How an island became ferret free - thanks, in part, to W...

What’s Happening

Alright so More than 400 traps were laid across the island in a £4.

5m project which featured a specially-trained detection dog called Woody. How an island became ferret free - thanks, in part, to Woody the wonderdog 1 hour ago Save Louise Cullen Agriculture and environment correspondent, BBC News NI Save BBC Woody the biosecurity dog and Claire Barnett from RSPB NI In a world-first, Rathlin Island, off the coast of County Antrim, has eradicated ferrets. (we’re not making this up)

The non-native predator was introduced to the island in the 1980s and has wreaked havoc on the internationally-significant breeding seabird colony.

The Details

More than 400 traps were laid across the island as part of a five-year, £4. 5m Life Raft project, which has also targeted rats.

But crucial to the fight to save the seabirds was a specially-trained detection dog, called Woody. The island is now ferret free and there are already encouraging signs in breeding seabird numbers, offering hope to other places round the world grappling with invasive predators.

Why This Matters

Signs of recovery Resident Tom McDonnell, who is also a wildlife photographer, says the project “can only be a win-win” for nature With no ferrets seen since October 2023, RSPB NIs area manager Claire Barnett is cautiously optimistic for the coming season. “Seabird colonies can recover lowkey, quickly, so were hopeful, and weve already seen some promising signs from last years breeding season, that the numbers here will climb up and fr secure themselves. ” Removing ferrets also has benefits for the community.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

Key Takeaways

• Tom McDonnell, a lifelong resident, dropped they could keep chickens again and build on their self-sufficiency.
• As a wildlife photographer, he says the project “can only be a win-win” for nature.
• “Its just beyond my wildest dreams.

The Bottom Line

“Everybody thinks about the seabirds, of course, but I cant wait to see the growth in some of the animals, especially the hare population, because predation on the leverets, or the young hares, was big. “Plus a lot of residents can now raise their chickens without any worries, so thats definitely a positive.

Is this a W or an L? You decide.