For a couple of decades now, one of the main measures that is being made for the preservation of the ferreret is the control of its predators. Namely and on a continuing basis, there are actions being taken upon the population of the viperine snake (Natrix maura) that accidentally found its way to the riverbeds of the torrents where our beloved ferrerets where residing.
To get a clear image of the impact that the viperine snake causes, we have to know how the snake acts upon the ferreret. There have been various studies made in which it demonstrates that the impact it creates is on various levels. First of all, because it reduces the population of ferrerets (mainly larvae, but also adults) capturing and eating the ferrerets which it can hunt. And we tell you, they do it with ease. The second level is the reproduction stage: when a snake reaches a population, it stops reproducing until the end of the season, which causes an obvious drop in the following years population. And finally on the last level, it generates a physiological stress which affects the state of health of the individuals that remain in the population, which lowers their defences.
Everything that we have told you has happened this year in the Torrent de Na Mora (Fornalutx). During this summer, 5 specimens of viperine snake have been withdrawed by the Service of Species Protection of the CAIB. But even so, the population was affected. During the many visits which were made within the framework of the Projec t Ferreret, which we have developed along with the University of the Balearic Islands, we were able to confirm that the adult population did not reproduce itself this year in one of the most important ponds for the ferreret, in the Torrent de Na Mora. There were only 4 adults found, in all the visits that where made to this pond.
This only comes to show us once again that the species is very vulnerable to the arrival of introduced specimens like the viperine snake. Right now, the only thing that we can do is to remain careful to the next season and continue to follow this populations, in order to witness its evolution.
Ferrer Hotels and the UIB want to make a call for the collaboration of all those who frequent the torrents. If you encounter yourself with a viperine snake between April and September in a torrent with presence of ferrerets, kindly communicate this to the Service of Species Protection, so that the snake can be withdrawed from the area and in this way contribute to the conservation of the ferreret.
