---
title: "Progress with ridding New Zealand’s Antipodes Island of its alien House Mice"
---

# Progress with ridding New Zealand’s Antipodes Island of its alien House Mice

Following the success of the [Million Dollar Mouse Campaign](http://milliondollarmouse.org.nz/) in raising funds to support the costs of ridding New Zealand’s [Antipodes Island](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/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) of its introduced House Mice*Mus musculus* ([click here](http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/benefactors-boost-pest-free-campaign-5865315?autoStart=true)) a Department of Conservation ([DOC](http://www.doc.govt.nz/)) expedition is leaving for the island around month end and ahead of next year’s planned bait drop ([click here](http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/10225692/DOC-declares-war-on-Antipodes-mice)).

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Antipodes Island Erica Sommer.jpg)

 Looking across from Antipodes Island to mouse-free Bollons Island

 Photograph by Erica Sommer

 The Antipodes supports seven species of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels, including the [Vulnerable ](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30004)Antipodean Albatross *Diomedea antipodensis*. ([click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/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))  Chicks of two closely related species, the [Critically Endangered](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=30013) Tristan Albatross D*. dabbenena* of [Gough Island](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1322-acap-breeding-sites-no-11-gough-island-south-atlantic-hanging-on-against-the-onslaught-of-its-killer-mice) and the [Vulnerable](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3952)Wandering Albatross *D. exulans* of [Marion Island](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1371-acap-breeding-sites-no-27-sub-antarctic-marion-island-a-research-laboratory-for-albatrosses-and-petrels) are attacked by House Mice leading to deaths as reported previously in *ACAP Latest News*, and although not yet reported such attacks could occur on the Antipodes.

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

 A pair of Antipodean Albatrosses, photograph by Erica Sommer

 Antipodes Islands mouse eradication project manager Stephen Horn reports that “with a million dollars raised towards the project, and a series of trials already completed, it was time to start what would be a long battle.” ([click here](http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/10225692/DOC-declares-war-on-Antipodes-mice))

 As part of the expedition, scientists will assess the populations of non-target biota, including the Antipodes *Cyanoramphus unicolor* and Reischek's *C. hochstetteri* Parakeets, Antipodes Island Snipe *Coenocorypha aucklandica meinertzhagenae* and the Antipodes Island Pipit *Anthus novaeseelandiae steindachneri* - all endemic taxa - on nearby and mouse-free Bollons Island.  Pipits are to be captured to conduct husbandry trials so that a population can be taken into temporary captivity during the bait drop.

 [Click here](http://www.acap.aq/index.php/en/news/news-archive/60-2013-news-archive/1591-eradication-of-alien-mice-on-antipodes-island-now-scheduled-for-2015) and [here](http://www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/2013/antipodes-expedition-leaves-today/) to read of last year’s expedition to the island, conducted to undertake studies of the island’s biota threatened by mice.

 Together with the other four sub-Antarctic island groups belonging to New Zealand the [Antipodes](http://www.doc.govt.nz/conservation/land-and-freshwater/offshore-islands/new-zealands-subantarctic-islands/antipodes-islands/) form part of a [World Heritage Site](http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/877), in addition to being a National Nature Reserve and are both [Important](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=27407) and [Endemic](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/ebafactsheet.php?id=432) Bird Areas.

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 12 July 2014*