The Rat Pack

As mentioned briefly in previous posts, the South Georgia Heritage trust with the full support of the SG Government are about to undertake an unprecedented attempt to further restore the natural habitat of South Georgia by attempting to eradicate the large Rat population on the island.  

Its believed the Rats cannot traverse the local Glaciers

Looking aft at the Harker Glacier.

The Rats were introduced by Sealing and Whaling ships during South Georgia's historic past as a place of industry, and have remained ever since.  The rats are very damaging to the native species of the island, in particular the now very rare South Georgia Pipit, and the eradication of the Rats would be a massive achievement.  The South Georgia Heritage Trust have put together a very skilled team to undertake the propagation of pellets from helicopters and to monitor the impact and success of the project.  As part of the effort, the rats are being caught in smaller numbers currently to have their DNA analysed to build a clear picture of the migration and colonisation of the rats.  It is believed the rats cannot traverse the Glaciers and therefore there should be no DNA link between landmasses bordered by ice.  The current study will confirm this it is believed.  This is where KEP's marine team come into play.  Ashley and I have been kept very busy running boats to the Greene Penninsular and Maiviken where rat boxes (expertly engineered by Ashley) have been placed, to check for rats.  When rats are caught they are brought back to the Lab for sampling.  It is a challenge, headed by Kieron, the governement officer, to place the boxes effectively and bait them correctly.  So far Peanut Butter and Oats seems to attract them, and areas of thick Tussock Grass near rocky areas seem to be the most populous areas.  

Heres some photos of the ops to the Morraine Fjord (for the Greeene) and round to Maiviken.  I felt these photos were perhaps better than a dead rat........

The results of the study will be posted through the appropriate channels shortly, but in the mean time for more information check out the SGHT website - http://www.sght.org/projects.htm