Low burrow occupancy and breeding success of burrowing petrels at Gough Island: a consequence of mouse predation

Introduced house mice on Gough Island are severely impacting burrowing petrels, leading to low burrow occupancy (4–42%) and poor breeding success (0–44%) across multiple species. Research reveals that smaller petrel species and winter breeders are particularly vulnerable, with high chick mortality rates observed in Atlantic Petrels. The study suggests that predation by house mice is likely causing population declines among most burrowing petrels on the island, including Soft-plumaged Petrels and Broad-billed Prions, which show greatly reduced abundance compared to earlier decades. These findings indicate a broader threat than previously documented, emphasizing the urgent need for mouse eradication to protect Gough Island's petrel populations.

CUTHBERT, R. J., LOUW, H., LURLING, J., PARKER, G., REXER-HUBER, K., SOMMER, E., VISSER, P., & RYAN, P. G. (2013). Low burrow occupancy and breeding success of burrowing petrels at Gough Island: a consequence of mouse predation. Bird Conservation International, 23(2), 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0959270912000494