Routine and intensive surveillance
In the event that an animal does reach the island, it is very important that it be detected before a population has time to establish.
This section explains the surveillance tools you need to have in place.
In the event that an animal does reach the island, it is very important that it is detected before a population has time to establish.
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Routine surveillance (e.g. monthly checks of tools and being vigilant)
Carrying out simple routine surveillance on-island allows you to quickly detect any invasive predator that evades the barriers in place. You should use a combination of different surveillance tools including;
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Intensive surveillance (e.g adding more tools, checking daily, moving to fewer checks)
This is responding to possible signs of invasive predator (e.g. unclear or degraded footprints or droppings, sightings made by people unfamiliar with rodents or unclear sightings made by people who are familiar with rodents).
This requires adding more surveillance tools, carrying out site inspections and interviewing the person(s) who may have seen the animal.
If any 'sign' is found on any of the surveillance tools (or elsewhere) move to 'incursion response'.
Follow the recipe (from Wildlife Management International Limited) and use the equipment list to make favoured wax blocks to use in your surveillance.
The mink raft is can be used for monitoring (and then trapping mink as and when required). It detects mink footprints in clay, and being a raft on water, this increases the likelihood of its use by mink.
This manual provides best practice guidelines in a useful guide to help those working on or managing islands to detect the early warning signs of the presence of rats and other invasive species and prevent them becoming established.
In the event that an invasive predator does reach the island, it is very important that it be detected before a population has time to establish. Here we explain which tools you should use.
Intense surveillance: The actions required to responding to possible signs of rats or mice. if they have breached your prevention measures and barriers, you need to detect them as soon as possible and respond accordingly.
Intense surveillance: The actions required to responding to possible signs of stoats or mink. If they have breached your prevention measures and barriers, you need to detect them as soon as possible and respond accordingly.
We have a number of consultants available to discuss your project with you. Find out more about how Biosecurity for LIFE’s network can assist you.
Sourcing funding for your project is an important first step for your biosecurity work. Here we signpost to possible funders.