Tristan : Ratting Day 2009 Good for Tristan but Bad for Rats
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 18.06.2009 (Article Archived on 20.08.2009)

Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times): Picture taken from the top of the Hill Piece shows Neil Swain right and Conrad Glass left, with a nest of 6 dead rats, just caught, whilst the collie dogs look on.

Photo (c) James Glass (Tristan Times): Picture taken from the top of the Hill Piece shows Neil Swain right and Conrad Glass left, with a nest of 6 dead rats, just caught, whilst the collie dogs look on.

RATTING DAY 2009 GOOD FOR TRISTAN BUT A BAD ONE FOR RATS

By Sarah Glass (Tristan Times)

After waiting for the perfect day, Ratting Day was held on Wednesday 3rd June 2009.  The dong was rung early morning by the Chief Islander to declare the day as a public holiday.

The hunting gangs quickly got themselves together and headed for the patches area.  In the last year under the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project (SAIS) there has been 354 poison bait stations put around the settlement and patches.  This has proved extremely successful as the community now, only see a fraction of the numbers of mice and rats they used to see in the past.  

Rats caught by each gang

Below the Hill  - 202 - 1st Prize

Daily's Hill  - 124 - 2nd Prize

Second Watron - 103 3rd Prize

The Coolers - 78

The Farm -  49

Twiddy Patch - 48

Bill's Hill  - 17

Old Pieces - Nil - Booby Prize =

Red Body Hill - Nil - Booby Prize =

Longest Tail 

274mm caught by Below the Hill Gang - 1st Prize

2nd Longest Tail 266 mm caught by Daily's Hill - 2nd Prize