These days, you just can't get the staff! RSPB struggling to recruit trappers in Orkneys stoat eradication project

                                                                     

Stoats not welcome in Orkney - at least not by the RSPB which fears  predation of rare birds

 

A PROJECT to eradicate all stoats from The Orkneys could stall because of a shortage of workers willing to carry out the killing.

The RSPB is offering up to £53,233 per annum for a boss to oversee the programme - starting "as soon as possible" -  and up to £31,000 per annum each for three workers to set the traps and dispose of the dead animals.

Stoats are not native to The Orkneys. It is believed they may have accidentally been introduced on a  shipment of farm machinery or hay bales from mainland Scotland in 2010.

The project, known as the Orkney Native Wildlife Project, was set up in 2018 and is a partnership between Orkney Native Wildlife Project

The bird charity says: "Stoats pose a serious threat to the Orkney vole, a species found nowhere else in the world, and many birds including hen harriers, short-eared owls, red-throated divers, waders and seabirds. 

 

The RSPB says stoats are a threat to uncommon species such as red-throated divers

"This wildlife supports Orkney’s thriving tourism industry and represents a crucial haven for species which are threatened elsewhere in the UK. 

"It is therefore essential that stoats are removed from Orkney before they do major damage."

It continues: "The project works with hundreds of landowners in the community as well as with  schools and the local community to enable and encourage wildlife conservation."

However, not all farmers are supportive of the stoat-purge. They believe the stoats might help control the expanding  population of grey lag geese which they blame for nibbling their crops. 

According to the RSPB, trappers will need to be "physically fit, able to walk considerable distances over challenging terrain in all weathers up to five days per week and potentially carry heavy loads."

Says the job description: "You will enjoy being outdoors and be able to perform a repetitive task to a consistently high standard." 

"You should be passionate about the natural world. 

There are now no fewer than 7,000 traps located across the islands.