In 2002, Lundy began his rat eradication project; The puffins subsequently increased from 13 in 2000 to 1,335, and more than 40,000 seabirds now nest on the island.

Off the coast of southwestern England, the tiny island of Lundy was once a textbook case of how invasive rats can devastate seabird colonies. By the late 1990s, puffin numbers had dwindled to just 13 breeding pairs and many other seabirds had left the island entirely. In 2002, conservationists launched an ambitious rat eradication project to give the island’s wildlife a second chance. More than two decades later, the results are astonishing: the puffins have once again numbered 1,335 individuals, and more than 40,000 seabirds now return each year to nest on the cliffs and burrows of Lundy. As documented by the Lundy Field Society and The Landmark Trust, the island’s transformation shows what is possible when a community commits to eliminating a single destructive invasive species.An island under siegeLundy, about 12 miles off the Devon coast, has long been a haven for seabirds. Its steep cliffs, grassy slopes and isolated location make it ideal for species such as puffins, guillemots, razorbills, Manx shearwaters and stormy petrels. Historically, tens of thousands of birds nested there, filling the air with song and shaping the island’s ecology.Then came the rats. Introduced centuries ago by ships, brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) found an island paradise with no natural predators. They multiplied rapidly, feeding on seabird eggs, chicks and even adults in some cases. Over time, many birds stopped returning to their nests or raised far fewer young.In 2000, the situation was terrible. Puffin surveys counted only 13 individuals, a fraction of historical levels. Other seabirds had also declined dramatically and the island’s reputation as a seabird stronghold was at risk.The decision to eradicate the rats.Conservationists realized that without addressing the rat problem, the recovery of seabirds at Lundy was unlikely. In 2002, the Lundy Field Society, The Landmark Trust (which manages the island) and partner organizations launched a rat eradication project. The goal was clear: remove all rats from the island and keep it free of them, allowing seabirds to nest without constant predation.The operation was complex and delicate. Lundy is not just a wildlife reserve, but a place to live, visit and bring livestock. Any eradication method had to be effective against rats, but also reduce risks to non-target species, people and pets. After careful planning, teams used a combination of baiting strategies, monitoring and strict biosecurity measures to target the rat population across the island.Life after ratsOnce rat numbers decreased and the island was declared rat-free, the ecological response began almost immediately. Seabirds that had avoided Lundy for years began to return. Burrows that had remained empty for decades were reoccupied. Chick survival rates improved dramatically, as eggs and chicks were no longer eaten overnight.The puffins, once reduced to just 13 individuals, showed one of the most dramatic recoveries. Recent surveys count around 1,335 puffins on Lundy, a more than 100-fold increase from the nadir in 2000. These birds now dig burrows in the island’s soil, raise chicks and return year after year, forming one of the healthiest puffin colonies in the region.A seabird powerhouse againThe recovery extends far beyond puffins. Today, more than 40,000 seabirds nest at Lundy each year, representing a wide range of species. These include: guillemots and razorbills cluster on cliff ledges, laying their eggs on narrow rock platforms; Manx shearwaters return to their burrows at night, filling the darkness with eerie calls; storm petrels, one of Europe’s smallest seabirds, breed in hidden crevices and burrows; and gulls, fulmars and other species increase noise and activity during the breeding season.For researchers and visitors, the island once again feels like a living city of seabirds, constantly moving between the sea and the coast.Keep Lundy Rat FreeEradicating the rats was only the first step; keeping them off the island is a constant challenge. Rats can arrive on visiting ships, in cargo, or on drifting debris. Lundy has strict biosecurity protocols to protect against reinvasion:All incoming vessels and supplies are checked for rodents.We also place traps and monitoring stations around the island to detect any new rat activity early on.Residents, staff and visitors are trained to immediately report signs of rats.This vigilance is essential. A single breeding pair of rats could, within a few years, rebuild a population large enough to once again threaten seabirds. The decades of work since 2002 depend on continued care and attention.Why Lundy is important for conservationLundy’s story has become a benchmark for island conservation around the world. Thousands of islands face similar problems: rats, cats, mice and other invasive predators are causing the decline of native birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Lundy shows that: Large-scale rat eradication is feasible on inhabited islands with careful planning and community support; Seabird populations can recover quickly once predation pressure is removed; and long-term biosecurity is as important as the initial eradication effort.The project has inspired similar work on other UK islands and beyond, where conservationists are using Lundy’s expertise to design their own eradications and restorations.A living laboratory for researchersFor scientists, Lundy is now a living laboratory. Researchers study how seabird colonies recover over time and what factors influence their growth; how removing rats affects other parts of the ecosystem, from insects to vegetation; and how best to monitor and maintain rat-free status on inhabited islands.The island’s long-term data sets, spanning decades before and after rat eradication, are invaluable for understanding ecological change and refining conservation methods.For visitors: front row seat to recoveryLundy offers visitors a rare opportunity to see conservation success in the making. During the breeding season, the birds populate the cliffs and slopes:From the designated trails you can see puffins diving for fish and feeding their chicks.The ledges are full of guillemots and razorbills, whose black and white bodies contrast with the rock.At night, the air is filled with the songs of shearwaters and petrels returning from the sea.Interpretive signs and guided walks help visitors understand the history of the island, the impact of rats, and the ongoing work to protect seabirds.A second chance for an island ecosystemIn 2000, Lundy’s seabird colonies were on the brink. The puffins numbered only 13 and the island’s reputation as a seabird haven was fading. Two decades after the rat eradication project began, the landscape is transformed: 1,335 puffins and more than 40,000 nesting seabirds have made Lundy once again one of the UK’s most important seabird islands.History is a reminder that some of the most powerful conservation actions are also the simplest in concept: eliminate the key threat, protect the gains and let nature recover. On Lundy, that approach has given an entire island ecosystem a second chance, one that continues to develop with each returning seabird.