Alaskan Island on High Alert Over Possible Rat Sighting

St. Paul Island residents and officials intensify search efforts to protect its unique seabird population from potential rat infestation.

A resident's reported rat sighting in June has spurred a months-long search on St. Paul Island, known for its diverse birdlife.
Wildlife officials have deployed traps with peanut butter, ultraviolet 'chew blocks,' and trail cameras but have found no evidence of rats so far.
Rats can devastate seabird colonies by preying on eggs, chicks, and adults, prompting serious concern among the island's 350 residents.
The island has a longstanding rodent surveillance program, but the last known rat took nearly a year to catch, highlighting the challenge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also considering rat eradication efforts on four other remote islands in the Aleutian chain.