In Honolulu, Hawaii, a colony of seabirds within the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument is threatened by the invasive yellow crazy ants.
The invasive species found their way to the nature reserve and started disrupting the seabird colony's lives. If this alarming situation continues, the birds might face a significant drop in numbers.
To combat the invasion, The US Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) has been working hard to remove not just the yellow crazy ants but all non-native, invasive species from the reserve, especially those who can potentially cause the local wildlife harm.
In a last-ditch attempt to locate and eradicate the invasive ants, the FWS employed two unlikely allies' aid. The choice was unconventional, but it made perfect sense. They got the help of Guinness and solo, a detection dog duo.
Guinness (far right) and Solo (far left)
This was reportedly the first time using dogs to aid the battle against invasive ant species.
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Johnston Atoll Seabirds
Johnston Atoll is among the most isolated atoll formations globally and is considered the safe haven for hundreds, if not thousands, of seabirds. It is where many of them feed, nests, and rests.
The atoll is also home to the largest red-tailed tropical bird colony in the Pacific. Aside from this species, fourteen other local seabird species rely on the reserve as a safe refuge free from big menacing predators. There, they can raise their young without worrying.
It was a safe space for the birds, up until the yellow crazy ant invasion.
Ant Invasion
For reasons still unknown, a colony of yellow crazy ants managed to invade the island reserve. These small ants can be devastating to the seabird colony. The ants can spray formic acid that can cause skin irritation.
The reaction can be dangerous to the birds when it affects their eyes, bills, and feet. The results can be as minor as an irritating rash to serious physical injury or, worst, death.
To adult birds, an irritation can lead to injuries and eating and flying troubles. The offense can not just cause injuries; it can also lead to possible serious deformities that may endanger the birds when they grow up.
FWS Retaliation Initiative
To protect the seabirds, the FWS bent over backward to ensure that the invasive ants are eradicated from the area.
Ever since the ants were discovered in the wildlife reserve, around nineteen people volunteered to be a part of the Crazy Ant Strike Team. The volunteers were tasked to control and monitor the invasive species activity in the area.
When the human volunteers were not enough, the FWS employed the help of a new ally. Canines.
Dogs VS Ants
This year, new recruits joined the Ant Strike Team; this includes detection dogs Guinness and Solo and their handlers Kyoko Johnson and Michelle Reynolds. The dogs are tasked to sniff out the invasive species while the humans will get rid of the ants.
Johnson trained the dogs to detect the scent of the formic acid they released to lead the team to not just the ants but also to the infected birds.
"Combining human visual surveys and canine olfactory surveys often yield a higher detection rate [for a species] than relying on one of them alone," said Johnson.
The FWS is ensuring that all possible resources will be utilized in the battle against the ants.
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