Native birds surge 200% after rats removed from Alaska's Hawadax Island

Hawadax Island in Alaska's Aleutian chain underwent a dramatic ecological recovery after invasive rats, present for roughly 200 years, were successfully eradicated. Within just two years of the removal effort, native bird populations grew by more than 200 percent. Species of seabirds previously believed locally extinct began returning and nesting on the island's cliffs. The project is considered a significant milestone in conservation and has been recognized as a global benchmark for managing invasive species. The island was also restored to its original indigenous name, Hawadax, marking both an ecological and cultural achievement.