Palmyra Atoll Rat Eradication

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See attached Notice of Intent. Palmyra Atoll in the Line Islands, Central Pacific Ocean is an important center of biodiversity and plant and animal abundance in the Central Pacific region. The entire atoll and surrounding waters are protected as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Marine National Monument, and as a Nature Conservancy Preserve. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy are working together to protect and restore the native ecosystem there. The introduction of non-native black rats (Rattus rattus) during World War II has caused disruption and modification of the native ecosystem by these rats extirpating native species of plants and animals and suppressing others by competition or active predation. This grant will enable the implementation of a project to eradicate non-native rats on Refuge lands and private lands at Palmyra Atoll. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife is awarding this money pursuant to the authority provided in section 7 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(a)(4), the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-k), and the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977. Previous grants have been awarded to investigate techniques appropriate for effective eradication at Palmyra, to evaluate the types and extent of environmental effects of an eradication using rodenticide. These funds will be used to charter transportation, acquire equipment, and provide trained and authorized personnel to carry out the eradication operations and then to monitor wildlife and habitats at Palmyra Atoll to document the effectiveness of the work and the response of the environment to the removal of all rats.

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