nivek
As Above So Below
Apparently there's a huge rat infestation of those islands and they are going to aerial bait them to reduce their numbers...
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will begin a three-week aerial baiting program targeting black rats on the Frankland Islands and Northern Barnard Islands, south of Cairns.
Ranger-in-charge Warrick Armstrong said the pest rats, or Rattus rattus species, posed a threat to thousands of nesting seabirds in the Great Barrier Reef world-heritage area.
"They cause major extinctions and a decline in island biodiversity around the world, and we certainly know on our Australian islands they have a huge impact on nesting seabirds," Mr Armstrong said.
The rats are believed to have reached the islands by "rafting" over on logs during flooding events or by stowing away on boats.
"They are noticeable. There are signs of them, scats and droppings and tracks along the high-tide mark where they are foraging," Mr Armstrong said.
"They are gnawing on the native cabbage to get moisture because some of these islands don't have their own water source."
Far north Queensland islands to close for baiting program targeting rats
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service will begin a three-week aerial baiting program targeting black rats on the Frankland Islands and Northern Barnard Islands, south of Cairns.
Ranger-in-charge Warrick Armstrong said the pest rats, or Rattus rattus species, posed a threat to thousands of nesting seabirds in the Great Barrier Reef world-heritage area.
"They cause major extinctions and a decline in island biodiversity around the world, and we certainly know on our Australian islands they have a huge impact on nesting seabirds," Mr Armstrong said.
The rats are believed to have reached the islands by "rafting" over on logs during flooding events or by stowing away on boats.
"They are noticeable. There are signs of them, scats and droppings and tracks along the high-tide mark where they are foraging," Mr Armstrong said.
"They are gnawing on the native cabbage to get moisture because some of these islands don't have their own water source."
Far north Queensland islands to close for baiting program targeting rats
