Assessing the control/eradication of an invasive species, the American mink, based on field data; how much would it cost?

Biological invasions are an important cause of biodiversity loss, American mink being one of the worst invasive species in Europe. We performed a 13-week control program of the species in the Butron river system (Northern Spain), where a natural population of the European mink is found. Three population estimates were considered: an absolute minimum, an intermediate scenario and a pessimistic one (n = 35, 49 and 70 animals, respectively). After 2,242 cage trap-nights, trapping success varied from 44 to 89% of these estimates. In addition, we evaluated the costs of eradicating the estimated populations; costs ranged between 652.5 and 2,970 a,not sign per mink, and would rise up to 83,462 a,not sign for the intermediate estimate under an exponential function linking captures and costs, or ca. 172.500 a,not sign to capture the highest estimate under a log-function. The implications of these numbers for the design and implementation of future control projects are discussed.