South Australia’s Flinders Island to have its cats, rats and mice eradicated

Flinders Island, South Australia

Flinders Island is a 3642-ha privately owned island located some 30 km offshore from the mainland coast of South Australia.  It is is surrounded by the Investigator Group Marine Park protected area.  Previously farmed, it is managed as a natural area allowing tourism.  It is intended to eradicate the island’s introduced feral cats, Black Rats and House Mice, commencing in May this year (click here).  The rodents are to be eradicated by the aerial dispersion of rodenticide-laced cereal bait by helicopter and the “up to 200” cats by application of Eradicat baits together with a follow-up phase consisting of intensive ground-based operations to locate and remove all the remaining cats.  Drones with thermal vision will also be used to locate cats.

According to Wikipedia, the island supports breeding populations of two burrowing procellariiform seabirds: Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris and White-faced Storm Petrels Pelagodroma marina.  It seems possible these populations, if confirmed, will increase following the removal of especially the cats and rats.

Once the island has been certified free of its introduced pests it is intended to introduce several species of threatened Australian mammals, including bandicoots and wallabies.

The eradication effort is being funded by both the Federal and State governments, with support from the landowner.

Read more about the planned eradication here and here.

With thanks to Keith Springer.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 10 February 2025