Based in the Westbury, NY area, Valerie Varnuska appreciates the environment around her and enjoys spending time outside doing activities such as walking and stargazing. A science enthusiast, Valerie Varnuska likes to learn about nature in the Westbury, NY, area, and around the globe. Nature has a powerful ability to restore itself to natural ecological balance under the right conditions, as was proven on the former Island of Rats. Located in the Aleutian archipelago of Alaska, the island was once called the Island of Rats due to its high population of rats. The rodents were unintentionally introduced to the area by shipwrecks and occupancy during World War II. The rats thrived and seriously disturbed the natural ecological balance of the island by threatening native species. For example, they fed on shorebirds and their offspring, resulting in an increase in the population of herbivorous seashore invertebrates, which were the food source of the birds. In 2008, a conservation effort carried out by Island Conservation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy eradicated the rats. Today, the island, now called Hawadax Island, has shown remarkable recovery. Its native species have re-established their populations and the island’s food chain has returned to a normal state.

1. The Ecological Recovery of the
Former Island of Rats
Valerie Varnuska

2. Introduction
Based in the Westbury, NY area, Valerie Varnuska appreciates the
environment around her and enjoys spending time outside doing
activities such as walking and stargazing. A science enthusiast,
Valerie Varnuska likes to learn about nature in the Westbury, NY,
area, and around the globe.

3. Nature has a powerful ability to restore itself to natural ecological
balance under the right conditions, as was proven on the former
Island of Rats. Located in the Aleutian archipelago of Alaska, the
island was once called the Island of Rats due to its high population
of rats. The rodents were unintentionally introduced to the area by
shipwrecks and occupancy during World War II.

4. The rats thrived and seriously disturbed the natural ecological
balance of the island by threatening native species. For example,
they fed on shorebirds and their offspring, resulting in an increase
in the population of herbivorous seashore invertebrates, which were
the food source of the birds.

5. In 2008, a conservation effort carried out by Island Conservation,
the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and The Nature Conservancy
eradicated the rats. Today, the island, now called Hawadax Island,
has shown remarkable recovery. Its native species have re-
established their populations and the island’s food chain has
returned to a normal state.