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title: "Support for the eradication of the alien House Mouse on Gough Island?  Largest island for a successful eradication of mice increases to 3800 hectares"
---

# Support for the eradication of the alien House Mouse on Gough Island?  Largest island for a successful eradication of mice increases to 3800 hectares

New Zealand's [Department of Conservation](http://www.doc.govt.nz/) announced last month that the linked islands of [Motutapu](http://www.motutapu.org.nz/) and [Rangitoto](http://www.rangitoto.org/) in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland are now considered clear of nine alien mammal species, including the House Mouse *Mus musculus*, following a protracted campaign ([click here](http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/motutapu-and-rangitoto-declared-pest-free/)). With a combined area of 3800 ha, the two islands are now the single largest locality from which mice have been successfully eradicated.  Previously the record was held by New Zealand's [Enderby Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enderby_Island) of only 700 ha in the Auckland Island Group.

 With the possibility that mice have been eradicated this year on Australia's 12 800-ha Macquarie Island ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/latest-news/less-than-30-introduced-rabbits-thought-to-be-left-on-australias-sub-antarctic-macquarie-island)), the way seems to be opening for an attempt on the mice on 6 800-ha [Gough Island](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gough_Island) in the South Atlantic. A successful eradication on Gough will do much to help save the [Critically Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30013) Tristan Albatross *Diomedea dabbenena*, whose chicks the mice attack and kill during winter, as regularly reported on this web site.  [Click here](http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/goughisland_tcm9-220539.pdf) to access the feasibility study for the eradication of Gough's mice.

 ![](http://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/T/Tristan/Tristan_Albatross_by_Ross_Wanless_and_Andrea_Angel.jpg)

 Tristan Albatross and chick on Gough Island  
Photograph by Andrea Angel/Ross Wanless

   *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 September 2011*