Islanders worried as evidence of a mouse is found

Conservationists on an island 28 miles off the UK mainland are concerned after signs there may be a mouse there, potentially putting a colony of seabirds at risk.

Mice and rats have been eradicated from St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, as part of measures to protect its "nationally significant population of storm petrels".

The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said "probable" signs of a mouse including droppings and urine had been spotted, and suspects the creature was brought in within some animal feed.

The trust has been running a successful program with the RSPB and others to get rid of rodents on the islands for the past decade, which has led to the petrel population "bouncing back", it said.

Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said it had a "very well worked out response" which involved putting rodent poison in traps across the island and "then keep checking the traps".

He said if "mice do get a hold on the island" they would be likely to eat the eggs of birds like storms petrels and Manx shearwaters, putting populations at risk.

Mr Whitehead said a member of the community had spotted the mouse droppings last Thursday.

"The residents of the island have been brilliant and hugely supportive," he said.

The wildlife trust said signs had been put up across St Agnes to warn parents of young children and dog owners about traps.

St Agnes is one of five inhabited islands in the Isles of Scilly, and had a population of 85 recorded in the 2011 census.

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].