A biosecurity inspection team has been assembled including staff from Auckland Council and the Department of Conservation after a rat was reported on Rākino Island.
Four rodent detector dogs and their handlers visited the site on January 11 and interviewed the person who reported the suspected pest.
Rākino Island has a troubled history with rats which used to plague the island before a joint community pest eradication initiative with Auckland Council was undertaken in the early 2000s.
Rats prey on the eggs and young chicks of seabirds like the blue penguin, and keeping rats out of Rākino Island is vital to the island's ecosystem.
After the latest rat sighting, rodent detector dogs each inspected the site individually but found no sign of rodents.
Traps and tracking cards were been deployed around the property and neighbouring area, and the local community have been advised and asked to be vigilant.
After several days, the cards and traps were checked over and no sign of any rodents was detected, but Auckland Council and Department of Conservation will continue to check the traps with detector dogs.
Reporting of potential sightings should be made to Auckland Council by phone to 09 301 0101 or via email at biosecurity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
