Island rats take bait

A baiting program to eradicate the invasive black rat on Penguin Island is coming to an end but extensive monitoring will continue to ensure its success.

The Department of Environment and Conservation six-week baiting program began on January 14 because the black rats were a threat to penguins, birds and other fauna on the island.

DEC Penguin Island manager David Charles said to a degree the program was coming to an end but it would remain an ongoing process.

“We have conducted three successive rat baits but we still need to monitor the island,” he said.

“There is still bait in the bait station but the last time they were topped up was last week.

“The bait is still being taken by some rats and we are hoping it will be the last time we have to do it.”

Mr Charles said there was no evidence the rats were gone.

“By all accounts it has been successful and we have picked up a lot of dead rats,” he said. “At one stage we had up to 90 rats in the freezer which would have increased since.

“Now it is about monitoring to see if there are any rats still on the island and if any return.”

Mr Carlke said DEC would set up cameras and non toxic tracking stations to monitor the situation.

“The tracking stations aim to monitor the tracks of the animals passing through them with an inkpad and a blank sheet of paper which tracks the prints,” he said.

DEC was waiting for the stations to arrive and would place 140 around the island.

“They will be in place forever and that is how we will monitor it,” Mr Charles said.

“Depending on when the stations arrive we may need to do another baiting in winter.”