Is some grudge-bearing individual deliberately releasing bird-killing stoats on island of Rousay in Orkney?

                                                                

The second Rousay stoat seen shortly before it was trapped and killed?

EARLIER this month, the RSPB and other conservation organisations were jubilant when they trapped what they thought was the only stoat on  the Orkney island of Rousay.

But their glee was  misplaced - another stoat has subsequently been detected.

This one, too, has been trapped and killed, but conservationists are concerned  - very concerned.

They now fear that the island may already be hosting additional stoats - or is at risk of doing so in the future.

The Orkney Native Wildlife Project, of which the RSPB is a partner, has put out this statement: 

"It is fortunate that we have removed a second stoat which posed a serious threat to the island’s native species  including Curlews, Red-throated Divers, Hen Harriers and Short-eared Owls, plus the Orkney vole, a unique subspecies found nowhere else in the world. 

"Now we need to continue apace with the biosecurity monitoring that is needed to ensure that Rousay is completely stoat-free.

"We  must remain vigilant before we can confirm that wildlife in Rousay is safe. 

"Our trappers and local community volunteers will be keeping the island under intense observation, so that.if any other stoats are seen, we can respond to remove them as quickly and effectively as possible.. 

The statement continues: "It is not currently clear how either of these stoats arrived on the island. 

"They may have swum across the Eynhallow Sound from the Orkney mainland to Rousay.

"The three kilometres is well within the distance of open water stoats have been known to cross. 

"It is also possible that somebody chose to break the law, and endanger Rousay's native wildlife and economy by deliberately releasing one or more stoats." 

Conservationists hope that DNA testing may help to confirm the stoat's origins.