Written by Katy on 16 April, 2011 : 13:00 This article is taken from the blog of The League Against Cruel Sports face 
book site.
‘ It is that time of year again where we ask our supporters to keep a vigilant and close eye out for the hunting packs which operate through late spring and the summer months. I am of course referring to the mink hounds.
This style of hunting centres on our waterways and causes upset and disruption to riverside wildlife and the habitats they enjoy. For centuries these hunts enjoyed terrorising otters until 1981 when this quarry was afforded protection in law. Thankfully it is now fully protected under British and European law but with this change the hunting community switched to the out of favour mink population.
Mink were considered a pest in the 70s and 80s after these persecuted creatures were discarded into our countryside when the fur industry collapsed. They successfully bred and spread rapidly across the British Isles preying on brown and black water voles in particular. Funny enough, as I am writing this I realise my background programme of choice starts to voice a report on guess what…the mink! (The Animal’s Guide to Britain BBC 2).
Whatever you may hear to the contrary, the mink population has stabilised and the British water vole – like the otter – is also making a successful comeback to our waterways. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the methods used for controlling mink did not involve hunting with a pack of dogs!
Since the Hunting Act has now outlawed the hunting of mink, these packs will often say they are hunting rats to justify their past time.But this is where the problem lies. Hunting packs still represent a grave threat to the lives of these creatures and can cause considerable damage to their habitats as well as disrupting their feeding and breeding patterns.
Mink hunting, by its very nature, is an extremely disruptive activity as ample evidence to the Burns enquiry from the Wildlife Trust confirmed. Likewise, Dorset Wildlife Trust survey of academics – 1999, Environment Agency, Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature) all cautioned that this activity was incompatible with sensible welfare and conservation considerations.
How can you help? If you see or hear of any mink packs that are operating then please contact us here at the League on 01483 524 250. We need to hear from you.’
