Welcome to issue 202 of Feral Flyer.
In this edition: |
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HogHopper™ needs your Readers Choice vote today
Steve Lapidge and Jason Wishart were announced in the Weekend Australian as finalists in the Agriculture category of the Innovation Challenge awards for the HogHopper™. The awards are sponsored by The Australian newspaper, Shell Australia and DIISR.
They need your help! 
Public voting in the Reader’s Choice awards for this category is open until 6 December at
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge/pollsarchive
The HogHopper™ alternates between first and second as the Readers Choice but is currently trailing by 5 percentage points to Plant Biosecurity CRC’s Digital Diagnostics. Please vote for the HogHopper™ now (you will only be prompted for your postcode) and spread the word as every single vote is critical!
In brief, the HogHopper™ eliminates any potential impact on livestock and native species from feral pig baiting campaigns as its unique design prevents non-target species from gaining access to toxic baits. The results is peace-of-mind, responsible feral pig management. In field trails, feral pigs have been locally eliminated from areas without any native species being harmed.
The HogHopper™ has been developed by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, with financial support from ABARES, from a project initiated in 2007 to overcome baiting obstacles. The HogHopper™ holds enough PIGOUT® feral pig bait or grain bait to eliminate daily operator maintenance, making it suitable for baiting more remote, environmentally sensitive areas.
The HogHopper™ went on sale in March 2011. The units can be purchased from Animal Control Technologies. Please contact sales@animalcontrol.com.au or 03 9308 9688.
Invasive Animals CRC Ecology of Feral Cats PhD
Dr Tony Buckmaster’s doctorate on the ecology of feral cats in tall forests was conferred at the University of Sydney graduation ceremony on 4 November 2011.
Tony’s research was undertaken in the Southern Ark Demonstration area in Victoria. His research showed that there was a large amount of overlap in the home ranges of feral cats and that they generally did not exclude other cats from their home ranges. This high level tolerance of other cats probably resulted from the abundance of food resources in that area.
He also found that cats did not use all the area within their home ranges. Areas up to 70ha in size were being avoided by the cats. Modelling of food and environmental variables could not fully explain why these areas were avoided and he proposed that the presence of larger predators, such as foxes and wild dogs, is causing the cats to avoid these areas.
Tony also examined the potential of non-target species to access a toxin enclosed in a hard capsule within a bait. By encapsulating the toxin there is a significant reduction in the ability of non-target species, particularly native mammals, to access the toxin when compared with directly injecting it into the bait. Encapsulating the toxin will be particularly useful in cat baiting programs as baits need to be laid on the ground surface as cats will not dig for buried baits.
Guardian Animals protecting Livestock – Webinar Series
Guardian animals are a useful tool in helping prevent your livestock being attacked by predators It’s a national problem and you can join in wherever you are in Australia to a free webinar series on guardian animals (from Maremma dogs to donkeys and alpacas) being organised by Leading Sheep which is a partnership between Australian Wool Innovation, AgForce and the Queensland Government.
Learn about what’s involved in having Guardian animals, pick up management tips and learn about the relative effectiveness of each animal.
Register first, then login to hear from producers who currently use guardian animals on their properties. It is a great opportunity to find out what’s involved and ask any questions you may have.
Maremmas – Monday 12th December at 1pm (QLD time)
To register for the Maremma webinar click here
Donkeys – Wednesday 14th December at 1pm (QLD time)
To register for the Donkey webinar click here
Alpacas – Friday 16th December at 1pm (QLD time)
To register for the Alpacca webinar click here
For further information, please email Alex Stirton (Extension Officer at Charleville) <alex.stirton@deedi.qld.gov.au>. Don’t forget that the Invasive Animals CRC has a free Guardian Dog book available which can be yours by emailing <contact@invasiveanimals.com>.
What can you say so briefly?
Here’s a challenge. Please let Glenn Conroy – Invasive Animals CRC communications manager know how creative you can be in a few words to answer a request from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (which recently recommended and the Minister approved the extension bid funding for our future research program to 2017) so the least we can do in return is to provide 40 words or less.
This question seeks potential 30-40 word stories that could be used in promoting international collaboration through CRCs. Some possible topics you may wish to consider include:
* Commercialising and using new products, services and technologies developed by the Invasive Animals CRC
* Assisting researchers meet the publication requirements of their profession
* Encouraging participation in Australia’s higher education sector
* Attracting talent (international and domestic) both for postgraduate education directly relevant to end user needs and building the innovative culture of the Australian research workforce
* Providing international researchers access to Australian world class facilities and vice versa
* Building Australia’s international reputation for innovative research and development
* Sharing of research outcomes, skills and new knowledge gained through the Invasive Animals CRC’s activities with a global audience
* Developing international bilateral and multilateral relationships and alliances in key research priority areas
* Delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits to the broader community.
Please provide a short story of the impact(s) resulting from the Invasive Animals CRC’s collaborations with international organisations. Feel free to submit up to three examples demonstrating research-research, research-industry and/or industry-industry collaborations. Please contact <glenn.conroy@invasiveanimals.com>.
Publications
Bengsen, A., Leung, L.K., Lapidge, S.J. and Gordon, I.J. (2008). The Development of target-specific vertebrate pest management tools for complex faunal communities. Ecological Management and Restoration,9(3). 209-216.
McLeod, L.J., Saunders, G.R., and Miners, A. (2011). Can shooting be an effective management tool for foxes? Preliminary insights from a management program. Ecological Management and Restoration, 12 (3) 224-226
Carter, A., Luck, G.W. and McDonald, S.P. (2011). Fox-baiting in agricultural landscapes in south-eastern Australia: a case-study appraisal and suggestions for improvement. Ecological Managment & Restoration 12 (3) 214-223
Bajer P.G., Chizinski C.J. and Sorensen P.W. (2011). Using the Judas technique to locate and remove wintertime aggregations of invasive common carp. Fisheries Management and Ecology 18(6):497–505.
Raymond, B., McInnes, J., Dambacher, J.M., Way, S. & Bergstrom, D.M. 2011. Qualitative modelling of invasive species eradication on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Journal of Applied Ecology 48: 181-191.
Media
UC secures $49m to fight feral peril: Australia is set to become a global leader in biosecurity science, with $49million in federal funding announced…Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/uc-secures-49m-to-fight-feral-peril/2367389.aspx
AgForce ‘relieved’ CRC survives: LIVESTOCK owners around Queensland will continue to see the benefits of critical research carried out by the Invasive Animal Co-operative Research Centre (IACRC). North Queensland Register http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/agforce-relieved-crc-survives/2368370.aspx
NSW grazier is new MLA chair: NSW grazier Rob Anderson is the new chair of Meat and Livestock Australia. Rob was a key industry and supporter participant in the successful presentation team that presented the invasive Animals CRC’s extension bid … ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201111/s3370135.htm
A sniff of hope on mice plagues: A MEASLY 5 per cent cut in mice and rat damage to cereal crops could make a huge difference to world hunger… Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2011/11/23/410791_grain-and-hay.html
Dogs hold wool grower back: JONATHAN Carson could be running about double the number of Merino sheep in the paddocks at his Burrabaranga property, south of Toowoomba… Queensland Country Life http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/sheep/dogs-hold-wool-grower-back/2361268.aspx
Committee to give fresh advice on wild dog control: VICTORIA’S new wild dog control advisory committee held its first meeting last week, bringing a new approach to wild dog management across the state…Stock and Land http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/news/committee-to-give-fresh-advice-on-wild-dog-control/2362876.aspx
MLA funds baiting device: IT looks like something that might be devised by the military, but instead it’s a new take on the ancient art of dog baiting… North Queensland Register http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/livestock/news/mla-funds-baiting-device/2361299.aspx
Goat meat supply dogged: WILD dogs are threatening the goat supply of processor T&R Pastoral to the point the company will be donating a portion of future goat kills to wild dog control groups… North Queensland Register http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/livestock/news/goat-meat-supply-dogged/2360587.aspx
ERADICATE – A newsletter for the Fox Eradication Program: On ground operations for Stage 2 of the Fox Eradication Program commenced in May 2010…Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment http://www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/Attachments/MMAN-8NP8YA/$FILE/Eradicate%20%28Issue%205%29_Spring%202011.pdf
Modelling the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project. What are the likely gains and risks? Ben Raymond (Australian Antarctic Division) and colleagues have modelled the possible outcomes of eradicating introduced mammals on Australia’s sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island…ACAP http://www.acap.aq/latest-news/modelling-the-macquarie-island-pest-eradication-project-what-are-the-likely-gains-and-risks
Upcoming conferences
For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.
2011
- International Congress for Conservation Biology. Auckland, New Zealand 5-9 December.
2012
- Island Arks Symposium II. The Symposium will be held in Canberra, Australia, 7-9 Feb 2012.
- Humane killing of animals – an ethical perspectives seminar. National Convention Centre, Canberra.
Tuesday 28 February 2012 - 25th Vertebrate Pest Conference (USA). Monterey, California. 5-8 March
- Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May 2012.
- 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
- 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
- Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept
