the latest news in rodent eradication from islands using LoRa IoT and other technologies

Current Major Initiatives

1. Mouse-Free Marion Project (Marion Island, South Africa)

• A large-scale eradication is gearing up to remove invasive mice that prey on albatross chicks. A trial baiting will begin on foot soon, followed by a helicopter-dispersed campaign next year. By winter 2028, a full-scale aerial baiting using multiple helicopters is planned. Success is critical for protecting local bird species, including those threatened by bird flu and predation. The Guardian

• Previously reported, this effort is valued at around US $25 million and aims to distribute 550 tons of rodenticide via helicopter starting in 2027. Even a small failure could render the whole attempt ineffective. AP News

2. Ulva Island (New Zealand)

• Following the detection of a single dead rat in early 2024, authorities carried out an intensive incursion response. After thousands of trap checks, cameras, and detection dog searches over a month, no other rodents were found, and the island was declared rodent-free once more. Now, enhanced surveillance continues to prevent reinvasion. Doc.govt.nz

3. Lord Howe Island (Australia)

• A previously successful baiting campaign has now led to a thriving resurgence of native wildlife. The woodhen population has surged from just a few dozen to over 2,000 by 2024, along with renewed sightings of endemic snails and insects. Community engagement and thorough risk assessments were instrumental in gaining support for this operation. RambollWikipedia

Emerging Technologies (LoRa IoT & Beyond)

While the most recent island eradication projects haven’t published new updates integrating LoRa or IoT directly, some related technologies show significant promise in broader rodent control and wildlife conservation:

• A new eDNA detection tool can identify the presence of a single mouse within an hour in controlled settings—offering a powerful early-warning option for biosecurity in island ecosystems. Island Conservation

• LoRaWAN-based monitoring systems are being developed for rodent detection in built environments—such as restaurants and factories—with remote monitoring capabilities including image capture and bait-level sensing. PubMed

• More generally, LoRa-based sensor networks are already powering large-scale environmental conservation efforts, such as monitoring biodiversity across millions of hectares in Africa for anti-poaching and habitat tracking. actility.comIoT M2M CouncilRFID JOURNAL

• ‘They started nibbling at its head’: the bold plan to rid an island of albatross-eating mice https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/31/plan-to-rid-marion-island-of-albatross-eating-mice-invasive-species?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Why an Alaska island is using peanut butter and black lights to find a rat that might not exist https://apnews.com/article/rat-alaska-island-seabirds-conservation-9f2f78e4c6e9ceb6073cfa8af126f44d

Summary Overview

Project / Region	Approach	Technology Used
Marion Island	Foot trial → full aerial baiting	Helicopters, GPS-guided baiting
Ulva Island	Intensive manual surveillance	Traps, cameras, detection dogs
Lord Howe Island	Aerial baiting + community risk planning	Aerial distribution, bio-risk assessment
eDNA Detection (Trials)	Environmental sampling	Rapid DNA analysis
LoRa IoT Monitoring (Lab/Building)	Remote bait station monitoring	LoRaWAN-connected sensors
Conservation (Africa, etc.)	Ecosystem-scale sensing	LoRaWAN sensor networks

Looking Ahead

• LoRa-powered Sensors: As sensor tech matures, low-power, long-range devices may offer real-time monitoring of bait stations or traps—even in rugged island landscapes.

• eDNA Surveillance: Combining these with rapid environmental DNA tests could offer layered early detection to swiftly respond to incursions.

• Integration into Island Projects: There’s excellent potential to integrate IoT monitoring into future eradication programs like Marion or Lord Howe for improved detection and lower costs.