Life Ponderat
PonDerat
Life Ponderat is a project co-financed by the European Union whose objective is the improvement of the state of conservation of species and habitats of the Ponziane Islands.
Animal species
Eradication of invasive alien animals (like rats and goats).
Biosecurity
Implementing a strong biosecurity effort to prevent rat reinvasion.
Plant species
Eradication of invasive alien plants (Carpobrotus sp.pl.).
Habitats
Fencing of key land plot on Zannone to exclude wild alien ungulates (mouflons) to restore native habitats (holm oak forest).
What are the risks for non-target species during rat eradication?
The use of rodenticides to eradicate rodents from islands raises the issue of the risks for non-target animals. The risks exist on the occasion of any intervention, including routine rodent contro performed every day in the islands. However, in the case of rat eradication, the risks are rather modest for some species, negligible for others. Baits will be place inside bait stations, not accessible to cats, dogs, or birds. Therefore, the only risks may be due to …