CATTLE could be sent to the Hastings during a program to wipe rats off a World Heritage-protected island.
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Just over 40 tonnes of poison baits, containing 840g of poison, would be spread across Lord Howe Island under a proposal to permanently rid the island of rats and mice.
The plan is to drop baits from helicopters in uninhabited areas and use a combination of hand placed baits and bait stations in settled areas.
The Lord Howe Island wood hen and Lord Howe Island currawong would be caught and kept in captivity during the baiting period.
Lord Howe Island Board chief executive Stephen Wills said the plan also involved “de-stocking” the island of cows and chickens.
Cattle owners could chose to send their stock off the island during the baiting period.
Mr Wills said it would be logical to agist those cattle in the Hastings.
The Island Trader offers a regular sea freight service between Lord Howe Island and Port Macquarie.
It is believed although the vessel’s priority was cargo, it could ship cattle off the island during the baiting program, if health and veterinary requirements were met.
Mice and rats were accidentally introduced to Lord Howe Island in 1860 and 1918 respectively.
Rats are implicated in the extinction of five bird species and at least 13 invertebrates on the island about 500km east of Port Macquarie.
They are also blamed for damage to the kentia palm.
Mr Wills said island remained one of the most beautiful places on earth, but over time, the rodents would slowly chip away at that.
“We want to do it once and then stop using this sort of poison ... and protect the world heritage values the island is famous for,” he said.
Not everyone agrees with the plan which has yet to be approved.
Lord Howe Island resident Rob Rathgeber labelled the proposal as a “radical”.
He called for extensive research before even contemplating it.
“My main concerns are the immediate and long-term impact on the people,” Mr Rathgeber said.
He believes the use of bait stations on a massive scale would be a better alternative to the proposed method.
The semi-retired businessman said he had not seen a live rat during his 15 years on the island.
Meanwhile, a detailed plan and strict approval process underpinned the baiting proposal, Mr Wills said.
Government funding would be sought for the $8 million project which could be started, at the earlier, in winter 2012.
Approval is needed from the state and federal governments.
The Lord Howe Island Group was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1982.