PLAGUE OF RATS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 162, 5 April 1921, Page 5

PLAGUE OF RATS

DEVASTATING LORD HOWE ISLAND. Sydney, April 4. Largo quantities of rat destruction agents are being sent to Lord Howe Island, where the pest, .after practically annihilating bird life, thereby causing a marked increase in insect pests, threatens the Kertia palm industry, the' mainstay of the island. —Press Assn.

"Lord Howe Island is suffering intensely from a plague of rats; they are attacking the plantations, eating the.'produce, and doing extensive dramage io the cultivation of the island. Tho present position is extremely serious; what 't will bo within a year or two, unless the pest is overcome, can bo left to the imagination."

In these words Mr. Allan R. M'Culloch, zoologist of the Australian Museum, described tho visitation which many believe threatens the existence of the Kentia palm seed industry at Lord Howe Island. Mr. M'Culloch and Mr. E. le G. Troughton, also a member of the museum staff, have just returned from Lord Howe Island, where they hid Been invited to investigate the problem, states the "Sydney Morning Herald.” Mr. M'Culloch sued that until recently there were practically no rats on the island. The plague had been introduced by a steamer which ran ashore about six months ago. Tho rate 'had multiplied with extraordinary rapidity, nnd every endeavour to exterminate them had failed. All tho products of the island were attacked by them, nnd enormous damage had been done. The rats, added Mr. M'Culloch, have completely overrun the island. The bird life is being attacked, and many species ore in danger of extinction through the depredations upon their nests. As an example, Mr. M'Culloch cited the case of the doctor bird. Before the plague, he said, it was one of the commonest species on the island, but he could not discover more thnn half a dozen." As a res’ll! of the gradual extermination of the birds insect pests are getting beyond control, thus adding to the damage caused by the rodents themselves. On areas that have been cleared it has bean found that tho rats are far less numerous than they are on uncleared land. This leads to the belief that if the undergrowth is removed from the land.- and no cover or shelter is left for the rate, they will be driven to the mountains, where the scope' for damage is much more limited. Mr. M'Culloch considered that by their inbreeding the rats will in tilnuo exterminate themselves, but the damagn that may he done in the meantime is enormous. Drastic measures must be taken immediately if disastrous results are to he averted.