Former 'Rat Island' in Alaska has whole new look

AAA  Oct. 23, 2013 2:53 PM ET
Former 'Rat Island' in Alaska has whole new look
By BECKY BOHRERBy BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press  

In this June 2013 photo provided by Island Conservation, a Black Oystercatcher is shown with a nest and chick on Hawadax Island, Alaska. Five years after an effort to eradicate rats from the remote Alaskan island, conservationists and federal wildlife officials are reporting success. They say the island, once known as Rat Island because of its infestation of rats, is now teeming with birds, whose songs and noises replace the silence that had been reported their earlier. Rat Island was officially renamed Hawadax Island, the original Aleut name for it, in 2012. (AP Photo/Island Conservation, Rory Stansbury)

In this June 2013 photo provided by Island Conservation, a Black Oystercatcher is shown with a nest and chick on Hawadax Island, Alaska. Five years after an effort to eradicate rats from the remote Alaskan island, conservationists and federal wildlife officials are reporting success. They say the island, once known as Rat Island because of its infestation of rats, is now teeming with birds, whose songs and noises replace the silence that had been reported their earlier. Rat Island was officially renamed Hawadax Island, the original Aleut name for it, in 2012. (AP Photo/Island Conservation, Rory Stansbury)

In this June 2013 photo provided by Island Conservation, is a view of the landscape on Hawadax Island, Alaska. Five years after an effort to eradicate rats from the remote Alaskan island, conservationists and federal wildlife officials are reporting success. They say the island, once known as Rat Island because of its infestation of rats, is now teeming with birds, whose songs and noises replace the silence that had been reported their earlier. Rat Island was officially renamed Hawadax Island, the original Aleut name for it, in 2012. (AP Photo/Island Conservation, Rory Stansbury)

In this June 2013 photo provided by Island Conservation, scientist Coral Wolf walks along Hawadax Island, Alaska. Five years after an effort to eradicate rats from the remote Alaskan island, conservationists and federal wildlife officials are reporting success. They say the island, once known as Rat Island because of its infestation of rats, is now teeming with birds, whose songs and noises replace the silence that had been reported their earlier. Rat Island was officially renamed Hawadax Island, the original Aleut name for it, in 2012. (AP Photo/Island Conservation, Rory Stansbury)

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Five years after undertaking an effort to eradicate rats from a remote Alaska island, conservationists and federal wildlife officials are reporting success.

They say the island, once known as Rat Island because of its infestation of invasive Norway rats, is now teeming with birds, whose noises replace the silence that had been reported there earlier.

They also say for the first time breeding tufted puffins have been documented on the island, which is not inhabited by people and is in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Some other bird species are reported to be growing in number, as well.

The makeover of the island includes a name change. What was long known as Rat Island is now officially called Hawadax (HOW'-ah-thaw) Island, a nod to the original Aleut name.

Associated PressNews Topics: General news, Rats, Animals, Rodents, Birds, Wildlife, Wildlife management, Mammals, Living things, Environment, Environment and nature, Natural resource management
People, Places and Companies: Alaska



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