One of the best ways to help native birds and wildlife is by trapping invasive rats in your backyard.

As discussed in our article last week, island ecosystems like ours are highly vulnerable to non-native predators like rats, which push many species toward extinction.

Removing rats allows ecosystems to recover and flourish once again.

If we could snap our fingers and magically make rats disappear from the Cook Islands, what would we see?

In the first few days, we might notice less damage to belongings, food, or crops. Over weeks, more seeds would sprout, more fruit would appear on trees, and new growth would emerge in forests. In months, native invertebrates like Mountain Skinks may begin to thrive. Over the years, landbirds like the kākerōri and seabirds like the koputu could bounce back and become a common sight once again. In all, removing rats would help restore balance to our ecosystems and undo much of the harm they’ve caused.

While it’s not as simple as snapping our fingers, the work has already begun.

Some islands, such as Takutea, Suwarrow, and Palmerston, have undergone rat eradication projects.

Rats have been controlled in the Takitumu Conservation Area for over 30 years, and farmers often use bait to protect their crops. It’s conceivable that one day all the Cook Islands could be rat-free.

How can we extend these benefits to our land? Any effort to remove rats is beneficial, and complete eradication isn’t necessary to see improvements in bird, plant, and wildlife populations.

Poisonous bait is an effective option for targeting large areas and killing many rats with minimal effort. However, it carries risks, such as unintentional ingestion by humans or animals and environmental accumulation. Choosing the right poison and using it in stations inaccessible to non-target animals can mitigate these risks.

A simpler, safer method for urban or residential areas is trapping.

Snap traps are easy to set, affordable, and use a small amount of food as bait. They’re reusable and, when set up properly, pose little risk to pets or humans. Baiting traps with roasted coconut or peanut butter is highly effective.

To avoid attracting unintended animals, traps should be placed inside boxes with small entrances. Crabs can be attracted to the food in traps, so placing the trap higher off the ground (e.g., on a stump, box, or tree nook) can limit their access. Attaching traps to a branch with a string can also prevent large rats, or crabs, from running away with the trap.

Traps should be regularly checked and re-baited to ensure the bait is fresh.

For best success, place traps strategically on your land. Rats like to run along walls, plants, or fences where they are more protected, so placing a trap along their natural pathway will be more successful than out in the open.

Focus on areas they frequent, such as under fruit trees, near waterways, or beneath bushes. For more tips on setting traps, email te.ipukarea.society.inc@gmail.com.

As we work together to remove rats from our land and tackle more large-scale eradication projects in the future, it becomes easier to imagine that one day we will enjoy a rat-free Cook Islands.