Congrats! Pest f inally caught after two years
DESPITE living on a minuscule, 330ft-long outcrop of land, it managed to evade capture for almost two years.
But now it seems the lone brown rat of Lamb Island has finally run out of luck.
Volunteers had been helping search the uninhabited island in the Firth of Forth – owned by spoon-bending illusionist Uri Geller – since signs of burrowing and droppings were first discovered in August 2020.
Experts feared the rat could have a devastating effect on the local seabird population, targeting eggs and chicks for food.
But because there are no landing facilities for large boats on the island, conservationists searching for the rodent enlisted the help of Lothian Sea Kayak Club.
They made 35 trips to the site, supported by the Scottish Seabird
Centre, the Biosecurity for LIFE project and the RSPB.
Motion-triggered cameras showed there was probably only one rat on the island. It is now believed to have died after chewing on a block of wax covered in poison, which had been placed in a protective box to exclude other animals.
Ground nesting seabirds cannot defend themselves from rats, which can have a catastrophic impact on breeding colonies.
Emily Burton, conservation officer at the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, East Lothian, said: ‘It is a huge relief to know the Lamb is free of invasive predators, ready for the seabird breeding season.’
Sarah Lawrence, biosecurity officer with Biosecurity for LIFE, said: ‘The dedication of Lothian Sea Kayak Club’s volunteers is a fantastic example of a community coming together to protect their local seabirds. The volunteers have spent two winters navigating harsh weather, Covid restrictions, and the frustrations of seeking a very elusive rat. Thanks to their hard work, we are confident that the Lamb’s puffins and other seabirds will return to nest on a rat-free island this year.’