Efforts to restore wildlife along the Wilts & Berks Canal have suffered a setback after a mink trap was destroyed and thrown into a trust compound at Pewsham.
The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust (WBCT) has been working closely with the Waterlife Recovery Trust and Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to eradicate American mink, a non-native predator blamed for severe declines in waterborne species such as water voles, ducklings and moorhens.
Over the past year, eight mink have been removed from the canal at Pewsham, leading to encouraging signs of recovery, with young ducklings, moorhens and even little grebes now spotted along the waterway.
Thanks to a fundraising drive, £1,000 was raised to buy three additional traps. Two of these were recently placed on the canal at Templars Firs and Chaddington.
But shortly afterwards, one of the new traps was removed from the water, destroyed, and its remains thrown into the WBCT compound. Witnesses reported a man telling dog walkers he believed the device was intended to catch swans. The cage trap and its cellular transmitter are now missing.
Howard Yardy, Wildlife Officer for the Melksham, Chippenham and Calne branch of WBCT, said the incident was deeply frustrating.
“The primary task is to protect water voles, who are a prime target for mink,” he explained. “Our work is dedicated to building a sustainable and thriving ecosystem. With the right support, we can create a lasting, vibrant habitat for local wildlife.”
Mr Yardy is appealing for anyone with information about the incident—or the whereabouts of the missing equipment—to come forward.
The Canal Trust continues its long-term project to restore habitats and safeguard native species.
For more details or to report information, contact Howard Yardy at
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