Only ourselves to blame

IN REPLY to the article written by Ralph Freeman. For once I strongly disagree with his article regarding mink, writes Peter Ponting.

Mink were introduced into this country in the early sixties from Canada, to become a fashion item. To be farmed and killed, so their skins could be used to produce items such as mink coats.

Released into wild

Once this fashion subsided, many mink farmers simply released the mink into the wild, thinking they would die. However, Canada has a similar weather and temperature pattern as the UK, so they survived and continued to grow in numbers.

With the decline in Otter numbers, the Otter hunters turned to mink. Does Ralph Freeman want to see mink hunting re- introduced?

The mink does have a predator, that being the badger. However the newly introduced badger cull is putting a stop to that.

Intervention a disaster

Like the Canadian Geese introduced in the 70's. Human intervention with wildlife is a disaster, with only ourselves to blame.

Nature will sort itself out, but not with our help.