By ANNE BESTON
The locals swear some of them were bigger than cats, up to 42cm from the nose to the end of their long, ratty tails.
The Norway rat population on the tiny Hauraki Gulf island of Rakino was beginning to outnumber the human by epidemic proportions.
"Some people joked there
should have been a 't' between the a and the k in the island's name," said Auckland Regional Council biosecurity manager Steve Hix.
The 146ha island, to the north of Rangitoto Island, is a quiet haven from city life with less than a dozen permanent residents, white sandy beaches, crystal-clear blue water and, lately, a box seat of the America's Cup.
But over the past few years, the rat population had become a plague. They invaded empty holiday homes, destroyed veggie gardens and even, legend has it, snuck aboard boats moored too close to shore.
"They were running around in groups, particularly at night when the tractor lights would show about 15 or 20 of them hopping about," said bach owner Graham Waters.
After a rat party in one vacant home, it was virtually uninhabitable, Mr Hix said. Food was scattered over floors, there were holes chewed through walls and mattresses, and the stench of urine was overpowering.
When the Department of Conservation saw that Norway rats had re-infested the nearby Noises Islands, home of rare wildlife, it cast a suspicious eye towards Rakino. At just over a kilometre away, it was within Norway rat-swimming distance.
It was then the authorities acted. With no pied piper available, the Auckland Regional Council and a small army of volunteers got to work.
More than 700 bait stations were spread over the island but it took nearly a month before the rodents began to drop. The islanders are now hoping Rakino is rat-free and will stay that way.
Herald feature: Environment
