The mice capture work continues by between one and three Edinburgh Zoo and/or Wildlife Park staff. Due to unforeseen problems, Meda and Tom departed on Wednesday 19th October. Jim (NTS volunteer) has been helping Fraser since they left. There have been 116 mice caught in total. Rat trapping also continues. To date 40 rats have been caught. The trap sets have now been set around Tighard, Canna House and Nora’s garden and sheds.
Establishing the bait station grid has been basically completed – there are 4184 stations over the entire island. The only remaining bait stations are needed in the steeper areas and/or rope access areas – the final 42 stations. Two new areas, which were originally thought to require rope access, can now be accessed by narrow ledges. These areas still need to be completed with canes and bait stations (it is expected that another 40 stations will be used). With the exception of these steeper and new areas, the numbering the bait station grid has also been completed.
Unfortunately the cattle on the island are eating the plastic numbered tags in certain areas. These sites are being checked and the tags are being placed underneath the stations. Sheep, goats and ponies appear to be ignoring the stations to date. Three permanent ropes have been installed in stepper access points around the island. This will make accessing certain areas safer during winter. Permanent "Philproof" bait stations have been placed in each of the farm buildings and derelict buildings on Canna and Sandy.
The chickens on the island have been removed. The chicken sheds have been cleaned and no chicken feed is available to rats. New chickens will be sent to the island after the completion of the project. Eggs will be provided to previous owners throughout the project. The sheds behind Canna House have been cleaned, or partially cleaned out. Bob Swann is checking with the Highland Council about recycling the "thousands" of bottles in one of the sheds.
The weather has deteriorated this week, with two day lost to rain. Inside work (preparing monitoring gear, placing bait stations etc.) and planning was undertaken during this time. The bait should have arrived in Liverpool on Sunday 23rd October. It is still hoped that it clears customs and is delivered to Canna by 31st October.
Richard Luxmoore arrived on Monday 17th October and departed on Wednesday 19th October. Romy Dewar and James Leonard arrived Saturday 22nd October (after the ferry rescued two fishermen from their life boat after their fishing boat burnt and the fishermen were winched off the ferry by Stornoway Coastguard helicopter).
Biz Bell, WMIL. Sunday 23rd October 2005
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