Lord Howe Island declared its rats eradicated, then scientists found suspicious rodents; DNA is revealing whether they are survivors or new invaders
Lord Howe Island was considered free of rats after its rodent eradication programme ended in 2019. The last rat was detected on 9 October that year. However, black rats were found again in the island’s settlement area in April 2021.Scientists needed to determine whether these rodents had survived the eradication programme or arrived later. According … Read more