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Are we able to affect the population structure of an invasive species through culling? A case study of the attempts to control the American mink population in the Northern Iberian Peninsula

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Abstract

The American mink (Neovison vison) is a semi-aquatic mustelid from North America that is considered an invasive species in many countries. Due to its reported damage to native species, efforts are often undertaken to eradicate or control these mink populations. The aims of this study were to describe the demographic structures of three mink populations subjected to different culling intensities, to detect possible variations in these structures caused by trapping and to identify possible efficient indicators of trapping efforts. From 1998 to 2011, a total of 1306 American mink collected during official culling operations in three different Spanish areas were submitted for study. We sexed the carcasses and removed a canine tooth from each animal during the post-mortem procedures. The incremental cementum lines of the teeth were used for age estimation. No evidence of age structure changes was detected in any population. The proportion of individuals in each sex and age class remained constant over time, suggesting that despite control efforts, the age structure remained stable over the study period. The population with the highest culling intensity has the highest sub-adult/adult ratio (1.51), and the catch per unit effort in this area was lower in the second part of the period, which is a possible indicator of reduced density. Age structure and sub-adult ratio might be useful indicators of successful trapping efforts. The results from this study could be useful for decision-making in conservation of native species and management of mink populations.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks are given to V. Asensio, G. Matson, D. Camps, J.M. López-Martín, M. Ferrer, M. Pérez-Haro, C. Fernández, S. Oreca, C. Aguilar, J. López de Luzuriaga, J. Pinedo, P. Lizarraga, Y. Melero, L. Lopo, J. Carreras, C. Temiño, S. Brizuela, I. Molina, J.M. Meneses, L. Lobo, G. Belamentia and L.M. González and the Los Guindales (Burgos), Martioda (Alava) and Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Torreferrussa (Catalonia) Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. Control of American mink was supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya, Junta de Castilla y León, Dipuación Foral de Alava, Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz and the Spanish Environment Department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Direction of Environment and Biodiversity, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. Government of Catalonia, Dr. Roux 80, 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    Sisco Mañas, Santiago Palazón & Jordi Ruiz-Olmo

  2. Division of Environmental Services, Tragsatec, Julian Camarrillo. 6A- 4a planta. Sector B, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Asunción Gómez

  3. Department of Animal Biology (Vertebrates), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Santiago Palazón

  4. Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tallinn University, Narva Road 25, Tallinn, 10120, Estonia

    Madis Pǒdra

  5. Centre de Fauna dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà. Forestal Catalana, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food. Government of Catalonia, El Cortalet, 17486, Castelló d’Empúries, Spain

    Berto Minobis

  6. General Direction of Environment, Junta de Castilla y León, Rigoberto Cortejoso 14, 47014, Valladolid, Spain

    Olga Esther Alarcia

  7. Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animal, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Casal

  8. Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA)-IRTA, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain

    Jordi Casal

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  1. Sisco Mañas
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  2. Asunción Gómez
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  3. Santiago Palazón
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  4. Madis Pǒdra
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  5. Berto Minobis
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  6. Olga Esther Alarcia
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  7. Jordi Casal
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  8. Jordi Ruiz-Olmo
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Correspondence to Sisco Mañas.

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Communicated by: Andrzej Zalewski

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Mañas, S., Gómez, A., Palazón, S. et al. Are we able to affect the population structure of an invasive species through culling? A case study of the attempts to control the American mink population in the Northern Iberian Peninsula. Mamm Res 61, 309–317 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-016-0277-x

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