Mink sighting is cause for concern

Mink sighting is cause for concern

2 April 2025

THE National Trust has said a recent sighting of an American mink near Castle Ward is “cause for concern”.

The comments follow a sighting in the water near Audley’s Castle in Strangford by a passer-by last month. 

A National Trust spokesperson said due to mink being an Invasive non-native species, the Trust would be “concerned” about the amount of them that are found with and adjacent to National Trust 

areas.

“Strangford Lough and its Islands are important breeding grounds for a wide variety of seabirds, including species such as the Common, Arctic and Sandwich Tern,” the spokesperson continued.

“Whilst American Mink are not thought to be too numerous, any sighting is cause for concern as they will predate eggs and chicks adding to the pressure our seabirds are already under from sea level rise and habitat loss.” 

To date, there have been limited recorded sightings of mink at Castle Ward.

The National Trust is asking the public to report any sightings to the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording or via the iRecord App, which will help gain a better understanding of the distribution of the species.