Midway Atoll eradicated invasive rats; petrels rebounded to 135,000+ pairs

Invasive rats were removed from Midway Atoll, which had devastated native seabird populations. Bonin petrel numbers surged from under five thousand to over one hundred thirty-five thousand pairs. This eradication effort also allowed native vegetation to recover and stabilize the fragile islands. However, invasive house mice later emerged as a new threat to nesting albatrosses. Strict biosecurity measures now protect this vital Pacific sanctuary from further introductions.