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Bid to rid the Calf of Man of its longtails problem
A CAMPAIGN to rid the Calf of Man of longtails* has begun.
Manx National Heritage, Manx Wildlife Trust, the Food and Environment Research Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Manx BirdLife and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture have got together to try to tackle the problem.
The project will continue until March 2013, to be followed by a period of regular monitoring for any remaining signs of longtails.
A Manx National Heritage spokesman said: ‘Longtails are invasive, non-native rodents that prey on seabirds and their chicks. They were accidentally introduced to the Calf in the late 1700s and have remained a threat to the Manx shearwaters and other ground-nesting birds despite previous attempts to control them.
‘Permanent biosecurity measures, including goods and supply quarantine procedures, are in place on the Calf to prevent further entry by longtails. Boat owners and visitors to the Calf are asked to assist the project by taking the following precautions to ensure that rodents do not find their way back to the island.’
The advice is:
• Check your hold and bilge areas regularly for signs of longtails and take steps to catch and remove any suspected to be present.
• Check fishing and other gear stored on the quayside and take appropriate steps to protect from longtail stowaways.
• Pack foodstuffs and other materials destined for the Calf in rat-proof containers and check for rodent signs before loading on to boat.
• Inspect equipment for signs of rodents before loading for Calf supply. Longtails are very clever at hiding away and slipping onto vessels without being noticed.
• Be especially vigilant if mooring alongside any of the Calf harbours for more than a few minutes, or if intending to drop anchor close to the shore.
•Do not leave vessels unattended at Calf harbours, as they may hamper efforts to supply the Calf wardens with food and fuel.
*Longtail is the name people in the Isle of Man use for brown rats.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
