Summary
Rathlin Island, off the coast of County Antrim, has successfully removed invasive ferrets. The removal project involved more than 400 traps and a detection dog named Woody to protect the island's seabird population. This effort is part of a larger project to control invasive species and help wildlife recover.
Key Facts
- Rathlin Island has been declared ferret-free as of October 2023.
- Ferrets, introduced in the 1980s, negatively impacted seabird colonies on the island.
- The Life Raft project, costing £4.5 million, targeted both ferrets and rats.
- Over 400 ferret traps were set in 2023 to capture these predators.
- Almost 7,000 rat bait traps were set across the island in 2024.
- Woody, a trained detection dog, played a crucial role in identifying any remaining ferrets.
- The project has shown early signs of seabird population recovery.
- Residents like Tom McDonnell noted the positive impact on wildlife and local agriculture.
