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Bizarre job alert: this remote British island is looking for a ferret-catcher

Looking to escape the bustle of city life? This could be the role for you

Written by
Faima Bakar
Contributing writer
Rathlin Island
Photograph: Shutterstock
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Are you looking to up sticks and move somewhere away from the bustle of city life? Well, this job could well be up your street – as long as you’re not squeamish around animals.

Rathlin Island, off the coast of Northern Ireland, needs someone to get rid of some ferrets. Not for the faint-hearted, the role essentially consists of catching the small rodents to stop them killing off local wildlife.

Seabirds on the island are declining due to the presence of non-native ferrets, meaning their population needs to be controlled. 

The gig will require eagle eyes as the pests might be hard to identify. A local photographer told the BBC: ’No one knows how many ferrets are on the island and... they are hard to spot.’

Not only that, the ferret-catcher will have to work under grey skies and rain too. Project leader David Tosh said the island, which has a population of 150, has ‘rubbish weather’.

So there are a couple of cons. But how many jobs come with a beautiful island on the side? You can apply for the role via the Conservation Careers website.

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