the legislation that will end fur farming, as agreed in the current Programme for Government. In this way, the island of Ireland will become free of mink farms, as fur- farming is already illegal in Northern Ireland. – Yours, etc,