Conservation success offers new hope for seabird colonies threatened by invasive predators

In a world-first conservation success, Rathlin Island has become the first place in the world to eradicate ferrets, marking a major victory for seabird conservation and island wildlife recovery.

The achievement is the result of a five-year restoration effort led through the Life Raft project, which has worked to remove invasive ferrets and rats from the island. A specially trained conservation detection dog named Woody played a crucial role in helping confirm the ferrets were gone.

For wildlife conservationists across the UK and beyond, Rathlin’s success shows that restoring island ecosystems damaged by non-native predators is possible — and can deliver real benefits for both nature and local communities.

Why Were Ferrets a Threat to Rathlin Island’s Seabirds?

Ferrets are not native to Rathlin Island and are believed to have been deliberately introduced in the 1980s to help control rabbits and rats.

However, instead of targeting those species, the predators quickly turned to much easier prey: ground-nesting seabirds, along with their eggs and chicks.

This posed a major threat to Rathlin’s internationally important seabird colonies, which include species that rely on the island as a safe place to breed.

Across the UK and Ireland, breeding seabird populations have declined by 62% over the last two decades, making predator-free nesting sites increasingly important for their survival.

What Is the Life Raft Project?

The Life Raft project was launched in 2021 to protect Rathlin Island’s wildlife by removing invasive mammal predators.

The project, backed by £4.5 million in funding, focused on eradicating both:

• Ferrets
• Rats

Together, these species have caused serious harm to nesting birds and fragile island ecosystems.

“Here on Rathlin in 2017, a feral ferret reached one of our puffin colonies and killed 27 puffins in a two-day period,” she said.

“So we’re hoping alleviating that invasive non-native species pressure will allow our seabirds space to breed, raise their young and flourish once more.”

By removing them, conservationists hope to create a much safer environment for breeding seabirds, native wildlife and habitat recovery.

How Rathlin Island Removed Invasive Ferrets

A large-scale effort was needed to tackle the ferret population across the island.

As part of the operation:

• More than 400 ferret traps were laid across Rathlin in 2023
• A total of 98 ferrets were caught during the first major winter trapping phase
• 110 monitoring cameras were installed across the island to detect any remaining animals

No ferrets have been seen on Rathlin Island since October 2023, and conservation teams are now increasingly confident that the island is truly ferret free.

“Seabird colonies can recover very, very quickly, so we’re very hopeful, and we’ve already seen some very promising signs from last year’s breeding season, that the numbers here will climb up and really secure themselves.”

This makes Rathlin the first known island in the world to successfully eradicate ferrets.

Meet Woody: The Conservation Dog Who Helped Save Rathlin’s Seabirds

One of the key reasons behind Rathlin Island’s success was Woody, a specially trained conservation detection dog.

Woody, a red fox Labrador, was trained to use his highly sensitive sense of smell to detect any signs of remaining ferrets across the island.

His role was critical in ensuring that no animals had been missed after the trapping programme ended.

Why detection dogs matter in conservation

Conservation dogs like Woody can help by:

• Detecting elusive invasive species
• Covering difficult terrain quickly
• Supporting wildlife recovery projects
• Improving confidence in eradication success

Woody’s work helped give conservationists reassurance that the island’s ferret population had truly been removed.

Woody’s Injury Didn’t Stop His Conservation Work

While Woody has become a conservation hero, his journey has not been without challenges.

During downtime away from work, he suffered a thorn injury to his eye. Despite receiving immediate veterinary treatment, the eye ultimately had to be removed.

Claire Barnett says it was a “freak, unfortunate accident”, but his nose was still in “full working order”.

His resilience has made him even more beloved among the conservation team and island community.

But with his invasive species detector duties complete Woody now has a new role.

“Now he’s our biosecurity dog.

Rats Are the Next Big Challenge for Rathlin Island

Ferrets were not the only invasive predator threatening wildlife on Rathlin Island.

Rats, thought to have arrived on boats during the 19th Century, have also posed a major danger to nesting birds, eggs and chicks.

To tackle the problem, the Life Raft team launched an extensive rat eradication programme.

Rat control measures included:

• Nearly 7,000 handmade rat bait traps
• Traps placed every 250 metres across the island
• Ongoing camera monitoring and surveillance

No rats have been seen since June 2025, raising hopes that Rathlin Island could officially be declared rat free in 2027.

Tom McDonnell, a lifelong resident, said they could keep chickens again and, as a wildlife photographer, he says the project “can only be a win-win” for nature.

“It’s just beyond my wildest dreams.

“Everybody thinks about the seabirds, of course, but I can’t wait to see the growth in some of the animals, especially the hare population, because predation on the leverets, or the young hares, was big.

“Plus a lot of residents can now raise their chickens without any worries, so that’s definitely a positive.”

How Rathlin’s Community Has Helped Make the Project a Success

One of the most important parts of the project has been the support of the Rathlin Island community.

Residents have worked closely with conservationists throughout the eradication effort, helping protect the island and reduce the risk of reinvasion.

Claire Barnett said providing seabirds with safe breeding spaces is vital as they facing difficulties globally.

“Seabirds are in big trouble – when they’re not inland nesting, they’re out in the seas, so they’re under a huge amount of pressure from climate change, from our warming waters, from overfishing, from plastic pollution.

“All of those things are having serious implications for these birds, but what we can do and do quite quickly is make sure they’ve got a safe place to nest.

“Because they’re seabirds, they have one egg every year, and if they don’t get those birds away, the numbers are going to dwindle very, very quickly.”

The benefits of removing invasive predators are not just ecological — they also support community resilience and self-sufficiency.

For example, some residents say the island can now more safely support:

• Backyard chickens
• Small-scale food production
• Improved local self-sufficiency

This makes the project a rare example of a conservation win that supports both wildlife recovery and community wellbeing.

Protecting Rathlin from Future Invasive Species

With ferret eradication now achieved, the focus is shifting to biosecurity — making sure no invasive predators return.

Erin McKeown says there has been “unwavering support” from the community.

“We have a biosecurity element to think about, so it’s great to get Rathlin ferret-free, but we want to now make sure that we keep it ferret-free too.

“So that work is also ongoing to make sure we’ve got really robust biosecurity in place.”

Woody has already begun a new role helping inspect incoming supplies to the island, including:

• Hay
• Farm feed
• Bags of wood
• Other cargo that could hide rodents or pests

Checks are being carried out both at Ballycastle before departure and again on arrival at Rathlin Island.

This extra layer of protection is vital to securing the island’s long-term conservation gains.

A Global Conservation Success Story

Rathlin Island’s achievement is already attracting international attention.

At a recent  Island Invasives conference in New Zealand, conservation experts highlighted Rathlin as an example of what can be achieved when science, community support and long-term commitment come together.

One of the international experts attending was Elizabeth Bell.

Bell said getting rid of an “aggressive predator” like a ferret in a “unique” environment like Rathlin demonstrates what can be achieved.

“This is a fantastic example of both agency and community working together to achieve this really important goal.

“It also shows that several of the lessons learned there – how the traps worked, how the communication with the community worked – can be used on other islands around the world.

“This has been amazing.”

For islands around the world struggling with invasive predators, Rathlin now offers a powerful case study in wildlife recovery and seabird protection.

Why This Matters for Nature

Island ecosystems are often among the most vulnerable places on Earth. When non-native predators are introduced, they can devastate species that evolved without natural defences against them.

By removing invasive ferrets and rats, Rathlin Island is giving seabirds the safe breeding spaces they urgently need — at a time when many species are already under pressure from climate change, habitat loss, pollution and declining food supplies.

At Natural World Fund, we know that invasive species can have devastating consequences for wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Rathlin Island’s success shows that with the right action, damaged habitats can recover and vulnerable species can be given a second chance.

If you care about restoring native wildlife in the UK, support the work of Natural World Fund today.