Successful eradication of invasive rodents from a small island through pulsed baiting inside covered stations

We show the results of an eradication campaign against Rattus rattus developed in Rey Francisco Island (12ha), Chafarinas islands, southwestern Mediterranean. Rat population size was estimated by snap trapping in up to 93.47ind./ha and a trapping index of 9.58captures/100traps-night. We think that p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBiological invasions Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 141 - 147
Main Authors Orueta, J.F, Aranda, y, Gomez, T, Tapia, G.G, Sanchez-Marmol, L
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Dordrecht Springer Nature B.V 01.01.2005
Subjects
Animal populations
anticoagulants
baiting
baiting stations
baits
brodifacoum
Conservation biology
coumarin rodenticides
flocoumafen
invasive species
Islands
Nonnative species
Pest control
population size
rat eradication
rats
Rattus rattus
rodent control
Rodents
vertebrate pests
Mediterranean Sea
Spain
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Summary:We show the results of an eradication campaign against Rattus rattus developed in Rey Francisco Island (12ha), Chafarinas islands, southwestern Mediterranean. Rat population size was estimated by snap trapping in up to 93.47ind./ha and a trapping index of 9.58captures/100traps-night. We think that population was underestimated because of the number of traps found strung but without capture. Several products were tested in order to define the method of eradication. In 1992, we selected a second generation anticoagulant, pelleted brodifacoum 50ppm into 5l plastic containers as baiting stations. Bait consumption reached zero after three pulses, and intensive searching of tracks and signals were unsuccessful. After more than twoyears of absence of signals and sightings, in 1995, rat scats were observed in Rey Francisco, and the population rose dizzily. After several snap-trapping sessions in 1996, 1997 and 1999, when trapping success reached 37captures/100trap-nights, a new campaign started in autumn-winter 1999-2000 using flocoumafen 50ppm inside 180 baiting stations. Eradication occurred with a very low risk for non-target fauna, setting less than 1kg/ha of bait each time. Monitoring, both with snap traps and baiting at a lower intensity assures the absence of reinvasion.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
Bibliography:http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/1387-3547/contents
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ISSN:1387-3547
1573-1464
DOI:10.1007/s10530-004-9644-7