Hawadax Island

The island was heavily infested with brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), which are considered a nuisance invasive species due to their negative impact on the population of ground-nesting wild birds.

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which manages the refuge, was formulating plans to eradicate the rats.

[7] The eradication plan is modelled on a successful one to eliminate the Arctic fox from various Aleutian islands, where they were deliberately introduced for breeding.

[10][11] With the exception of bald eagles, most bird populations surveyed increased in abundance so the impacts on non-target species are likely to be temporary.

[8] Steve Delehanty, the manager of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (which includes the island) said that, "It was a learning experience, and we made mistakes together.

"[8] Post eradication monitoring results have shown a strong positive response in terms of bird populations and the intertidal zone.