In a world-first, Rathlin Island, off the coast of County Antrim, has eradicated ferrets. The non-native predator was introduced to the island in the 1980s and has wreaked havoc on the internationally-significant breeding seabird colony. More than 400 traps were laid across the island as part of a five-year, £4.5m Life Raft project, which has also targeted rats. But crucial to the fight to save the seabirds was a specially-trained detection dog, called Woody. The island is now ferret free and there are already encouraging signs in breeding seabird numbers, offering hope to other places round the world grappling with invasive predators. With no ferrets seen since October 2023, RSPB NI's area manager Claire Barnett is cautiously optimistic for the coming season.…