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Predator Control and Eradication
Pacific Rim Conservation conducts and manages several predator control projects in Hawaii, and has successfully conducted several predator eradications in Hawaii both on offshore islets and from within fenced areas. On most islands throughout the Pacific region, alien terrestrial mammals (rodents, mongoose, mustelids, cats, dogs, and ungulates) pose a serious threat to native biota that did not evolve with mammalian predators and lack natural defenses against these animals. We work with State and Federal agencies and other pest control organizations to ensure that animal welfare guidelines are followed and that the most current, effective, and humane techniques are employed. Methods include live trapping, snap trapping, and poison bait stations. Eric VanderWerf and Mike Lohr are both certified restricted pesticide applicators.
- With funding from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation and in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, we designed and implemented a successful five-species predator removal operation from inside the predator proof fence at Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve using a combination of secure bait boxes and traps. Previous predation rates in the reserve resulted in up to 15% of the fledgling seabirds killed every year, as well as preventing several endangered plant species from reproducing. We also assisted in developing and implementing the pre and post monitoring protocols of both pest and native species to determine their response to the removal of predation pressure.
- In collaboration with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, we successfully removed black rats from Mokuauia Island using a combination of bait boxes and snap traps. Mokuauia (also called Goat Island) is a 13-acre State Seabird Sanctuary on the northeastern coast of Oahu in Laie Bay and is 16 native plant species, an estimated 6,500 nesting Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and several migrant shorebirds, including the rare Bristle-thighed curlew.
Left - Kaena Point rodent. Center - sandalwood fruit eaten by rats. Right - shearwater chick eaten by a rat.
- Control of alien rodents to reduce nest predation and improve survival of Oahu Elepaio, and monitoring efficacy of the rodent control program, in collaboration with the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, the U.S. Army, and the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. PDF Report 22
Left - rat at dummy elepaio nest. Right - rat bait station
 Developing methods using remote camera traps to estimate feral cat density in natural areas, improving efficacy of predator control, and determining rates of immigration after feral cat removal.
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