Rats and mice have historically colonised European islands, through trade and migration. Once introduced, these mammals have the ability to establish themselves very quickly, since they feed opportunistically, and are highly prolific breeders. They are skilled swimmers and climbers, making them a significant threat to birds, found even in remote habitats. To track their presence, our Seabird Team uses several monitoring methods, including non-toxic flavoured wax blocks. These blocks are essentially made up of wax and an ingredient (such as peanut butter or chocolate) that lures the rats to eat them, but does not affect them. Rodents leave behind distinctive bite marks on these blocks in the form of deep, parallel grooves, that help us tell them apart from other animals like beetles or snails. Once these bite marks are found, the team is able to confirm their presence, allowing us to plan targeted biosecurity interventions. #InvasiveSpecies #SeabirdFridays #BirdLifeMalta - @birdlifemalta