Almost 300 cottagers have been involved in cooperation with the Hunters’ Association. The small beasts tax populations of waterfowl, among other things.
In recent years, Finland’s Metsästäjäliitto has encouraged cottagers to tackle the problem of alien species and attract small game. The raccoon and the mink tax, among other things, populations of waterfowl.
In a project financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the regional districts of the Metsästäjäliitto have received, if necessary, loan traps and guidance on how to use the traps. In addition, the cottager can ask a local hunter for help in identifying and ethically killing the caught beast.
During the project’s 1.5-year operation period, 352 minks and exactly 400 raccoons have been caught in all ten southernmost districts. 299 cottagers have participated in the cooperation.
Loukutus’ pilot locations in South Ostrobothnia have been Alavus, Ähtäri and Peräseinäjoki.
In general, the project has been seen by everyone as a good act of nature conservation, says project manager Passila. There have been no negative feedbacks about the project at all.
– The opinion of the cottagers was clear from the beginning, they had been waiting for this activity for a long time. In the feedback from the guest hunters of the project areas, there has been praise for the free fishing gear and the connections with the cottagers.
The pilot project will last until the end of February. The continuation of the project will be clarified later.