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Do American mink kill European mink? Cautionary message for future recovery efforts

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Abstract

An experimental release of the European mink (Mustela lutreola) was carried out in the Salburua wetland in North Spain between 2008 and 2010. A partial removal of feral American mink (Neovison vison) was done preceding the release. The survival and the cause of death of each of 27 captive-bred minks were studied during five months after release. Only 22 % of the minks (N = 6) survived during whole radio-tracking period. Predation was the most significant cause of mortality (76 %, N = 16). Seven European minks (33 % of mortality) were killed by another “mink-size” carnivore—the causes of death of these individuals were of particular interest to clarify possible impact of a few remained American mink to released European mink. We used three criteria to identify the exact causes of death of these seven minks: 1. Comparison of the distances of bite marks with the inter-canine distances of small carnivores, 2. Site descriptions and signs of predators and 3. Density of carnivores within the study area. None of the criteria taken separately allowed the complete identification of the predator species. Summing up the results of all three criteria, a male American mink was found to be the most likely predator of at least six released European minks (29 % of overall mortality and 38 % of predated minks). Our results show that the presence of American mink, even if the number is estimated to be low, may seriously limit the success of reinforcement or reintroduction of the European mink.

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Acknowledgements

The release operation in the Salburua wetland was supported by the Biodiversity Foundation, Environmental Ministry, TRAGSA, Alava Regional Government and the Municipal Government of Vitoria-Gasteiz and the European Mink Association. We are grateful for all the kind help by Luis Mariano González, Mirenka Ferrer, Gema Marti, Joseba Carreras, Patricia Lizarraga, Luis Lobo, Victoria Asensio, Cesar Aguilar, Oskar Berdión, and the guards of Alava and Salburua park. Rebeca Pérez, Haizea Agirre, Javier Lopez-Luzuriaga and Mikel Arenas, who were heavily involved in field work, along with the collaboration of Albert Roura, Sonia Oreca, Leticia Gómez, Javier Llorente, Pablo Sanz and Bienvenido Lorenzo. We also want to thank Tiit Maran, Jorge González-Esteban, Sisco Mañas, Bob Shelton and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Asociación Visón Europeo, Department of Animal Biology (Vertebrates), University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Madis Põdra & Santiago Palazón

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

    Madis Põdra

  3. TRAGSATEC, Área de Vida Silvestre. C/ Julián Camarillo 6A, 4ª planta, Sector B., 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Asunción Gómez

  4. Biodiversity and Animal Protection Service, General Direction of Environment and Biodiversity, Catalonia Government, Dr. Roux, 80. 08017, Barcelona, Spain

    Santiago Palazón

Authors
  1. Madis Põdra
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  2. Asunción Gómez
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  3. Santiago Palazón
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Correspondence to Madis Põdra.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Põdra, M., Gómez, A. & Palazón, S. Do American mink kill European mink? Cautionary message for future recovery efforts. Eur J Wildl Res 59, 431–440 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-013-0689-8

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