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Poor weather is continuing to slow Australian efforts to eradicate rabbits, rats and mice from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island by poison-bait drop from helicopters. 

Weekly station reports on the Australian Antarctic Division's web site (click here for the most recent) reveal that the helicopters have been grounded by fog and general bad weather for much of the time in the last several weeks. One report states "a rapid succession of fronts brought fierce northwest winds right through the week, followed by snow showers and rain". 

However, baiting has continued intermittently at the northern and southern ends of the island, and field workers are confirming that the three alien mammal species are being knocked out in treated areas.  The area around the station in the north of the island was baited early on and apparently live target animals are no longer being seen in its vicinity. 

Click here for an earlier news story on the eradication effort and also to access the project's newsletters and operational plan. 

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 July 2010