Lessons Learned from Failed Island Rodent Eradications Redone Successfully:Implications for the Second Rat Eradication Attempt on Wake Atoll
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Samaniego et al., 2020 Lessons learned from failed rodent eradications redone successfully Lessons Learned from Failed Island Rodent Eradications Redone Successfully:Implications for the Second Rat Eradication Attempt on Wake Atoll Araceli Samaniego1*, Peter Kappes2†, Keith Broome3, Steve Cranwell4, Richard Griffiths5, Grant Harper6, Pete McClelland7, Russell Palmer8, Gérard Rocamora1, Keith Springer2, David Will5 & Shane Siers2† September 20, 2020 1 Pacific Invasives Initiative, New Zealand 8 Science and Conservation Division, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 2 USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Kensington, WA, Australia Research Center, Hawaii Field Station, Hilo, Hawaii, USA 3 New Zealand Department of Conservation, New Zealand 4 BirdLife International, Fiji 5 Island Conservation, New Zealand 6 Biodiversity Restoration Specialists, New Zealand 7 Island restoration consultant, New Zealand Suggested Citation: Samaniego, A., P. Kappes, K. Broome, S. Cranwell, R. Griffiths, G. Harper, P. McClelland, R. Palmer, G. Rocamora, K. Springer, D. Will and S. Siers. 2020. Lessons learned from failed island rodent eradications redone successfully: implications for the second rat eradication attempt on Wake Atoll. Unpublished Final 1 Island Biodiversity & Conservation Centre, University of Seychelles, Anse Royale, Mahé, Seychelles 2 Island restoration consultant, New Zealand † NWRC study directors * [email protected] QA-3179 USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 1 Samaniego et al., 2020 Lessons learned from failed rodent eradications redone successfully Report QA-3179. USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National operational and environmental factors for both the Wildlife Research Center. Hilo, HI. initial and successful attempts. We asked: i) can faults in operational factors explain the initial failures? ii) can improvements in operational factors explain the Background subsequent successes? and iii) is it worth re- attempting more islands after initial failures? We also Island rodent eradications are increasingly conducted present recommendations for Wake Atoll, where a to counteract the negative impacts of invasive rodents. second eradication attempt is currently being planned. From early accidental eradications on tiny islands in Finally, a brief assessment of unsuccessful projects that the 1960s to systematic projects on massive islands have not been attempted again is provided, with (>10,000 ha) since 2000, the global achievements to suggestions for follow-up research. date are remarkable. Over the past two decades, eradication theory has advanced commensurately with methodology. Through adaptive management and strict adherence to best practice , temperate New Case studies and target species Zealand achieved an outstanding rate of success even We used the Database of Island Invasive Species for invasive mice once thought to be ‘difficult to Eradications (DIISE) to identify islands where eradicate’. eradication had been attempted more than once for Conversely, the lower eradication success rate in the same target species . We focused on operations tropical regions has triggered reviews, research and conducted from 1990 onwards for the first attempt, the development of guidelines for rat eradications on thus reviewing systematic rather than early tropical islands. A statistical analysis on factors (experimental) eradications. Forty-two rodent associated with rodent eradication failure (Holmes et eradication attempts on 17 islands scattered around 8 al. 2015b) found factors unique to the tropics, such as countries were analyzed. In all cases, one or two warm temperatures, presence of land crabs and species of a pool of five invasive rodent species were coconut palms, to be clearly associated with the targets: house mouse (Mus musculus), Asian house eradication failure. Other factors associated with rat (Rattus tanezumi), Norway rat (R. norvegicus), failure relate to the eradication method, aerial Pacific rat (R. exulans), or ship rat (R. rattus). broadcast projects having the highest success rate. A later review of a subset of eight cases using a qualitative approach (Griffiths et al. 2019) suggested that rat breeding and dietary characteristics pertaining Factors analyzed to tropical climates could be contributing causes of Results are presented by island, grouped by country. eradication failure. However, recent research studying For each case, a summary table and a narrative of each these aspects concluded that eradications on tropical eradication attempt is provided. We compared islands can be successful despite abundant natural management, operational and environmental factors food, high density of land crabs and high density of across attempts. Published and grey literature was reproductively active rats, which is consistent with reviewed, and direct communication with project project results from several countries. Therefore, we managers took place. Collectively, the authors of this set out to investigate the role of operational factors as report were involved in most reviewed projects. Yet, potential causes of failure. inconsistent and limited reporting continue to be Our qualitative review is complementary to those by major issues preventing learning from failure. Holmes et al. (2015b) and Griffiths et al. (2019), also aiming to shed light on how to maximize our chances of eradication success, but approaching the topic from Results a different direction. We examined cases where rodent eradication initially failed but was eventually achieved Out of 17 islands, on 14 (82%; ranging 5-1020 ha) in a later attempt. We compared project management, eradication was achieved on the second (86%) or third QA-3179 USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 2 Samaniego et al., 2020 Lessons learned from failed rodent eradications redone successfully attempt (14%). On the remaining three islands (10-217 competitors. In some cases, improved biosecurity ha) eradication was not achieved despite two (on standards and appropriate removal and treatment of Kayangel) or three attempts (on Adele and Congo Cay), infestation hotspots in human-made areas may explain noting that on Kayangel one of the two rat species was the success of the second attempts (e.g. Ile du Nord). removed during the second attempt. The 14 islands The main contributing factors leading to successful where eradication was subsequently achieved can be rodent eradications, often acting in concert, are: grouped into two categories according to the level of change in the eradication strategy between the initial • thorough and meticulous planning and successful attempt (Table 1). • anticipating problems and overengineering (e.g. removing artificial food sources) Discussion • deep island knowledge We found evidence of major operational faults for all first attempts (e.g. poor planning, low quality bait, • expert advice inadequate bait coverage across the island, helicopters • sufficient funding with no GPS, insufficient baiting around human structures, or poor management of alternative foods), • clearly defined management structure which once corrected in a later operation often lead to eradication success (e.g. Mokoia and Low Cay). • high standard baiting operations involving However, there are complex cases where operational motivated, trained and experienced staff and environmental factors are confounded, i.e. the eradication strategy improved but the island • highly motivated and collaborative local conditions were also more favorable for eradication, stakeholders (e.g. resident communities and either because a better operational window was hotels) identified (e.g. Isabel) or local conditions were Table 1: Islands where rodent eradication attempts succeeded after initial failure, according to the level of change in the eradication strategy. Major changes Moderate changes (bait, technique and team changed) (bait quantity and/or spatial coverage and/or team changed) Mokoia Island, New Zealand Teuaua Island, French Polynesia Coppermine Island, New Zealand Ile du Nord, Seychelles Varanus Island, Australia Low Cay, United Kingdom Montebello Islands, Australia Desecheo Island, United States Vahanga Island, French Polynesia Isabel Island, Mexico Ile Denis, Seychelles Palmyra Atoll, United States monitored to avoid unpredictable rain (e.g. Desecheo). • project managers with exceptional Simply put, most failed attempts may not have met the problemsolving and decision-making skills first eradication principle of exposing all rodents to a lethal dose of a highly palatable bait. This can cause • quality bait, ideally containing brodifacoum operational failure on any type of temperate or (for example from Bell Labs or from Orillion) tropical island, although the latter appear to have less room for error given the high abundance of bait QA-3179 USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center 3 Samaniego et al., 2020 Lessons learned from failed rodent eradications redone successfully • suitable equipment (e.g. helicopters with GPS and managers worked on the subsequent attempt specialized spreader bucket or bait stations under similar environmental conditions. Even for adapted to function under local the cases where confounding factors occurred, conditions) operational improvements were implemented after the initial attempt, largely as a result of • well organized, resourced and reliable independent reviews. Likewise, all operations, operational logistics, especially when operating both initial