Vol. 508 No. 4
211 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the status of wild mink currently increasing in population in many areas; whether mink are categorised as vermin; the estimated mink population at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19185/99]
Mink became established in the wild in Ireland, having escaped from mink farms in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Descendants of these mink, known as feral mink, are now present in every county in Ireland. There are no detailed population estimates for mink but mink densities vary considerably in Ireland and are largely determined by the quality of habitat. While mink numbers can vary slightly from year to year in response to favourable conditions or during the early colonisation of habitat areas, their numbers soon stabilise. Vermin is not a term defined under the Wildlife Act, 1976, but mink are considered an unwelcome predator by many interests, such as the hunter, farmer and fishcatcher who do not wish their game or domestic stocks to be subjected to an unwelcome and agile hunter. As mink are not protected under the Wildlife Act, 1976, they can be freely hunted or controlled by landowners and/or their agents.
