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Playing tricks on invasive rats may help keep birds from
vanishing  Decoupling the scent of birds from a tasty meal may
get the rats to ignore it.  Rats are among the most widely
introduced invasive species in the world. Throughout history,
they have hitched rides on boats, wagons, and trains, invading
nearly every corner of the globe. Birds are a common prey for
rats, and have been hit especially hard by the population
increase and range expansion of these rodents; many avian
species have become endangered, or even gone extinct, as a
result of increased predation. Reintroducing birds is also a
challenge, since resident rats quickly learn that the new
species is a profitable source of food.  But now, two Australian
scientists have identified a clever method that may limit
predation by rats and increase bird survival. Their research,
detailed in this week’s PNAS, offers a potential way to improve
reintroduction success in areas where rodents are a pro