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From birds to plants, invasive rats have wreaked havoc on island ecosystems worldwide, and the Cook Islands are no exception.
Island ecosystems are especially vulnerable to rats and other introduced predators that the native plants and animals are not adapted to and are therefore defenseless against.
So what makes these rats so invasive?
Rats are intelligent and highly adaptable animals and can reproduce very quickly. They have a broad diet of seeds, flowers, fruits, snails, lizards, and birds. By predating native species and competing with others for food, their impact spreads throughout ecosystems and can alter their entire structure and function.
Original Article: How removing rats can protect Cook Islands native vegetation and wild
