Just one correction, they are very present in the lake district, there were two mink farms near me in the 70s at Stavely and Bowness and both had escapes and releases by antis. I have shot plenty with the 22 and shotgun.
I sometimes sit out in the early evening on the banks of the Ribble here and pot them with the rimmy, 222 and now the 17 rem and the relatives are quite happy to tuck into the remains, which gives another shot or two, best to be 100yds plus then the bang doesnt scare them.
If the government had the will, we could get shut, remember the Coypu , but this lot dont care about the country anyway.
Redfox