The results of a year-long research project are expected to provide new insights into Guernsey's wild ferret population, according to project leaders. La Société Guernesiaise, a conservation charity, has been tracking the animals using specialist camera equipment, funded by the government's Strategy for Nature.
The charity deployed motion-activated camera traps in areas where ferrets are known to attack other wildlife, such as La Claire Mare Nature Reserve. Thousands of photos have been collected and are now being examined.
Leah Cottell, who leads the study, stated that while the presence of ferrets on the island was known, little was understood about them. She noted that ferrets appear to favour water sites, where they consume items like eggs from ground-nesting birds. Cottell also highlighted that ferrets are not native to Guernsey and are considered an invasive species, potentially due to domestic ferrets being released in the past.
Sifting through the collected photos is expected to take several months, after which the charity plans to produce a report of its findings.