Monster Killer Mice

A British owned island in the South Atlantic has been overrun by hundreds of thousands of monster mice which have evolved into carnivores. The mice of Gough Island have grown to two or even three times the size of an ordinary house mouse.

They have developed from eating insects and seeds and are now devouring young birds, including albatross chicks, in huge numbers. Birds on the island had been used to having no predators and are unable to fend off the mice which attack in groups at night.

Gough Island is regarded as one of the most important seabird colonies in the world.
It is the size of Guenrsey and is thought to have around 700,000 mice all descended from a few that escaped from on a whaling boat.

Albatross chicks weigh up to 10kg and the mice weigh only 35g but together they are able to kill and eat the birds.

RSPB scientist Dr Geoff Hilton said: "It's like a tabby cat attacking a hippopotamus."

Conservation organisation Birdlife International says the mice are threatening several bird species to the point of extinction. The RSPB wants to use helicopters to drop thousands of tonnes of mouse poison on the island in an operation that would cost £2.6 million.

There's a video HERE (Not for the squeamish)