LIFE Raft

🐭 Nobody wants unwanted crew members on board⛵

A recent Yachting Monthly article highlighted just how much damage rodents can cause, from chewing through wiring and safety equipment to contaminating food stores. The good news is that prevention is often simple.

To help keep rodents off your boat:
✅ Store food in sealed containers
✅ Remove rubbish regularly
✅ Keep lockers and storage areas clean and clutter-free
✅ Fit rat guards to mooring lines where appropriate
✅ Inspect ropes, fenders and supplies before bringing them aboard
✅ Check for and seal potential entry points

For island communities like Rathlin, rodent prevention is about more than protecting your vessel. Good biosecurity helps safeguard native wildlife, supports local livelihoods that depend on a healthy natural environment, and strengthens ongoing conservation efforts to keep invasive species from impacting the island's unique ecosystems and community.

A few preventative measures can save you from costly repairs, protect local biodiversity, and help keep unwanted visitors where they belong.

Learn more about biosecurity on Rathlin Island: https://rathlin360.com/biosecurity-cmap/

Prevent-Detect-Respond - Contact Charlie, CMAP Biosecurity Officer with any questions - [email protected]



RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

🌿 Join Us this Evening at the Branson Centre

As Ric finishes up on the LIFE Raft project he will be giving a talk on the biodiversity monitoring work he has been leading on Rathlin.

We'll also share the latest project updates and discuss the ongoing rat monitoring work across the island.

📅 Monday 14 September
🕡 6:30pm
📍 Branson Centre, Rathlin

Everyone is welcome to attend. Come along, hear what's been happening, and chat with the team.

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

Farewell Ric!

After years of early mornings, surveys, species counts, data crunching and report writing, it's time for us to say goodbye to Ric, our Senior Research Assistant.

Ric has been a key part of the LIFE Raft project since day one, playing a huge role in our biodiversity monitoring and helping us better understand and protect Rathlin Island's unique wildlife.

We're incredibly thankful for all his hard work and friendship over the years and wish him all the very best for the future.

Before he goes, Ric will be sharing an insight into the biodiversity monitoring work he’s been leading on Rathlin. We will also share a project update and overview of the ongoing rat monitoring work.

📅 Monday 14th September
🕕 6:30pm
📍 Branson Centre

Everyone is warmly invited to come along.

Good luck, Ric, and thank you for everything! 🌿

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

🐾 We had a fantastic day on Rathlin Island last Thursday for our Farmers’ Biosecurity Demonstration delivered through the LIFE Raft and CMAP projects.

Attendees had the opportunity to watch Woody, our biosecurity dog, demonstrate how a biosecurity check is carried out, providing a fascinating insight into this important work.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion, and a very special thanks to Marina for providing the delicious, sweet treats that kept us all going! 🍰☕

It was great to see the LIFE Raft and CMAP projects working together to support biosecurity awareness across the island.



RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

A big thank you and farewell to our wonderful colleague Marta as she leaves the LIFE Raft project.

From early mornings in the field to dedicated biodiversity monitoring across Rathlin Island, her passion for conservation has helped make a real difference.

We're grateful for everything Marta has contributed over the years and wish her every success for the next chapter.

Best of luck and thank you from all of us at LIFE Raft! 🌿💙

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

A warm Rathlin welcome to Karen Lunan and Ana Klenovsek from EU LIFE, who visited the island this week to see first-hand the progress of the LIFE Raft project. 🌊🍃

The visit was a great opportunity to showcase the progress being made and share the positive impact how EU LIFE funding is having for nature, wildlife, and the local community.

We look forward to continuing our work together to deliver lasting benefits for Rathlin Island. 💚

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Garfield Weston Foundation Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

🐾 Woody Visits Rathlin! 🐾

Last week, Woody our conservation detection dog paid a visit to Rathlin Island with his handler to help monitor for any signs of rats. Woody searched several key sites around Church Bay, focusing on areas where rodent activity would be most likely to be detected.

His visit attracted plenty of attention from visitors, many of whom stopped to watch him at work.

It was a great opportunity to showcase how specially trained detection dogs support island biosecurity efforts and play an important role.



RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust

Great to welcome Chair, Dr Simon Thurley CBE and representatives from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to Rathlin Island last week! It was fantastic to share the progress of LIFE Raft and showcase the work completed to date.

A big thank you for your continued support, it’s making a real difference 💚

🐾 Help Woody our Biosecurity Dog Protect Rathlin! 🐦

It’s Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) Week, and we’re asking for your help to support Woody’s next mission on Rathlin Island 🧡

Thanks to Woody’s incredible scent detection skills, Rathlin has achieved something truly special:
✅ Now officially ferret-free (a world-first for island restoration!)
✅ On track to become rat-free

But the job isn’t over yet…

🛡️ What’s next for Woody?

Woody is now helping lead the next phase: biosecurity! This means making sure rats and ferrets don’t return. Even one accidental arrival could undo years of conservation work.

🙌 How you can help

If you’re travelling to or working on Rathlin, please:
✔️ Check cars, boats, cargo & luggage before travelling
✔️ Take all litter home
✔️ Don’t feed gulls in Ballycastle harbour (and help keep it tidy)
✔️ Report any rat sightings immediately: 📞 07860 942862

💬 Community voice
Rathlin’s community has already shown incredible support helping protect these special seabirds from invasive predators. Together, we can keep it that way for generations to come.

🐾 With your help, Woody can continue to keep Rathlin safe.

🐦

RSPB Northern Ireland Rathlin Development & Community Association LIFE Programme The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Garfield Weston Foundation Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust