Seabird Restoration:
Restore Seabirds to San Nicolas Island

The goal of this action is to restore western gull and Brandt’s cormorant colonies on the U.S. Navy–owned San Nicolas Island by removing feral cats. Eggshell thinning and /or elevated levels of DDTs were documented in the eggs of both of these species in the Southern California Bight. In addition to seabirds, San Nicolas Island supports a large number of endemic or sensitive species, including at least 20 plant species, 25 invertebrates, one reptile, three birds, and two mammals.

Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and rats, are one of the greatest threats to seabird populations on islands. Feral cats are directly responsible for a number of extinctions and extirpations on islands across multiple taxa. The U.S. Navy has funded limited feral cat removal on San Nicolas Island in the past to protect endangered species and sensitive seabird colonies. This action will include expanding these efforts with the goal of removing feral cats from the island.

The successful removal of feral cats from the island would benefit nesting seabirds, the State-threatened San Nicolas Island fox, the federally threatened island night lizard and threatened western snowy plover.

Project Update
MSRP and other project partners have been working closely with The Humane Society of the United States in the planning of this project. A pilot study was performed on the island in late 2008 that tested various trapping methods and the feasibility of removing feral cats from the island. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Navy plan to release a Final Environmental Assessment in Spring 2009.

San Nicolas Project Final EA
FWS Signed FONSI
Navy Signed FONSI
San Nicolas Project Fact Sheet
San Nicolas Island Restoration Project FAQ’s