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Drones Unleashed Against Invasive Rats in the Galápagos

posted by mrpg on Saturday January 26 2019, @09:21PM   Printer-friendly
from the tortugas dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00176-z

A conservation group is using drones to eradicate invasive rats by dropping poison on two small islands in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago — the first time such an approach has been used on vertebrates in the wild. The operation, which began on 12 January on North Seymour island in the Galápagos National Park, aims to protect native animals and plants from the destructive rodents.

Rats and other non-native species have caused extensive damage to the Galápagos, whose unique flora and fauna evolved in isolation for millions of years. In the process, native species lost many defence mechanisms against predators. Rats, which reproduce quickly and eat a wide variety of plants and animals, have been a target of eradication campaigns across the Galápagos.

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:04PM (6 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:04PM (#792470)

    In order to eradicate a rat infestation, you have to kill ALL the rats. Even one pregnant female can repopulate an island scary fast. Islands may seem small, until you're trying to find every single rat on one.

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  • (Score: 2, Touché) by trappedwind on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:20PM

    by trappedwind (6371) on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:20PM (#792479)

    No! you just have to kill all the females!

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:21PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:21PM (#792480)

    Just like Muslims.

  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by hendrikboom on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:29PM (3 children)

    by hendrikboom (1125) Subscriber Badge on Saturday January 26 2019, @11:29PM (#792485) Homepage Journal

    They managed to eradicate wild goats, another invasive species. Of course, goats are easier to see than rats.

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by JoeMerchant on Sunday January 27 2019, @01:09AM (2 children)

      by JoeMerchant (3937) on Sunday January 27 2019, @01:09AM (#792504)

      The island to goat size ratio is much smaller than the island to rat size ratio. Also, "surface roughness" tends to be sufficient to conceal rats, and insufficient to conceal goats.

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      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @01:26AM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @01:26AM (#792510)

        Conversely, rats don't have to worry about being fucked by Muslims.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @05:12AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 27 2019, @05:12AM (#792545)

          Wrong.
          With the invention of duct tape now even rats have fear of them.

          It's not just goat for afters anymore!