Freedom of Information Request - Orkney Stoats Project – Species in advertently caught in traps
Date: 23 January 2025
Our ref: SIR178337/A4923520
Information Request – Orkney Stoats Project – Species in advertently caught in traps
Your Request
A list of the species, and numbers of each species, that have been caught inadvertently in traps set for stoats from the commencement of the stoat eradication project up to the present.
Our Response
We have discussed your request with the Operations Team – North and have provided the following information:
Total By-catch:
Rats – 24302
Rabbit – 2463
Mouse – 656
Starling – 581
Vole – 246
Hedgehog – 100
Unidentified rodent – 61
Frog – 53
Unknown bird – 18
Black bird x 5
Water rail x 11
Shrew x 1
Ferret x 1
Wren x 3
Unidentified (possibly rabbit) x 11
Thrush x 1
Goose x 2
Mouse x 2
Frog and mouse in 1 trap x 1
Meadow pipits x 2 (in one trap catch together)
Cats x 6
Unidentified x 4
These figures are based upon 520,602 trap checks since the start of the eradication programme.
The 6 cats that were trapped and unfortunately killed, were all caught in the very early stages of the eradication project; to prevent this, the traps were modified to reduce the access aperture size.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
