Hunt for predator eating island's seabirds after 'unusual signs'

The National Trust is searching for a mysterious animal that is preying on an island’s seabird population.

It comes after the discovery of “unusual signs” of predation by a mammal on Canna, to the south of Skye.

A number of seabirds have been eaten on the tiny Scottish island, which provides a habitat to thousands of birds.

The National Trust for Scotland admitted it doesn’t have “much information” at this stage, and, despite using wildlife cameras, have so far only spotted an otter among the colony.

However, otters are frequent visitors to the isle.

There are worries there could be an invasive species on the island – such as mink.

Ellie Owen, senior seabird officer at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “We are responding to unusual signs of a mammalian predator in the seabird colony on Canna and we are following best practice guidance to try and establish what predator, if any, we have on the island.

“So far, our cameras have identified an otter in the colony and no mink, but we will remain fully exploring the possibility of a mink until we have completed the recommended period of monitoring.”

It is not the first time in the island’s history that Canna has had an issue with predators.

In 2005, the National Trust set up the most ambitious rat eradication programme attempted on an island in the UK to date, when brown rats threatened to wipe out the island’s seabird colonies.

Armed with poison and traps, pest controllers from New Zealand were brought in to deal with the pests.