Some of you might be interested to read about this rat eradication project in
the UK, described as "the largest community-based island restoration project
attempted in the world to date". I imagine with residents on the islands, and
therefore regular boat visits, that preventing reintroduction will be as
difficult as the initial eradication.
Peter Shute
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of Shyama Pagad
Sent: Tuesday, 12 November 2013 6:06 AM
To:
Subject: [Aliens-L] Re Isles of Scilly rat eradication to 'save seabirds' begins
Isles of Scilly rat eradication to 'save seabirds' begins
By Chris Ellis
BBC News Online
A project aimed at protecting internationally important seabird populations on
two of the Isles of Scilly by killing more than 3,000 brown rats, is under way.
The islands, which are located off Cornwall, are home to breeding populations
of 14 seabird species and approximately 20,000 birds.
Eradication experts from New Zealand and the UK have been contracted to carry
out the work. "Among many challenges our seabirds face, the greatest threat on
land is predation of eggs and chicks by brown rats," said Jaclyn Pearson from
the Isles of Scilly Seabird Recovery Project. "The brown rats were accidently
introduced to islands from shipwrecks in the 18th Century," she added.
'Intensive baiting'
The project is part of a 25-year programme to protect "internationally
important" seabird numbers, including those of Manx shearwaters and storm
petrels, and is costing more than £755,000.
The rodents will be poisoned on St Agnes and Gugh by Wildlife Management
International Limited (WMIL). The company has helped eradicate rats from Ramsey
Island off Wales, Lundy Island off Devon and the Isle of Canna in the Scottish
Hebrides. Elizabeth Bell, from WMIL said: "A period of intensive baiting will
start from the 8 November and most of the rats will be dead by the end of
November. We'll then target the surviving rats."
A long-term monitoring programme will start at the beginning of 2014 to check
the rodents have been eradicated from the islands.
Ms Bell said all the bait stations were enclosed, tied down and were designed
not to kill any other species, such as rabbits. Ms Pearson said: "The project
is 25 years in length, although the project team will disband after five years,
for the remaining 20 years the community will continue to protect their seabird
heritage, by keeping the islands 'rat-free'.
"This includes correct waste management, ensuring bio-security on boats and
freight to the islands, and of course, educating all visitors to the islands to
be vigilant and 'rat on a rat'".
"This is the largest community-based island restoration project attempted in
the world to date, with 85 residents living here year round." She added that
similar populated islands around the world hoped to learn from the project and
carry out similar work to "safeguard their seabirds".
A feasibility study estimated the population of brown rats on the Isles of
Scilly was about 34,500, with 3,100 occurring on St Agnes and Gugh.
Johnny Birks, chair of the Mammal Society, said: "Brown rats are not native to
Britain... it's our own fault they are so widespread and that makes it right
for us to repair the damage we've caused.".....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-24583514
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Shyama Pagad
Program Manager
Invasive Species Information Management
University of Auckland
Program Officer
IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group
Tel +64 9 3737599 (X88624) DDI +64 9 9238624 Fax +64 9 3737042
email:
skype: shyama.pagad
www.issg.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group aims to reduce threats to
natural ecosystems and the native species they contain by increasing awareness
of the impacts of invasive species; and of ways to prevent their spread and,
control or eradicate them.
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