Unfortunate side effect to poisoning effort was the loss of 43 bald eagles and many other birds.
Alaska’s Rat Island apparently rid of its namesake pest
By Erika Bolstad | McClatchy Newspapers
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Ken Cole
Ken Cole is a 5th generation Idahoan, an avid fly fisherman, wildlife enthusiast, and photographer. He was formerly the Idaho Director for Western Watersheds Project and former Executive Director for Buffalo Field Campaign.
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The island may be rid of rats but at what cost? How bad is the soil and water now?
Rats are notorius egg and chick predators, particularly for ground breeding sea birds. The bird population will be all the better for the extermination of the rats in spite of these one-time losses. Rodent baits have little or no impact on soil and water particularly when used briefly for populations that are eliminated and further baiting not required. Even the bald eagles are in no short supply in this area, unlike the recovering populations in the lower 48.