Run a mink raft

The aim of the project is to use community participation to reduce American mink density thereby protecting water voles and other species. We are using an existing skilled workforce and groups of trained volunteers to run mink rafts. Gamekeepers, fishing bailiffs and ghillies and rangers are running rafts as part of their work across the Cairngorms area. We try to put rafts in accessible locations so weekly checks can be easily carried out. Our goal is to leave in place an effective monitoring and management program for American mink following the end of the project.

To increase our coverage and increase our mink trapping rate, we encourage volunteers to participate in the project by checking mink rafts in their area. Individuals that regularly travel past a river, whether walking or travelling to work can take part. Wildlife and conservation groups can take on the monitoring of some local rafts. Rambling and hill walking clubs may also be able to incorporate raft checks into their outings. Please contact us if you are interested in being involved and see below for information on how to run a raft.

Mink rafts (designed by GWCT, pictured below) are placed in rivers and lochs. If mink are present in the area, footprints are left in a clay bed on the raft. Targeted trapping can then be carried out by project officers, volunteer trappers and gamekeepers.
Volunteers are needed to carry out weekly/fortnightly checks of mink rafts and report the following information to project officers.

1. Date
2. River
3. Raft code
4. Mink prints (Y/N) and number of prints.

N.B It is important to record absence as well as presence of mink prints at each raft check. It is also important not to stop checking rafts if you find no mink footprints. This is a good sign and very useful information for us. It only takes one mink to do a lot of damage so we need to keep monitoring rivers!

If you work or live within the Cairngorms area and would like to participate in the project by running mink rafts please contact

Cairngorms and River Spey
Cat Robinson
email; cat[at]rafts.org.uk
07825 185 178

North Tayside
Ann-Marie MacMaster
e-mail:ann-marie[at]rafts.org.uk
Mobile: 07825 186 043

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