COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

QUESTION NO. 28

QUESTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the prevalence of Mink in the rivers of the Rathfarnham?"

REPLY:

The American Mink is regarded as a non-native invasive species and is regulated under the European Communities Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations 2011 [S.I. No. 477 of 2011]. Sections 49 and 50 of these Sections are concerned with the prohibition on the introduction, dispersal, trading and keeping of certain non-native species. Mink is listed in the Third Schedule, Part 2A, of those Regulations.

Following sighting of this species along sections of the proposed Natural Heritage Area of the Dodder River during the summer of 2014, a pilot programme of surveying and trapping for American Mink along the Dodder was undertaken over the autumn months of 2014. Mink were found to be present along the full length of the Dodder River within SDCC. They are also known to be present in Bushy Park, in the administrative area of DCC.

As birds and fish form a large part of its diet, mink, as a non-native invasive species, is deemed to be a threat to native populations of both protected and common species that are known to occur along the Dodder e.g. kingfisher, dipper, trout, mallard, coots, moorhens etc.

A programme of management of this species along the Dodder River is therefore currently being prepared by the Heritage Officer in conjunction with DCC, DLRCC, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Inland Fisheries.  Subject to the availability of funding and staff resources this should be completed by the end of the year.