Invasive species found on six US Virgin Islands offshore cays
Wildlife teams identified rats and iguanas during an assessment to help protect nesting seabird populations in the Caribbean.
Wildlife teams conducting an assessment in the U.S. Virgin Islands found invasive animals on several offshore cays managed by the Virgin Islands National Park, according to the Times of India.
The survey of six islands revealed the presence of black rats on five of the locations and green iguanas on one.
The project was led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Caribbean Coastal Program in partnership with the nonprofit organisation Island Conservation.
These invasive species pose a threat to seabird colonies, including the roseate tern, laughing gull, and red-billed tropicbird, which use the cays for nesting.
Black rats are a particular concern because they prey on chicks and eggs, while green iguanas also threaten local biodiversity.
The findings will assist conservation partners in determining necessary steps to protect the islands, which may include removing the invasive animals or using sound-attraction devices to encourage seabirds to return.
