.Eradicating mink and the rise of the furry phoenix – the water vole, by Tony Martin
It’s national Invasive Species Week – Monday 22nd – 28th Sunday June 2026
Join us for a talk hosted by the Mammal Society and chaired by Kate Hills
In this webinar, Tony will talk about the rise of the water vole and Waterlife Recovery Trust alongside the strategic eradication which is leading to the fall of the mink.
Tony Martin's career has been mostly as an aquatic mammal and bird zoologist working in polar regions and the Amazon. That all changed when he received a call at his desk at the British Antarctic Survey in 2009 asking if he'd like to direct a rodent eradication operation on South Georgia, an island that he knew well. Learning from that experience, Tony became Chair of a new UK charity, the Waterlife Recovery Trust (WRT), which was set up to finance and organise a landscape-scale trial eradication of American mink in East Anglia. Success of that trial led to a rapid expansion of WRT's work, which now covers over half of England and is by far the World's largest INNS eradication campaign. Tony is Emeritus Professor of Animal Conservation at the University of Dundee'.
Tony will talk about the rise of WRT and the water vole and with strategic eradication the fall of the mink. Updates on the South West Water Vole Recovery Partnership will also be discussed.
June 22nd, 2026 19:00 - 20.15
Online registration 5 mins before to start
Click here to book your place https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OVtkdp1hTgqYfKlu-xqTIA
Please share any records of American mink or water voles with the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre https://www.dbrc.org.uk/submit-your-records/ to support the South West Water Vole Recovery Partnership
Join us for a talk hosted by the Mammal Society and chaired by Kate Hills
In this webinar, Tony will talk about the rise of the water vole and Waterlife Recovery Trust alongside the strategic eradication which is leading to the fall of the mink.
Tony Martin's career has been mostly as an aquatic mammal and bird zoologist working in polar regions and the Amazon. That all changed when he received a call at his desk at the British Antarctic Survey in 2009 asking if he'd like to direct a rodent eradication operation on South Georgia, an island that he knew well. Learning from that experience, Tony became Chair of a new UK charity, the Waterlife Recovery Trust (WRT), which was set up to finance and organise a landscape-scale trial eradication of American mink in East Anglia. Success of that trial led to a rapid expansion of WRT's work, which now covers over half of England and is by far the World's largest INNS eradication campaign. Tony is Emeritus Professor of Animal Conservation at the University of Dundee'.
Tony will talk about the rise of WRT and the water vole and with strategic eradication the fall of the mink. Updates on the South West Water Vole Recovery Partnership will also be discussed.
June 22nd, 2026 19:00 - 20.15
Online registration 5 mins before to start
Click here to book your place https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OVtkdp1hTgqYfKlu-xqTIA
Please share any records of American mink or water voles with the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre https://www.dbrc.org.uk/submit-your-records/ to support the South West Water Vole Recovery Partnership
Past Events
Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation by Hugh Warwick
Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 7.00pm
Streatham Court, University of Exeter (doors open 6.30pm)
Free
How to manage the major threat to native wildlife posed by invasive species. Are we justified in killing one animal to protect another?
Hugh Warwick, author, photographer, ecologist and hedgehog expert, will tackle the thorny problems faced by conservationists, ecologists and land owners – how to manage the major threat to native wildlife posed by invasive non-native species. Are we justified in killing one animal to protect another? How do we prioritise species?
In his award-winning book, Cull of the Wild, Killing in the Name of Conservation, Hugh takes a deep look at some of the most controversial aspects of conservation - from the hedgehogs of the Uists to the rats of South Georgia - do we have a right to kill?
Wednesday 13th May 2026 at 7.00pm
Streatham Court, University of Exeter (doors open 6.30pm)
Free
How to manage the major threat to native wildlife posed by invasive species. Are we justified in killing one animal to protect another?
Hugh Warwick, author, photographer, ecologist and hedgehog expert, will tackle the thorny problems faced by conservationists, ecologists and land owners – how to manage the major threat to native wildlife posed by invasive non-native species. Are we justified in killing one animal to protect another? How do we prioritise species?
In his award-winning book, Cull of the Wild, Killing in the Name of Conservation, Hugh takes a deep look at some of the most controversial aspects of conservation - from the hedgehogs of the Uists to the rats of South Georgia - do we have a right to kill?
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Committee Members
Want to help local wildlife, enjoy meeting people and are passionate about helping others learn more about Devon's mammals? We have just the role for you!
Devon Mammal Groups Committee is a volunteer-run group and were looking for new committee members to work with us to run events and activities. If you have the time and enthusiasm to help we would love to chat with you. Contact us at contact@devonmammalgroup.org.
Want to help local wildlife, enjoy meeting people and are passionate about helping others learn more about Devon's mammals? We have just the role for you!
Devon Mammal Groups Committee is a volunteer-run group and were looking for new committee members to work with us to run events and activities. If you have the time and enthusiasm to help we would love to chat with you. Contact us at contact@devonmammalgroup.org.
Reg charity number 1110056