No live rats have been found on Lehua island since the state’s latest eradication project.
Rather, the island is crowded with seabird chicks, the Garden Island reports.
Andre Raine, who was on Lehua from Sept. 25 to 28 with the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, said “The island was full of fat, healthy wedge-tailed shearwater chicks, and we saw no negative impacts of the bait drop.”
The seabird project is part of the monitoring effort after a state and federal project to kill invasive rats on the 279-acre island was completed Sept. 12 with the last aerial poison application.
But the group has been visiting the islet three times annually for many years to obtain population estimates for burrow nesting birds, Raine said
“We have many years of data now from pre-rat eradication that we can compare in subsequent years to look at the overall effectiveness of the rat eradication project,” Raine said.
The first attempt by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to eradicate rats on Lehua was in 2009.
Hawaii island
Proposed $10,000 fine over unpermitted events dismissed
The state Land Board on Friday dismissed a proposed fine for a Kona resident who held unpermitted swimming fitness events in Kailua Bay.
The state Division of Boating and Recreation had recommended a $10,000 fine against Sean Pagett for two violations of the permit requirement rule.
The board voted to dismiss the fine upon receiving assurances from Pagett’s lawyer, former Hawaii Mayor Billy Kenoi, that Pagett will apply for a division permit, including obtaining required insurance coverage, for all future marine events he plans.
“Our shared goal is safety for all,” division Administrator Ed Underwood said.
