Editing Orkney (section)

===Stoat problem and solution===
[[File:Mustela_erminea_upright.jpg|thumb|175px|Stoat]]

The introduction of non-native [[stoat]]s since 2010, a natural predator of the [[common vole]] and thus of the [[Orkney vole]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2013/09/04/revealed-the-orkney-voles-prehistoric-links-to-belgium/|title=Orkney vole is from Belgium|access-date=10 April 2016|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730022721/http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2013/09/04/revealed-the-orkney-voles-prehistoric-links-to-belgium/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2006/11/30/academics-ponder-orkneys-fox-farming-past/|title=Orkney Fox in Neolithic era|access-date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205013541/http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/2006/11/30/academics-ponder-orkneys-fox-farming-past/|archive-date=5 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> was also harming native bird populations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snh.gov.uk/land-and-sea/managing-wildlife/orkney-stoats/|title=Orkney Stoats|access-date=10 April 2016|archive-date=21 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421212243/http://www.snh.gov.uk/land-and-sea/managing-wildlife/orkney-stoats/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[NatureScot]], Scotland's nature agency, provided these additional specifics:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/orkney-native-wildlife-project |title=Orkney Native Wildlife Project |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305231138/https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-wildlife/orkney-native-wildlife-project |url-status=live }}</ref><blockquote>The introduction of a ground predator like the stoat to islands such as Orkney, where there are no native ground predators, is very bad news for Orkney's native species. Stoats are accomplished predators and pose a very serious threat to Orkney's wildlife, including: the native Orkney vole, [[hen harrier]], [[short-eared owl]] and many ground nesting birds.</blockquote>

In 2018, a stoat eradication project was presented by NatureScot to be applied "across Orkney Mainland, South Ronaldsay, Burray, Glimps Holm, Lamb Holm and Hunda, and the biosecurity activities delivered on the non-linked islands of the archipelago". The Orkney Native Wildlife Project planned to use "humane DOC150 and DOC200 traps".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2020-05/Orkney%20Native%20Wildlife%20Project%20-%20SEA%20consultation%20-%20SEA%20Environmental%20report.pdf |title=The Orkney Native Wildlife Project |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818210934/https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2020-05/Orkney%20Native%20Wildlife%20Project%20-%20SEA%20consultation%20-%20SEA%20Environmental%20report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The partners in the five-year project include [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB Scotland]], [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] and Orkney Islands Council.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45975295 |title=Orkney stoat eradication project awarded £6m |work=BBC News |date=25 October 2018 |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816103308/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45975295 |url-status=live }}</ref> A report issued in October 2020 stated that over 5,000 traps had been deployed. Specifics were provided as to the locations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/orkney/b/orkney-blog/posts/stoatsnippet92 |title=Orkney Native Wildlife Project |date=20 October 2020 |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129224120/https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/orkney/b/orkney-blog/posts/stoatsnippet92 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Not all was going well as of 15 January 2021, according to ''[[The Times]]'', which stated that the project "has been hit by alleged sabotage after the destruction and theft of traps that have also killed and injured household pets and other animals" but added that the £6 million programme was supported by most islanders.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/stoats-of-orkney-weasel-out-of-cull-thanks-to-saboteurs-6070v3spn |title=Stoats of Orkney weasel out of cull thanks to saboteurs |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=15 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115073125/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stoats-of-orkney-weasel-out-of-cull-thanks-to-saboteurs-6070v3spn |url-status=live |last1=Watson |first1=Jeremy }}</ref> Another news item stated that some of the traps had "caught and killed family pets as well as hundreds of other animals".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19011526.row-stoat-cull-mass-deaths-animals/ |title=Row over stoat cull after mass deaths of animals |date=14 January 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119053847/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19011526.row-stoat-cull-mass-deaths-animals/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A subsequent report confirmed that "Police Scotland is investigating a number of incidents involving damage to and the theft of stoat traps in Orkney".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.orcadian.co.uk/police-investigate-stoat-trap-damage/#:~:text=Police%20Scotland%20is%20investigating%20a,Deerness%20and%20Evie%20throughout%202020. |title=Police Investigate Stoat Trap Damage 11 January 2021 |date=11 January 2021 |access-date=2 February 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207122440/https://www.orcadian.co.uk/police-investigate-stoat-trap-damage/#:~:text=Police%20Scotland%20is%20investigating%20a,Deerness%20and%20Evie%20throughout%202020. |url-status=live }}</ref>