---
title: "An overlooked biosecurity concern: moving rodents between seabird islands by back-loading"
---

# An overlooked biosecurity concern: moving rodents between seabird islands by back-loading

John Cooper ([Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology](http://academic.sun.ac.za/cib/), Stellenbosch University) and colleagues write in *[Aliens the Invasive Species Bulletin](http://www.issg.org/) *(Newsletter of the [IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group](http://www.issg.org/)) on the risks of inadvertently moving rodents between seabird islands, including those with breeding populations of ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels such as within the Prince Edward and Tristan da Cunha Island Groups.

 The paper’s abstract follows

 “Introduced House Mice *Mus musculus* were inadvertently back-loaded to a supply ship from mouse-infested Gough Island in the South Atlantic Ocean before the ship proceeded to place a party ashore on mouse-free Inaccessible Island.  It is recommended that cargo from rodent-infested islands, especially that containing waste materials, be routinely inspected and treated on shore with rodenticides before back-loading commences.  This is essential to reduce the risk of introducing rodents to departing vessels and then to rat- and mouse-free islands visited subsequently on the same voyages.”

 ![](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/People/ChStwd with caught mouse s.jpg) 

 Chief Steward Neville Genisson with the House Mouse caught aboard the *S.A. Agulhas*

 Photograph: *S.A. Agulhas*

 **Reference:**

 Cooper, J., Cuthbert. R.J. & Ryan, P.G. 2013.  An overlooked biosecurity concern?  Back-loading at islands supporting introduced rodents.  [*Aliens* 33: 28-31](http://www.issg.org/pdf/aliens_newsletters/A33.pdf).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 09 November 2013*