30 May 2012

Rat found on island after eradication programme

10:34 pm on 30 May 2012

A rat has been found on a small island off Stewart Island despite an extensive pest removal programme by the Department of Conservation last year.

Biodiversity manager Brent Beaven says Norway rat was caught on a small islet off Ulva Island on Tuesday in an area regularly checked since the 2011 eradication.

Ulva Island is the home to many endangered birds, including yellowhead and saddleback. It was considered rat-free from 1995 until a rat population was detected in 2010.

A sample of the rat has been sent for genetic profiling.