The mice capture work continues by Fraser Dodds (Wildlife Park), with help from Jim (NTS volunteer). There have been 152 mice caught in total, including at least 20 from Sanday. Rat trapping also continues. To date 54 rats have been caught. The trap sets have now been set around Tighard, Canna House, Nora’s garden and sheds, RJ McLeod’s and Coroghon.
Establishing the bait station grid has been basically completed – there are 4213 stations over the entire island. The new areas accessible by narrow ledges have been caned and needs five bait stations. The remaining section (Natural Arch) requires canes and bait stations to be dropped in by abseil rope (pins for ropes have been put in place), so will be baited at the same time. With the exception of these areas, the numbering the bait station grid has also been completed. The bait arrived on Canna on Friday 28th October. It was moved from the pier over Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October. It is presently stored in large depots at Tarbert Barn, Coroghon Barn and the Farmyard with the assistance of Murdo Jack and Pakky MacKinnon (using the tractor and forklift). Tide prevented delivery of bait to Sanday, but this will be delivered on Monday 31st October.
Unfortunately the cattle on the island are still 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 continue to ignore the stations. The chicken sheds outside Canna House were broken up and burnt. The area was cleared of all rubbish, old food stuffs and chicken bones.
Three more permanent ropes have been installed in steeper access points around the island. This will make accessing certain areas safer during winter. There are now six permanent ropes in place. Wood for the permanent trap boxes was delivered to the island on Tuesday 25th October. Two designs are currently being tested, before a final design is chosen.
The weather deteriorated this week, with three day affected by rain and gale force winds (ferry cancelled on two occasions). Inside work (preparing monitoring gear, placing bait stations etc.) and planning was undertaken during this time. The BBC arrived on Tuesday 25th October to film the mice operation and rat project. John Hollingsworth (NTS Media Officer), Bob Swann (NTS) and Rob Thomas (Edinburgh Zoo) were also present. Biz Bell, Fraser Dodds, Wendy MacKinnon and Bob Swann were interviewed. The footage was shown on BBC National News on Thursday 27th October.
Karen Mayhew (WMIL) and Rebecca Price (NTS volunteer) departed on Friday 28th October. Suzi Hogg, Alistair Clunas and Shaun Dowman (all NTS volunteers) and Joanne Stoner (WMIL) arrived Saturday 29th October.
Biz Bell, WMIL. Sunday 30th October 2005
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