26. What other restoration measures has the Service undertaken on the Farallon Islands in the past?

Since the Service began active stewardship of the South Farallon Islands in 1969, several restoration and enhancement measures have been implemented, including:

  • Closing the Refuge to public access to protect wildlife and habitats.
  • Designating all but Southeast Farallon Island as wilderness.
  • Closing off sensitive areas to human access (including biologists).
  • Removal of feral rabbits and cats from the islands in the 1970s, with the last of these invasive animals removed in 1974.
  • Controlling introduced (non-native) flora.
  • Installation of boardwalks to prevent trampling of sensitive habitat and limiting most human activities to only a few established trails.
  • Minimizing night lighting and screening it from view so that nocturnal species are not disturbed.
  • Removing unneeded structures to maximize natural habitat available to wildlife.
  • Limiting the number of people allowed on the island at one time.
  • Construction of the “Murre Ledge” to shield an expanding Common Murre colony from human disturbance, using materials from removed building foundations.
  • Construction of artificial habitats for crevice-nesting species, including ashy storm-petrels, using the remains of removed building foundations.
  • Rebuilding and maintaining rock walls that are used by crevice-nesting seabirds, including ashy storm-petrels.
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