US wildlife teams surveyed six offshore islands for invasive species, finding rats on five and iguanas on one; the results will guide future work to protect nesting seabirds

Invasive species of rat in the Virgin Islands, USA Islands are often considered safe havens for wildlife, away from the rushing development of humanity, particularly for seabirds that depend on remote and undisturbed locations to lay their eggs and raise their young. However, humans cannot take a rest; human activities have led to the introduction of non-native invasive species to the islands. These animal species can disturb the balance, putting species that have depended on these habitats for generations at risk. Now, a wildlife assessment in the Caribbean has revealed the presence of invasive animals on several small islands, highlighting the challenges conservationists face in protecting these nesting grounds.The assessment was carried out across six offshore cays managed by Virgin Islands National Park in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Preliminary findings recorded black rats on five of the islands and green iguanas on one, giving wildlife teams a better understanding of the threats that could affect local seabird populations.The project was led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Caribbean Coastal Program in partnership with Island Conservation, a nonprofit organisation that wo...