The eleventh bait (Figure 1) and monitoring checks were completed.
Figure 1. Bait take during Round 11.
The monitoring check showed active sites at Iolasgor and the western end of the Nunnery. Chocolate monitoring, chocolate-dipped bait and traps have placed at the Iolasgor site. No rats have been caught to date. Bait was taken from two stations nearby in Iolasgor and from one station nearby in the Nunnery. These areas will be intensively monitored over the next few weeks.
The chocolate monitoring check of the island has begun. Two-thirds of the island has been checked to date. Chocolate monitoring will continue to be used for the remainder of the project, as well as the original chewsticks, candle and soap. Access to difficult areas, rock stacks and offshore islets was obtained this week. There was no bait take by rats or rat sign on any monitoring at any of these sites.
Steve Ebbert and Peter Dunlevy (Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge) are visiting the project to observe and get logistical information on an eradication of this size, to be able to take this information back to undertake similar projects in Alaska. They are assisting with all aspects of the project during their stay here. No days were lost to bad weather.
Charles Thompson (WMIL) and Martin Carty (NTS) arrived on Tuesday 14 February, Steve Ebbert and Peter Dunlevy (Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge) and Abbie Patterson (NTS) arrived on Thursday 16 February. Martin Carty (NTS) and Philip Bell (WMIL) left on Saturday 18 February.
Biz Bell, Dave Boyle and Paul Garner-Richards - WMIL, Sunday 19th February 2006
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