Quick, easy but vital #biosecurity steps to take when visiting any important #seabird island such as @lundybirds.bsky.social, @skomerisland.bsky.social, @skokholmisland.bsky.social, @bardseybirdobs.bsky.social, @stkildawhs.bsky.social, @copelandbirdobs.bsky.social & @fairislebirdobs.bsky.social.

Productive overnight stay on #Lundy with Rachel, & Reid a #biosecurity conservation #detectiondog. We searched a wide variety of sites from the MS Oldenburg, farm buildings, shop stores, waste areas & #TrinityHouse lighthouse areas to key #seabird area gullies - no suspicious rat signs detected.

Thanks to members of the South West Rapid Incursion Response Hub team who joined us today for training. We're all now better equipped to respond if a rat reached St Agnes & Gugh or Annet in the Isles of #Scilly or #Lundy. #biosecurity in perpetuity is vital to maintain the success of #eradications.

A reminder of why #biosecurity is so important to try & stop invasive predators reaching seabird islands in the first place. Heat detecting remote download AI trail cameras look like a really useful future #biosecurity tool to act as an early warning system. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

For those of you who haven't already watched Laura and Kuki on #BBCCountryfile or don't know what a #biosecurity conservation detection dog handling team do, you can still catch up on I-player. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

1 way to prevent rodents getting to our important seabird islands is to use rope guards, plastic discs attached to mooring lines. Thanks to Puffin Cruises, Natalie Kristen II, Serenity & Billy Shiel's for being early adopters of these devices whilst taking visitors around Coquet & the Farne Islands.

Since 2016 at least 6rats,3mink,7dead rats,1dead mink & 1dead mouse have been discovered on UK seabird islands. 1stoat was seen on a boat,1rat was seen jumping ashore from a boat,2boats found rodent sign onboard & 32suspicious signs were found on island. The risk to seabirds is very real & ongoing..

#Seabirds are among the most threatened group of birds globally. You can help their #conservation by carrying out simple #biosecurity measures such as checking your bag & boat for signs of invasive predators before travelling to a seabird island. Look out for chew marks, entrance holes & droppings.

"Shipwrecks" still happen relatively frequently with 10 affecting the UK's internationally important seabird islands since 2018, including 1 boat sinking off Lundy & 1 off the Farnes in 2025. Rats can squeeze through a 12mm hole so are very good at stowing away on boats-always be vigilant for signs.

Puffins vs Brown Rats = not a fair fight!
Our seabirds evolved their breeding strategies long before rats arrived in the UK, they have no natural defence against mammalian predators.
Seabirds need these islands to remain rat-free to survive, rats can and will thrive almost anywhere!

Invasive Non-native predators, such as rats can have devastating impacts on seabird islands as they eat eggs, chicks and even adult birds.

When you're travelling to a seabird island, simple biosecurity actions can help prevent the arrival of invasive predators.

#biosecurityforwales #seabirds