Three species of rat arrived in Aotearoa with humans and quickly spread to all corners. At the same time as rats expanded, many endemic vertebrate populations went extinct. The invasive rodents compete with native predators, harbour fleas with disease and add to our carbon footprint.
We talk about the ecology of rats in New Zealand forests and summarise why we kill them and who benefits from reducing their density. We are also interested in rat dispersal and their ability to tolerate high doses of anticoagulants and will talk about future studies.
Part of a monthly programme of talks presented by Forest & Bird Manawatū Branch.
All welcome.
