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title: "Planning the eradication of introduced House Mice on New Zealand’s Antipodes Island"
---

# Planning the eradication of introduced House Mice on New Zealand’s Antipodes Island

House Mice *Mus musculus*were introduced to New Zealand’s [Antipodes Island](http://www.acap.aq/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1358-acap-breeding-sites-no-23-antipodes-island-new-zealand-supports-seven-acap-listed-albatross-and-petrel-species) in the middle of the 20th century.  Since then evidence has been mounting of their deleterious effects on the island’s plants, invertebrates and birds ([click here](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/project/the-problem-3/)).  The island group supports [seven](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/species/birds/)[species](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/species/birds/) of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels, of which the five that breed on the main island are potentially at risk to attacks by mice.

 Following a successful [campaign](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/) to raise a million New Zealand Dollars, plans are now firming up by the [Department of Conservation](http://www.doc.govt.nz/) to eradicate the island’s mice (the sole introduced mammal) in the austral winter of 2016.  An edited [timeline](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/project/timeline/) for next year’s intended bait drop follows:

 “Late May 2016 – Charter ship departs for Antipodes Islands.  Transport and aerial off load of supplies to the island, including aviation fuel, temporary accommodation structure, helicopters x 2, bait buckets, food, approximately 12 personnel, other equipment including; generators, spare parts for machinery including helicopters and buckets, fuels, bait in weatherproof pods.

 June 2016– Mouse eradication operation commences. Two applications of bait [to be made] a minimum of 14 days apart.

 Pack up (deconstruction of heli-platform, bait pods, hangar setup, accommodation, load ship with helicopters) and return to mainland New Zealand once operation completed.”

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/A/Antipodean/Antipodean Albatrosses Erica Sommer 2.jpg)

 Antipodean Albatrosses: at risk to mice?  Photograph by Erica Sommer

 After at least two mouse breeding seasons following the eradication exercise a team of two rodent detection dogs and their handlers will work with a small team of monitoring staff to search the island for signs of mice.  Monitoring tools may also include ink-tracking cards, wax tags and chew cards.  The results of the planned monitoring will show whether the eradication effort was successful or not.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 April 2015*