Mink Gang expands efforts to control invasive population on Bornholm in Denmark

In a remote wetland adjacent to Almindingen, one of Denmark’s largest forests, a lethal trap is set up on a floating platform. This trap is part of a larger initiative aimed at controlling the invasive mink population on the island of Bornholm. The effort is primarily led by a group of volunteer hunters known as the Mink Gang, whose mission is to significantly reduce the local mink population, which thrives here due to the absence of natural predators.

The Mink Gang, which has been active for several years, is currently expanding its efforts. After reducing its membership to just nine, it has now recruited 15 new members, bringing the total to 24, most of whom are skilled hunters.

Bornholm’s wild mink population originates from animals that escaped from local fur farms, all of which have since closed. Reports indicate that while mink populations elsewhere in Denmark tend to die out naturally, the population on Bornholm continues to thrive.

Tonni Koefoed Larsen, a veteran member of the Mink Gang, coordinates the volunteers, all of whom are trained to handle traps that can either kill or capture the mink alive. He emphasizes the ethical dilemma of exterminating the species completely, even as the group aims to remove half of the mink population’s annual growth.

Bird enthusiasts are particularly invested in this endeavor, as they observe the destructive impact of mink on native bird populations and other wildlife, including frogs and salamanders. The Mink Gang has received funding from the local Nature Agency, which will support their ongoing efforts over the next three years, enabling the purchase of additional traps and furthering their cause.