Runaway Mink in the Stockholm Archipelago
Photo: Unsplash
Erica von Essen
CASE 6. Runaway Mink in the Stockholm Archipelago
Mink was first brought to Sweden from North America for the commercial exploitation of their fur in the 1920s, before they absconded from captivity or were released by people. Mink now threaten the diversity of several native species, particularly birds, in the Swedish archipelago.
Eradicating the invasive North American mink in the archipelago is becoming a team effort of outsourced labor. Civilian residents are encouraged to have “at least one” kill-trap for minks on their land.
"
"
Selected publications
The beast from the east: Preparing for cross-border wild boars in Norway
2025. von Essen, E., Wathne Gelink, H., Figari, H., & Krange, O. Geoforum 166.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104421
Ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing
2025. Allen, B.L., Abraham, A.J., Arlinghaus. R., Belant, J.L., Blumstein, D.T., Bobier, C. et al. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2025.1684894
The Wild Workforce: Enlisting Non-Human Labour in Invasive Species Management
2025. von Essen, E., Wanderer, E., Lennon, G., & Ahlberg, K. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space (online). https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486241300941
Dealing with Biodiversity Dilemmas in Ordinary Places: The Case of Invasive and Introduced Species
2024. von Essen, E., Ahlberg, K., Cole, T., Karlsson B. G., and Maček, I. Nature and Culture 19 (3): 237-45. https://doi.org/10.3167/nc.2024.190301
News
Time to stop crying wolf – on both sides of the debate
Europe’s recovering wolves demand new narratives and adaptive policies for coexistence – without sensationalism on either side of the debate, researchers argue.
Drönare vid jakt på invasiva djurarter
Okonventionella jaktmetoder är ett hjälpmedel i kampen mot främmande arter. Erica von Essen figurerar kort i SR:s Studio Ett (27 min) och ger hennes perspektiv på så kallade "Judasdjur".
https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/dronare-vid-jakt-pa-invasiva-djurarter
Social Anthropologists call for more complexity in biodiversity debate
Increasingly, animal and plant species are being moved, or migrating to new places as a result of climate change, trade and new infrastructure. While often referred to as ‘invasive’, the researchers behind the BIOrdinary project prefer to speak of migratory species. They want to shift the debate to focus on local contexts and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of biodiversity.
Blog posts
26 Apr, 2024 Runaway Minks in the Swedish Archipelago
