Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication

Last year as a component of the Regional Landcare Partnerships program, North Coast Local Land Services delivered funding to the Lord Howe Island Board to assist with the ground and aerial baiting, and the captive management of endemic birds at highest risk from the baiting program.

The Project aims to eradicate exotic rodents (house mice and black rats) to protect the World Heritage biodiversity values of Lord Howe Island. The Project is on track for success with no rodent sightings for approximately five months.

After a short stint in specially designed captivity enclosures, the endangered Lord Howe Island woodhens and currawongs were released from captivity. The release was staged across the later months of 2019 with currawongs released first, followed by the mountainous woodhens and finally the lowland woodhens. Observations and tests were undertaken during the trial release period before further release stages. There is now confirmed breeding following release reported for both species.

For further information about the Lord Howe Island Rodent Eradication, please visit https://lhirodenteradicationproject.org/