Rogue rat which threatened rare bird colony flushed out after snubbing pork pies and chocolate

The RSPB was concerned it would cause devastation to roseate tern colony on Coquet Island
5th April 2017

By Mike Kelly

An elusive rat which stalked the North East island sanctuary of an endangered species of bird has been caught and killed just days before the breeding season begins there.

For three months staff from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds which manages Coquet Island have been searching with increasing anxiety for the rodent which despite their best efforts had evaded capture.

Sited half a mile off the Northumberland coast near Amble, it is the home of Britain’s last colony of roseate terns as well as being a nesting place for puffins.

If it hadn’t been caught it is feared the rat which feeds off eggs could have devastated the colony.

It is the first time a rodent had been reported to be seen on the island.

After being detected in January, the island’s RSPB warden there, Paul Morrison, installed traps with a number of different baits including pork pies, fish, pate and even Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate, but all to no avail.


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Boost for decimated rare bird

By Harrison Christian

5:20 PM Monday Mar 9, 2015

A rare New Zealand bird has received a boost in Hawke's Bay, after a single rat is believed to have ravaged population numbers.

The dwindling population of the endangered New Zealand shore plover in northern Hawke's Bay saw a surge in numbers last Friday, with the release of 20 juvenile birds on to Waikawa - also known as Portland Island.

Department of Conservation (DoC) ranger Helen Jonas said the privately-owned island located off the Mahia Peninsula used to be home to 80 shore plover but a "devastating season" in 2013 saw their numbers reduced to just 10 birds.

"All the evidence pointed to a single rat as the cause, and the rat is now believed to have since died."

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