The American mink Neovison vison in Great Britain is an invasive alien species, with significant impacts on native prey species. There have been suggestions that populations of mink in Britain have declined since the 1990s. Three nationwide data sets include data on mink distribution and abundance. Scat surveys and the National Game Bag Census suggest population declines, but the latter does not take account of survey effort (which may also have declined) and the former is misleading because there is evidence that mink change their marking behaviour in the presence of otters Lutra lutra. National Biodiversity Network data suggest an increase in mink numbers, but this can be explained by a concomitant increase in mammal recording. Although intra‐guild competition between invasive mink and native otters is likely, there is no evidence that otters have caused a decline in mink numbers. There is little information on the impact of disease, or exposure to rodenticides, on wild mink – both warrant further attention. Eradication efforts can have an impact on mink populations, but currently neither implementation nor monitoring is sufficient to generate effects throughout Great Britain or to assess the impact of cumulative local and regional efforts. We conclude that it is not possible, on the basis of currently available data for Great Britain, to ascertain the status of mink or assess the underlying trend in their population. We stress the importance of collaboration, coordination, and record keeping (and sharing) in future, proper interpretation of existing data, and the use of alternative data sources. We call for greater, and better, effort in both mink management and monitoring of management in Great Britain.

中文翻译：

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美国水貂 Neovison vison 在英国的现状：对种群下降证据的回顾

英国的美国水貂 Neovison vison 是一种外来入侵物种，对本地猎物物种有重大影响。有迹象表明，自 1990 年代以来，英国的貂皮数量有所下降。三个全国性的数据集包括水貂分布和数量的数据。Scat 调查和全国游戏袋人口普查表明种群数量下降，但后者没有考虑调查工作（也可能下降），前者具有误导性，因为有证据表明水貂在水獭 Lutra 面前改变了它们的标记行为卢特拉。国家生物多样性网络数据表明水貂数量有所增加，但这可以通过哺乳动物记录的增加来解释。虽然入侵水貂和本地水獭之间可能会发生公会内的竞争，没有证据表明水獭导致水貂数量下降。关于疾病或接触杀鼠剂对野生水貂的影响的信息很少——两者都值得进一步关注。根除工作可能会对水貂种群产生影响，但目前无论是实施还是监测都不足以在整个英国产生影响或评估累积的地方和区域努力的影响。我们得出的结论是，根据英国目前可用的数据，不可能确定水貂的状况或评估其种群的潜在趋势。我们强调未来协作、协调和记录保存（和共享）、正确解释现有数据以及使用替代数据源的重要性。我们呼吁更大，更好，