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Fun Fact of the day

60 years ago there were no mobile phones – but there was a Glen Saunders!

Happy Birthday to Terrestrial Products and Strategies Program Leader Glen Saunders who recently turned 60! He almost managed to let it slide unnoticed, but not quite.

We hope you celebrated in style Glen.

PestSmart Roadshow: new events announced in Northern Territory and Tasmania!

Due to overwhelming demand – the Invasive Animals CRC’s PestSmart Roadshow will be visiting three additional venues in the coming weeks!

The PestSmart Roadshow is a rare opportunity to see, hear and chat about new products and the latest innovations in pest animal management with some of Australia’s leading pest animal experts. We have had a great response from NRM groups, government agencies, communities and landholders at our Roadshows throughout Australia so far. We hope that even more of you will now be able to come along to one of our shows in the Northern Territory or Tasmania.

Don’t forget our 2 rescheduled shows in early June (Bourke and Charleville) and the Carp Management Forum in Melbourne on June 19.

Registration for all events is free online at http://www.pestsmart.eventbrite.com/. Watch this space or follow us on twitter or facebook for updates.

NRMs engage with PestSmart

Our NRM Liaison & Engagement Project Team has seen a great response from the NRMs and CMAs about the recent PestSmart Roadshows. Several NRM agencies have included information about PestSmart in their regular newsletters and on their websites, and we’ve had lots of enquiries! Everyone has been very positive and excited about the new tools and technologies. Many people have come to us to request further information, extra resources or assistance, while others simply want to discuss pest management options for their area.

We also went along to the recent National NRM Knowledge Conference held in Adelaide, where on-ground practitioners, planning and policy officers, and researchers from across Australia met together to discuss ‘what’s happening in our backyard’. Many delegates visited our exhibition booth (pictured) and were able to pick up copies of the wide range of PestSmart and Invasive Animals CRC publications. It’s really great to see the NRM agencies and other land managers embracing PestSmart – so well done to everyone who has been involved!

Federal Budget 2012-1

Biosecurity
Australia’s biosecurity system lies at the heart of our position as a trading nation.  The 2012–13 Budget provides $524.2 million in new funding:

• $379.9 million over seven years for the construction and operation of a new Australian Government owned and operated post entry quarantine facility for high risk plant and animal imports.
• $124.5 million over four years (and then on an ongoing basis) for core risk response capability supporting biosecurity operations at international airports and mail centres.
• $19.8 million over three years to support biosecurity information and communication technology infrastructure.

On top of the wider biosecurity investment a separate $95.9 million over seven years allocated from the Caring for our Country program will fund existing eradication programs for nationally significant pests and diseases.  This ongoing allocation will ensure future incursions can be brought under control as soon as possible.

Caring for our Country
The Budget provides the Caring for our Country program with $2.2 billion from 2013–14 to 2017–18 in order to protect and conserve our biodiversity and promote the adoption of sustainable farm practices. From July 2013, Caring for our Country will be delivered through two specific streams – one dedicated to sustainable environment and the other to sustainable agriculture.

CRC Association reaction
The CRC Association said that the Federal Government has avoided cuts to Science and Technology in a tough Budget. CRCA CEO Professor Tony Peacock said that although the Cooperative Research Centres Program continues to drop for two years to a low of $146 million, it then builds to $168 million in the last year of the Forward Estimates.  The Collaborative Research Networks are restored to around $20 million following last year’s cuts.  New money becomes available in clean technology program as a result of the Clean Energy futures program.

Links:

• Biosecurity Budget factsheet (DAFF)
• Caring for our Country Budget media release (Hon. Tony Bourke)
• CRC Association budget response

MLA FeedbackTV: Controlling pests and predators

Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) is a key partner with the IA CRC in the development of new tools for control of wild dogs, foxes and feral pigs.

This new MLA FeedbackTV episode outlines the benefits to livestock producers of these products and MLA’s continued support of the IA CRC. It also features IA CRC Chair, Helen Cathles.

Watch FeedbackTV on YouTube:

Controlling pests and predators (MLA feedbackTV ep17)

Camera Trapping Colloquium: Call for Abstracts

Camera trapping is the hot technique for wildlife monitoring, but do we expect more than the technology can provide?

The Australasian Wildlife Management Society in collaboration with the Invasive Animals CRC and partners are hosting a Camera Trapping in Wildlife Management and Research Colloquium at the ANZ Lecture Theatre, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Australia, 13-14 September 2012.

The Colloquium is open to any researcher, land manager or student who uses camera trapping to carry out research and monitoring of wildlife and will also bring together Australian and International camera trap trade displays. A two-day program is being developed based on the themes of Data and image management, identification and analysis; Camera trapping for animal monitoring; Survey design, standards and protocols; and Camera technology, constraints and pitfalls.

Call for Abstracts is now open and will close 8 June. Please register your interest now.

More information, sponsorship and to register: http://www.onqconferences.com.au/events/ctc/home.php

Wanted: feral cat photos

Kana Koichi is currently preparing feral cat publications and video clips for the PestSmart Toolkit. She is looking for good pictures of feral cats to use in these. Camera trap photos may also be used. If you have any and can help her out, please email: kana.koichi@invasiveanimals.com

PhD student profile: Scott van Barneveld

Congratulations are in order for Dr Scott van Barneveld who was part of the IA CRC Balanced Scientist program and will have his PhD conferred from the University of Sydney on 15 June.

Scott conducted research to determine “what makes a successful invasive species?” Using a group of Australian lizards (genus Lampropholis) that contains both invasive and non-invasive species, he was able to determine some factors crucial to invasive success. These factors include the ability to tolerate different climates, the willingness to utilise human-mediated transport vectors, and the response of a species to predators.

Scott found that successful invaders are those that are able to thrive in different climates, utilise human-mediated transport vectors to spread, and evade predation. In contrast, non-invasive species with limited geographic distributions are those that are fine-tuned to within a narrow thermal niche, and perform poorly outside of comparatively specialised climatic conditions. Scott’s results will assist in modelling risk assessments and geographic distributions for potentially invasive species in a global context.

We congratulate Scott and wish him all the best in his future career.

Staged repeal of the Game and Feral Animal regulation 2004

The Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2004 is subject to staged repeal under the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989.

The NSW Government is proposing to make a new Regulation, the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2012. The proposed Regulation remakes, with amendments, the 2004 Regulation.

The proposed Regulation will be made under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002. The objects of the Act are to provide for the effective management of introduced species of game animals, and to promote the responsible and orderly hunting of game animals on public and private land and of certain pest animals on public land.

The proposed Regulation seeks to ensure the objects of the Act are achieved by prescribing matters concerning licences including the conditions of game hunting licences, the duration of licences, licence fees, grounds for refusal of a licence and penalty notice offences.

The proposed Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement will be available for public comment from Friday, 4 May 2012 until Friday, 8 June 2012.

More information: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/about/legislation-acts/review/staged-repeal-of-the-game-and-feral-animal-control-regulation-2004

Biological invasions

The first State Of The Planet Declaration was issued at the recent Planet Under Pressure 2012 conference, the largest gathering of global change scientists leading up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) from 4 June to 6 June 2012.

Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity, human health and food security, according to policy recommendations for Rio+20 drafted by the IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group and IUCN’s Invasive Species Initiative.

Several ISSG members were concerned with the limited attention being paid to the issue of biological invasions and invasive alien species in the Rio+20 process.  Members proposed the development and submission of a policy paper highlighting the growing threat of biological invasions on biodiversity, human health and food security for the Rio+20 process.

After extensive consultation with the membership, the ISSG with the IUCN’s Invasive Species Intitiative (ISI) developed and submitted a policy brief (www.issg.org/pdf/RioPolicybrief.pdf) related to biological invasions and invasive alien species to the IUCN.  This brief will be included in the IUCN documentation for Rio+20 and text will be reflected in the umbrella position paper (which will form the basis of IUCN’s statement to the Rio+20 conference).

More: www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/?9767/Biological-invasions-a-growing-threat-to-biodiversity

Inspiring Australia Working Group submissions

To advance the implementation of the ‘Inspiring Australia’ strategy, experts across Australia have been working together to develop recommendations for enhancing science engagement in areas that have required further analysis.  Four Expert Working Groups are now welcoming comment and feedback on their draft reports:

•  Inspiration from the deserts
•  Science engagement into and for Australia’s tropical region
•  Indigenous Engagement with Science – Towards deeper understandings
•  Effective communication of marine science to the Australian community

Each report has sought to analyse the current situation, identify the key stakeholders and issues, and propose a strategy to move forward.  The reports can be accessed at:
www.innovation.gov.au/Science/InspiringAustralia/ExpertWorkingGroup/Pages/default.aspx

The Invasive Animals CRC made a submission to the Inspiration from the deserts report citing www.feralscan.org.au as a tool to map feral animals to protect and enhance the biodiversity of Australian desert landscapes.

Feral animals are also covered in the Science engagement into and for Australia’s tropical region report.  The report states that the biodiversity sciences in tropical Australia are showing the emerging risk of a slowly unfolding extinction event across the tropical landscape, perpetrated by a complex interconnected set of landscape scale pressures (fire regimes, changing climate, feral animals and pest weeds and grazing pressures).

Any chance of halting this decline will require the engagement of national policy, funding and science institutions.  At this stage, despite the existence of a high level of knowledge of the problems and potential solutions, cohesive engagement between stakeholders and the science community has not yet emerged in a way that is likely to lead to a cohesive national or State/Territory action.

The contact for the Inspiration from the deserts report is Linda Cooper at Linda.Cooper@nintione.com.au and Allan Dale at allan.dale@jcu.edu.au is the contact for the Science engagement into and for Australia’s tropical region report.

Comment and feedback can be provided to the contacts for each Expert Working Group by 31 May 2012.  For further information, please email inspiring.australia@innovation.gov.au or phone (02) 6270 2868.

PhD in Invasive Species Ecology: Landcare Research NZ

Biological Invasions in Braided River Ecosystems in New Zealand
Landcare Research and The Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand, with Environment Canterbury

An exciting opportunity exists to undertake a PhD aimed at understanding the causes and consequences of alien plant invasions in a highly dynamic ecosystem, the extensive braided rivers that are a major feature of New Zealand’s eastern South Island. Braided rivers are naturally dynamic systems as a consequence of highly variable river flows and associated floods, and support a unique native biota that includes endemic species of plants, lizards, invertebrates and river birds. Human induced changes to natural flood regimes, as a consequence of river damming and water extraction, appear to trigger a cascade of effects in these ecosystems initiated through invasion by alien plants.

More info: http://bioprotection.org.nz/vacancy/phd-invasive-species-ecology-0

New Publications

PestSmart Factsheet: Distribution of pure dingoes and dingo-dog hybrids in Australia
The term ‘wild dog’ collectively refers to pure dingoes, feral domestic dogs and hybrids between the two. In other words, all free-roaming Canis species are labelled and managed as wild dogs. Since domestic dogs arrived in Australia, interbreeding between dogs and dingoes has progressed rapidly. Understanding which areas have pure dingoes and which have hybrids is important for dingo conservation and for understanding the ecology of wild dogs in Australia’s ecosystems.
Download the full factsheet at: http://www.feral.org.au/dingo-purity-in-australia/

Journal Publications
Ford-Thompson, A. E. S., Snell, C., Saunders, G. and White, P. C. L. (2012), Stakeholder Participation in Management of Invasive Vertebrates. Conservation Biology 26: 345–356.

M. Noelia Barrios-Garcia and Sebastian A. Ballari (2012). Impact of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in its introduced and native range: a review. Biol Invasions  Online First™, 29 April 2012

G. J. Measey, D. Rödder, S. L. Green, R. Kobayashi and F. Lillo, et al (2012). Ongoing invasions of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis: a global review. Biol Invasions  Online First™, 29 April 2012

Media round-up

Weather leads to increase in feral rabbits. Consecutive warm and wet seasons have led to an increase in the feral rabbit population…….Mosman Council Read full story

Feral roadshow to make its Territory debut. When the Invasive Animals CRC announced the schedule for the PestSmart Roadshow in late 2011, there was some disappointment that the Northern Territory wasn’t included…..ABC Rural Read full story

Man’s pest friend: tracking wild dogs helps researchers fix costly problemIN A remote wilderness bordered by sheep country and plunging cliffs, big brother is watching the locals’ every move….Sydney Morning Herald Watch video and read full story

Wild dog baiting goes aerial. Helicopters will be flying low today over farms in southeast NSW as wild dog control takes to the sky……ABC Rural Read full story

Farmers under siege from wild dogs. The Victorian Government has been forced to abandon its wild dog aerial baiting program due to Federal Government belligerence, says the Victorian Farmers Federation….VFF Media Release Read full story

New dog bait almost ready. A NEW bait for wild dogs – with an antidote – could soon be available to farmers to use in the battle against wild dogs and foxes. …. North Queensland Register Read full story

Hunters hunted. PACKS of wild dogs are reportedly stalking deer hunters as they become more brazen in their search for food…..Pakenham-Berwick Gazette Read full story

Attack the pack. Tackling the problem of wild dogs needs a coordinated local approach and a wide range of weapons in producers’ arsenals…..MLA News Read full story

Wild dogs kill 17 lambs in one night. A WILD dog attack in East Gippsland on Saturday night left 17 lambs dead and sparked calls for more government trappers. ….The Weekly Times Read full story

PestSmart social media

Remember to follow PestSmart on social media. It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening at the Invasive Animals CRC and with the latest additions to the toolkit as they become available. Share with your own followers and help spread the word on best practice invasive animal management.

	PestSmart website: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart
	PestSmart on facebook: www.facebook.com/PestSmart
	PestSmart on twitter: twitter.com/PestSmartCRC
	PestSmart on YouTube: www.youtube.com/PestSmart

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Carp Management in Australia Forum. Melbourne 19-21 June
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling. Brisbane 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

Send the Feral Flyer to your friends. They can subscribe directly by clicking here.

Feral pigs in Australia videos

Pigs arrived in Australia with the First Fleet and today feral populations inhabit around 40% of Australia. Feral pigs cause agricultural damage through predation of newborn lambs, reduction in crop yields, damage to fences and water sources, and competition with stock for feed by consuming or damaging pasture. They also are considered a major threat to stock as a potential carrier of exotic diseases.

We have developed a series of videos that give a general introduction to the problem of feral pigs in Australia and discusses their impacts in marsh and rangeland country, particularly the Macquarie Marshes region of central NSW. They are available to watch on YouTube and have been popular.

PestSmart YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/PestSmart/

Feral Pigs in Australia Video playlist (YouTube)

86 years of photographic evidence of rangeland recovery from sheep and rabbit grazing

The longest photographic archive in Australia to record the recovery of a degraded rangeland (Koonamore – a sheep station in north-east South Australia) is now available online at:

• http://web.me.com/margaretdeangraetz/KoonamoreImages/Home.html (with downloadable slideshows with estimates of rabbit abundance) and at
• http://web.me.com/margaretdeangraetz/KoonamorePanoramas/Home.html (with moving panoramas that provide the full 360° x 180° view, with the viewer placed at the centre of the image).

The University of Adelaide started in 1926 researching the recovery of Koonamore, keeping a photographic record.  Digitisation of the Koonamore archives was an initiation of Dean Graetz (formerly CSIRO) and Russell Sinclair (University of Adelaide), with equipment assistance from the Pastoral Board of SA.

The Koonamore archive is valuable because it records the severe droughts of the 1930s, the arrival of Myxomatosis to combat rabbits in the 1950s and the 1973-74 extreme wet period.

For further information, please contact russell.sinclair@adelaide.edu.au  Story reprinted with permission from ‘Across the Outback’ published by SA Arid Lands NRM Board (jenny.barker@sa.gov.au) April 2012.

SA dingo update – SA Arid Lands NRM Board.

South of the Dog Fence, the Board is delivering the landholder-initiated Biteback program for protecting the region’s sheep industry.  A survey is currently being compiled by the Board to evaluate Biteback, particularly in terms of whether local area planning has changed the way participating landholders will work with their neighbours in coordinating future pest control.

North of the Dog Fence, the Board in investigating the impacts dingoes have on beef cattle in baited and unbaited areas to determine optimum dingo management strategies.  North of the fence, dingoes are neither specifically protected or declared as a pest, but are regarded as a legitimate wildlife species with a valuable ecological role. They are only baited at times necessary to provide temporary protection to calves when alternative prey species for dingoes are low due to seasonal conditions.

The Dingo Research project north of the fence is investigating the relationship between dingoes, 1080 baiting, calf predation /lactation failure and biodiversity.  Participating stations will maintain 1080 baited and unbaited paddocks to identify the proportion of calf losses attributable to dingoes, the environmental factors associated with increased calf predation and the ability of baiting to protect against predation. Contact the Dingo Management Team on (08) 86485300 for further information.

Story reproduced with permission from ‘Across the Outback’ published by SA Arid Lands NRM Board (jenny.barker@sa.gov.au) April 2012.

Australian Dingo: Invasive Pest or Predator, Kill or Conserve?

Julianne L. D’Amico (Department of Environmental Science, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania), the author of this paper had previously emailed the Invasive Animals CRC to obtain two recent dingo publications by our researchers.

Fleming, P., Allen, B., & Ballard, G. (2012). Seven consideration about dingoes as biodiversity engineers: the socioecological niches of dogs in Australia. Australian Mammalogy, 34(1): 119-131.

Allen, B. & Fleming, P. (2012) Reintroducing the dingo: The risk of dingo predation to threatened vertebrates of western New South Wales. Wildlife Research, 39(1): 35-50.

The paper also cited an Invasive Animals CRC publication:

Gong, W., Sinden, J., & Braysher, M. & Jones, R. (2009). The economic impacts of vertebrate pests in Australia. University of Canberra: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.

Feral Flyer readers may be interested to learn an American’s perspective on the Australian dingo.

Julianne writes that the Canis lupus dingo (pure dingo) has been plagued with debate since European arrival in Australia in 1788.  This debate, termed “dingo dualism”, questions the species’ status as either an invasive pest which terrorises introduced livestock or a native trophic predator responsible for keeping the population of invasive predator species at a minimum.

The species has been listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) Red List of Endangered Species.  Regardless of the species’ status as either an invasive pest or a native predator, an effective management plan must be established in order to eradicate or conserve the dingo.

In the final chapter, Julianne develops a list of criteria to evaluate three Acts of Parliament: the Wild Dog Destruction Act of NSW (1921), the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act (TPWCA) of Northern TerritoryT (2000), and the Nature Conservation Act of Queensland (1992).

Although the answer proves elusive to the question: Which State Act is an effective answer to managing the Australian dingo?  The author’s extensive bibliography and Appendices provide a comprehensive reference on the Australian dingo.

You may wish to contact the author at damicoj@allegheny.edu for a copy of her full paper.

Tilapia in Australia – State of Knowledge Forum

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority are pleased to announce a Forum on Tilapia in Australia to be held in Brisbane, Queensland, 15-16 May 2012.

Attendance at this workshop will be limited to 100 persons. Registrations can be made online:
http://tilapiaforum.eventbrite.com.au

The forum will focus on the present state of knowledge on Tilapia mariae (spotted tilapia or black mangrove cichlid) and Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique tilapia) in Australia and how this can be used to help manage the two species. Fisheries managers in particular are encouraged to attend.

Upcoming PestSmart Roadshow events

May and June brings Roadshow events in Townsville, Charleville and Bourke. We are also trying to lock in dates for Roadshow events in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Watch this space or follow us on twitter or facebook for updates.

All events are free to attend but please see http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/ for more information about each event and to register.

Reminder: Invasive Animals PhD scholarships

A reminder that 19 PhD scholarships are being offered in innovative research projects covering ecology, virology, molecular biology, natural resource modelling, sociology, socio-economics and herbivore fertility control. The IA CRC links research with end‑users resulting in student research having a greater impact on the agricultural and environmental management sector.

Details of the IA CRC research projects, PhD scholarships and Balanced Researcher Program are available at http://www.invasiveanimals.com/phd-scholarship-applications/

Applications for study commencing in 2013 close on 17 August 2012. Some projects can start mid-2012 but these applications would have to be in by early May. See website for details.

Further enquiries to Dr Tony Buckmaster educationIACRC@canberra.edu.au

New PestSmart Publications

Russell DJ, Thuesen PA and Small FE (2010). Tilapia in Australia – Development of management strategies for the control and eradication of feral tilapia populations in Australia
This report presents a culmination of different research projects on two species of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus and Tilapia mariae) and provides recommendations for the future management and research of these pest fish. Feral  populations of O. mossambicus and T. mariae are now widely distributed in tropical northeastern Queensland, with O. mossambicus also occurring in southeastern Queensland and river systems of Western Australia.  Download the full report at: http://www.feral.org.au/tilapia-in-australia/

Hutchison M, McLennan M, Chilcott K, Norris A and Stewart D (2012). Validating the age of carp from the northern Murray-Darling Basin
Being able to accurately age carp is important for modelling population dynamics and potential response to various control strategies. This study examined the use of oxytetracycline (OTC) and otolith (ear bone) sampling to determine the formation of bone growth rings and in turn estimate the age of carp populations in the northern Murray–Darling Basin (MDB). Download the full report at: http://www.feral.org.au/validating-the-age-of-carp/

New Journal Publications

Brian D. Cooke (2012). Rabbits: manageable environmental pests or participants in new Australian ecosystems? Wildlife Research (Online Early) – http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR11166

Benjamin L. Allen, Luke K.-P. Leung (2012). Assessing Predation Risk to Threatened Fauna from their Prevalence in Predator Scats: Dingoes and Rodents in Arid Australia. PLoS ONE 7(5): e36426 – http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0036426

S. Campbell, S. Cook, L. Mortimer, G. Palmer, R. Sinclair and A. P. Woolnough (2012). To catch a starling: testing the effectiveness of different trap and lure types. Wildlife Research 39(3): 183-191 -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11115

Linda van Bommel and Chris N. Johnson (2012). Good dog! Using livestock guardian dogs to protect livestock from predators in Australia’s extensive grazing systems. Wildlife Research 39(3): 220-229 – http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11135

Andrew J. Bengsen, John A. Butler and Pip Masters (2012). Applying home-range and landscape-use data to design effective feral-cat control programs. Wildlife Research 39(3): 258-265 – http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11097

Michael Bode, Karl E. C. Brennan, Keith Morris, Neil Burrows and Neville Hague (2012). Choosing cost-effective locations for conservation fences in the local landscape. Wildlife Research 39(3): 192-201 – http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11106

Media round-up

Wild dog attacks sheep near dog fence. A wild dog attacked and killed 20 sheep on a station near Broken Hill in Far West NSW at the weekend……SA Country Hour, ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/sa/content/2012/05/s3493850.htm

Army may be asked to help cull outback pests. A conservation group says it might be worth asking the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to help with feral animal control in Queensland’s outback……ABC Southern Queensland http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-02/army-may-be-asked-to-help-cull-outback-pests/3984430/?site=southqld&section=news

Feral pests taking toll on outback animals. Scientists working in the Simpson Desert in far west Queensland say an explosion in feral animal numbers is threatening native mammals…..ABC Western Queensland http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-01/feral-pests-taking-toll-on-outback-animals/3981908/?site=westqld

Farmers take stand against dogs.Prime 7 video clip…Prime 7http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/v1/video/-/watch/29106680/farmers-takes-stand-against-dogs/

Wild dog coordinator appointed to western Queensland. A coordinator has been appointed to help Queensland graziers north of the wild dog fence control the pest animal…..ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2012/s3490499.htm

Stop wild dogs or face the consequences: farmers. FARMERS in the Goodlands region north of Kalannie warn that if more isn’t done to solve wild dog problems in the area, the consequences could be dire….Farm Weekly http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/sheep/stop-wild-dogs-or-face-the-consequences-farmers/2531596.aspx

Call to bring back 1080 poison to combat wild dog packs. The head of a national strategy to contain wild dogs says packs of the canines are threatening koalas…. ABC News, AM Programhttp://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2012/s3488393.htm?site=southeastsa

Victoria gives nod to ground-baiting. VICTORIA will push ahead with 1080 ground trials to control wild dogs as the Federal Government continues to block aerial baiting….Weekly Times http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/04/25/473941_politics-news.html

Poison restrictions hamper wild dog battle. The man charged with controlling the spread of wild dogs in Australia says restrictions on the use of a key poison are hampering the fight against growing numbers….ABC North and West SA http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-25/call-for-more-1080-to-kill-wild-dogs/3970890/?site=northandwest

Minister plans strategy to halt epidemic. THE State government is working on a new Draft Wild Dog Management Strategy, which it hopes will halt the wild dog epidemic….The Land http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/minister-plans-strategy-to-halt-epidemic/2534164.aspx

PestSmart social media

Remember to follow PestSmart on social media. It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening at the Invasive Animals CRC and with the latest additions to the toolkit as they become available. Share with your own followers and help spread the word on best practice invasive animal management.

	PestSmart website: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart
	PestSmart on facebook: www.facebook.com/PestSmart
	PestSmart on twitter: twitter.com/PestSmartCRC
	PestSmart on YouTube: www.youtube.com/PestSmart

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May
• Tilapia in Australia – State of Knowledge Forum. Brisbane 15-16 May
• Carp Management in Australia Forum. Melbourne 19-21 June
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling. Brisbane 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

Send the Feral Flyer to your friends. They can subscribe directly by clicking here.

Invasive Animals PhD scholarship applications now open

Imagine working on your doctorate in the stimulating and supportive intellectual environment of a leading Australian university with four years’ funding support, compared to the usual three years. Your PhD research will work with cutting-edge technology and achieve practical solutions to a real $1 billion research problem. Invasive animals damage the Australian environment and reduce agricultural productivity.

19 PhDs are being offered in innovative research projects covering ecology, virology, molecular biology, natural resource modelling, sociology, socio-economics and herbivore fertility control. The IA CRC links research with end‑users resulting in student research having a greater impact on the agricultural and environmental management sector.  With industry support, IA CRC mentoring through the Balanced Researcher Program, and more skills training than their PhD peers, we expect our postgraduates to be highly competitive in the job market and to become the research leaders of the future.

These projects offer a choice of locations across Australia.  International students are encouraged to apply, however acceptance may depend on the policies regarding international students at the enrolling universities.

Details of the IA CRC research projects, PhD scholarships and Balanced Researcher Program are available at http://www.invasiveanimals.com/phd-scholarship-applications/

Applications for study commencing in 2013 close on 17 August 2012. Some projects can start mid-2012 but these applications would have to be in by early May. See website for details.

Further enquiries to Dr Tony Buckmaster educationIACRC@canberra.edu.au

Review of the Caring for our Country Initiative

A high-level review has found that the Australian Government Caring for our Country Initiative is appropriate as national-scale natural resource management issues require a national perspective and commitment to address them effectively. Without duplicating the role of state and territory governments, the review found it is appropriate for the Australian Government to provide leadership and guidance on natural resource management and address priorities of national impact and requiring national coordination.

The review report (now available online) found Caring for our Country is making real progress towards an environment that is healthier, better protected, well managed, resilient and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

For further information on this report, please contact the Caring for our Country Review Team, Australian Government Land and Coasts, email: thereview@nrm.gov.au or phone 1800 552 008 (toll free). The 150 page report is available online at www.nrm.gov.au/about/caring/review/.

PestSmart gets social

Feral Flyer readers on social media can follow PestSmart. It’s a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening at the Invasive Animals CRC and with the latest additions to the toolkit as they become available. Share with your own followers and help spread the word on best practice invasive animal management.

	PestSmart website: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart
	PestSmart on facebook: www.facebook.com/PestSmart
	PestSmart on twitter: twitter.com/PestSmartCRC
	PestSmart on YouTube: www.youtube.com/PestSmart

UC’s new Director of the Institute of Applied Ecology

The University of Canberra are delighted to announce that Professor David Choquenot has taken up the reins as UC’s new Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology.

Professor Choquenot comes to the IAE from New Zealand where he was General Manager, Biological Systems at Landcare Research and held an appointment as Professor of Ecology at the University of Auckland.

His research interests focus on vertebrates, particularly how trophic interactions between vertebrates and what they eat drives population dynamics and community structure. Most of his work in this area has been in the context of managing biodiversity and agricultural pests. He has a strong interest in empirical research and predictive modeling. David also has an impressive track record in the management of a large research organization, delivering quality research outcomes and linkages across sectors.

Professor Choquenot is an alumnus of the University of Canberra, completing a Master of Applied Science here before moving to the University of Sydney to complete his PhD.

Upcoming PestSmart Roadshow events

The PestSmart Roadshow continues to roll on. Feedback from attendees so far has been overwhelmingly positive and some people are even planning their own mini-PestSmart info sessions for those in their region that couldn’t attend.

May and June brings Roadshow events in Townsville, Charleville and Bourke. Tilapia and Carp forums in Brisbane and Melbourne will also be held.

All events are free to attend but please see http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/ for more information about each event and to register.

30 April Deadline for Abstracts: 2012 World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling

This year the World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling is being staged by the Resource Modeling Association at the University of Queensland in Brisbane from 9-12 July. The conference theme is simply “Natural Resource Modeling” to celebrate the 25th year of the association’s journal.  The conference will be interdisciplinary with applied mathematics/statistics, economics, ecology, water, forestry and fisheries included.

The Call for Abstracts: http://www.edg.org.au/rma-talkproposals.html has been announced. Please complete the form at this www site to submit your proposal for a paper. Abstracts must be received by 30 April and applicants will be notified whether their paper was successful by 7 May 2012.

Further conference details are at http://www.edg.org.au/conference-details.html  People can also register their interest by emailing rma2012@resourcemodeling.org

2012 World Environment Day Awards

The annual national United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards program invites nominations from individuals, organisations, businesses, local councils, schools, journalists and community groups whose work serves to protect, manage or restore our natural heritage. Entry criteria and nomination forms for the 2012 World Environment Day Awards are online at: www.unaavictoria.org.au/awards-programs/world-environment-day-awards

One of the awards is the Biodiversity Award to the best company, organisation, community or individual that has demonstrated innovation and excellence in the development and management of Australia’s biodiversity. There is also the Individual Award that recognises the invaluable contribution individuals make to the environment through their involvement in a wide range of conservation projects.

The Sustainability Education Award is open to organisations, NGOs and education providers/institutions for best sustainability education project in the community which explores environmental themes or issues to help foster understanding about environmental issues at a grass roots level and make a constructive contribution through positive ideas and activities aimed at addressing these issues.

There are entry fees to nominate for the various awards. Please note that only electronic entries will be accepted in 2012. For further information, please email awards@unaavictoria.org.au or phone (03) 9670 7878.

New Publications

Steven J. Lapidge and Adam J. Munn (2012). Seasonal field metabolic rate and water influx of captive bred
reintroduced yellow-footed rock-wallabies (Petrogale xanthopus celeris).  Australian Journal of Zoology – http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO11049

New on feral.org.au - Humaneness assessments for feral pig control methods
The ‘humaneness’ of a pest animal control method refers to the overall welfare impact that the method has on an  individual animal. A relatively more humane method will have less impact than a relatively less humane method. Humaneness assessments for feral pig control methods are now online at www.feral.org.au/animal-welfare/humaneness-assessment/feral-pig/. Assessments for control methods for other species are also available. Assessments have been made based on Sharp and Saunders’ Model for assessing the relative humaneness of pest animal control methods developed under the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS).

Media round-up

Wild dog boom bites farmers hard. ON MORE than one occasion, mixed-enterprise grazier Graeme Brazel has been forced to head out in the dark of night to destroy ewes and lambs maimed by wild dogs…..The Land http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/wild-dog-boom-bites-farmers-hard/2526417.aspx

United front needed for dog control. Australia’s peak wild dog body claims not everyone is pulling their weight when it comes to control – and it’s pushing wild dogs further west…..The West Australian http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/countryman/a/-/news/13460720/united-front-needed-for-dog-control/

Farmers feeling feral pig costs. North Queensland cane growers say the damage caused by feral pigs is costing them thousands of dollars….ABC North Queensland http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-19/feral-pigs-costing-farmers-thousands/3960292/?site=northqld

Queensland pest research centre to stay open. Queensland’s new Agriculture minister says he’s halted plans to close a research centre in southern Queensland dedicated to pests and their control…ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2012/s3480236.htm

Western Plains Central West Rural Report, Wednesday, April 18, 2012. A new research project is examining the behaviour of wild dogs to gauge the most effective aerial baiting methods …ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201204/3479898.htm

Wild dogs trigger alarm. PACKS of wild dogs from inland Australia are threatening Victoria’s border areas in numbers not seen for half a century…The Weekly Times http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/04/18/470201_national-news.html

WA lobby calls for wild dog bounty. A LEADING farmer group in Western Australia has officially called a Victorian-style wild dog bounty to be funded by the Federal Government… The Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/04/17/470441_national-news.html

Wild dogs collared. GLEN Innes is now at the centre of one of the country’s largest wild dog research projects as scientists and local landholders work together to find the most effective rates for aerial baiting…Glen Innes Examiner  http://www.gleninnesexaminer.com.au/news/local/news/general/wild-dogs-collared/2523954.aspx

Sixty fox carcasses cause a stink. GUTTED and rotting fox carcasses on a Curlewis road have caused upset after allegedly being left hanging only metres from passing traffic for more than six months…News Geelong http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/04/17/320271_news.html

Country’s largest wild dog research project underway. he country’s largest wild dog research project is underway at Glen Innes in NSW, where scientists and local landholders are working together…Beef Central http://www.beefcentral.com/p/news/article/1510

Rural and Resources Report for Western Queensland, Monday 16th April 2012. The Australian Campdrafting Association National Titles ended on Saturday night with a dinner to celebrate 40 years since its inception….ABC Rural  http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201204/3477840.htm

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May
• Tilapia in Australia – State of Knowledge Forum. Brisbane 15-16 May
• Carp Management in Australia Forum. Melbourne 19-21 June
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• World Conference on Natural Resource Modeling. Brisbane 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

PestSmart YouTube Channel now online!

If you haven’t checked out the PestSmart YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/PestSmart) yet make sure you do! All the clips from our hugely popular Wild dog trapping and Best Practice management DVDs are there. New this week are three videos on the problem of feral pigs in Australia and their impacts in marsh and rangeland country, particularly the Macquarie Marshes region of central NSW.

First issue of NRM Notes for 2012 now available

‘NRM Notes’ is a newsletter dedicated to regional groups who work cooperatively to reduce the impacts of pest animals in their area. It’s full of good news and case studies that describe how groups are approaching pest management in their area.

This edition showcases the PestSmart Roadshows, feral pig control in Queensland, Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA pest projects for 2012, and cooperative feral pig management in the Staaten River catchment.
Past editions of NRM Notes can be downloaded from:
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/media-centre/newsletters/

Final islandNet newsletter online

The final islandNet newsletter is now available to read online at http://www.feral.org.au/islandnet/newsletter/. Featured in this issue:

• Sea-level rises and beach nesting birds in Tasmania
• Christmas Island rehabilitation program
• Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Program update
• Rapid response to rat incursion on Mana Island, NZ

This project has now been completed, however resources remain online at http://www.feral.org.au/islandnet/.

Tilapia in Australia – State of Knowledge Forum

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority are pleased to announce a Forum on Tilapia in Australia to be held in Brisbane, Queensland, 15-16 May 2012.

Attendance at this workshop will be limited to 100 persons. Registrations can be made online:
http://tilapiaforum.eventbrite.com.au

The forum will focus on the present state of knowledge on Tilapia mariae (spotted tilapia or black mangrove cichlid) and Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique tilapia) in Australia and how this can be used to help manage the two species. Fisheries managers in particular are encouraged to attend.

PestSmart Roadshow Dates

Register for any of these events by logging onto: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshow

New RIRDC pest and weeds risk assessment introduced

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation has launched a new assessment framework that will play an important role in helping prevent the introduction and spread of new pests and weeds in Australia.

The assessment process will be used in all of RIRDC’s research projects that include prospective production plants and animals. The RIRDC publication ‘An invasive risk assessment framework for new animal and plant-based production industries’ can be downloaded from https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/items/11-141
RIRDC’s Managing Director, Craig Burns said the new RIRDC assessment protocols further support the national fight against pests and weeds and help to underpin the Australian Pest Animal Strategy and the Australian Weeds Strategy.

The new assessment process utilises the very latest science and information, including the costs of invasive animals to agriculture from the Invasive Animals CRC. The survey gratefully acknowledged advice and information provided by David Dall, John Thorp, Mary Bomford, Kim James and Daniel Keogh.
The study that led to the development of the new assessment process undertook a world-wide desktop survey to verify the relevance of existing protocols and the assessments made using them. In the case of potential pest animals, the study assembled and collated relevant information into an accessible database.

To contact the study’s researcher, email Dr Robert C Keogh at pachyrhizi@bigpond.com, phone (08) 9386 4410 or RIRDC at rirdc@rirdc.gov.au and (02) 6271 4100.

New wild dog PestSmart fact sheet

With a focus on laws and regulations in Australia relating to wild dogs, a new PestSmart fact sheet from the Invasive Animals CRC explains wild dog management legislation and policy often vary between jurisdictions at local and state levels, with overriding federal laws also affecting wild dog management.

The fact sheet details the following types of regulations that should be considered before beginning any wild dog management activity:

• Legal obligations on owners of land where wild dogs occur
The responsibility to manage wild dogs rests largely with the owners or managers of the land where wild dogs occur. In places where wild dogs are considered pests, landowners have a responsibility to control wild dogs on their land and prevent them from causing problems on neighbouring lands.
• Laws relating to animal welfare
People managing wild dogs are obligated to use control methods that minimise any potential pain, fear or distress. Codes of practice, standard operating procedures and best-practice guidelines for the management of wild dogs have been developed, are publically available and should be followed in order to prevent cruelty to animals during control operations.
• Laws relating to land tenure
In many cases, wild dogs are a ‘protected species’ in national parks and conservation reserves while they are considered ‘declared pests’ in many livestock production areas.
• Laws relating to the conservation status of specific wild dog populations
Controlling all wild dogs may be allowed along the boundaries of some conservation reserves, while core areas within a reserve may be set aside for wild dog conservation. An isolated island population (such as dingoes on Fraser Island) might be considered a unique natural asset worthy of conservation. Alternatively, people might want to only conserve pure dingoes but eliminate impure hybrids and feral dogs.
• Laws relating to the use of specific control techniques
There is specific legislation dealing with the use of firearms, which are often used to euthanise wild dogs in trapping or shooting programs. Various laws also govern the use of poisons and other veterinary drugs used to kill or safely handle wild dogs. Many of these chemicals have label instructions and directions for use that are legally binding.
• Laws relating to the use of animals for research and teaching
Some wild dog management activities might be considered ‘research and teaching activities’ in some jurisdictions, such as the systematic use of infra-red trail cameras or attaching tracking collars to wild dogs. If this is the case, various additional permits and approvals may be required before management activities can begin.
• Laws relating to the keeping, sale, and movement of wild dogs
Different states and territories may or may not allow the keeping of wild dogs as pets. A permit may be required to do so. Wild dogs may be seized and euthanised if they are being kept illegally.
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
All new wild dog control programs must be reviewed under the EPBC Act before they are put in place, to assess the program’s risk to threatened species in the area.

Wild dogs are identified by the national Vertebrate Pests Committee as a ‘Category 5 / Extreme’ species. Category 5 means that the animal is a recognised pest that is both widespread and established, while an Extreme classification indicates that such animals should not be allowed to enter, nor be kept in any state or territory without permission. Wild dogs are also identified as a pest animal under the Australian Pest Animal Strategy.

Greater level of detail can also be found in state and local wild dog management plans, which can be accessed at www.feral.org.au. The fact sheet can be downloaded from www.feral.org.au/wild-dog-policy-and-legislation

ECOS e-magazine: Carp herpesvirus could stem the tide

Credit: G. Heath/scienceimage

Special feature commissioned by the Invasive Animals CRC

While two years of flooding rains have brought our river systems back to life, populations of carp – previously held in check by the drought – have exploded.

This will likely have dire consequences for our waterways and native wildlife. A recently identified biological control agent Koi herpesvirus (KHV) may one day keep carp numbers in check.

Recreational fishers welcome the prospect.

“We are cautiously optimistic about KHV and would certainly like to think that this is a solution to the problem of exploding carp numbers in the Murray-Darling Basin area”, says Christopher Collins, Executive Office of the Victorian Recreational Fishing Peak Body.

Victorian trout angler, Mr Hall, would like to see the tests and approvals expedited so that the virus could be released earlier. He has been seeing carp moving steadily upriver towards Lake Eildon.
‘We need to act quickly, or we will have another environmental disaster on our hands,’ he warns.

http://www.ecosmagazine.com/paper/EC12230.htm

Publications

Banks, Peter B., and Hughes, Nelika K. (2012) A review of the evidence for potential impacts of black rats (Rattus rattus) on wildlife and humans in Australia. Wildlife Research 39, 78–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11086 http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR11086

Susan A. Mainka and Geoffrey W. Howard (2010) Climate change and invasive species: double jeopardy. INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2010, Pages: 102–111, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-4877.2010.00193.x/abstract

Burgiel, S.W. and A.A. Muir. (2010). Invasive Species, Climate Change and Ecosystem- Based Adaptation: Addressing Multiple Drivers of Global Change. Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP), Washington, DC, US, and Nairobi, Kenya.  http://www.gisp.org/whatsnew/docs/Climate_Change_ReportA4.pdf

PestSmart Publications

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre Community Awareness Survey (CAS) has pioneered a new technique in opinion research called ‘Reading the Public Mind’ (RtPM). http://www.feral.org.au/community-awareness-survey/

PestSmart Factsheet: Have you got wild dogs? Fact sheet on detecting the presence of wild dogs. http://www.feral.org.au/have-you-got-wild-dogs/

PestSmart Factsheet: Wild dog policy and legislation considerations. Fact sheet on laws and regulations in Australia relating wild dogs. http://www.feral.org.au/wild-dog-policy-and-legislation/

PestSmart Factsheet: Tools and strategies for wild dog management. Fact sheet on methods and strategies for wild dog control. http://www.feral.org.au/tools-and-strategies-for-wild-dog-management/

Paroo Model of Wild Dog Control. Describes the successful wild dog management program developed and implemented in the Paroo Shire in Queensland. http://www.feral.org.au/paroo-model-of-wild-dog-control/

Media

Where has the money gone? A decision by authorities to cease aerial dog baiting has left local landholders annoyed and fearing the worst…The Scone Advocate  http://www.sconeadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/where-has-the-money-gone/2505208.aspx

Why the invaders are winning: Australia’s vital scientific warfare against alien vegetation is being hamstrung by government inaction, and it’s our grandchildren who will pay the price…Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/why-the-invaders-are-winning-20120328-1vyg1.html#ixzz1r1yJjqN2

Selection begins for new rabbit control agent: NSW scientists have been screening more than 100 overseas strains of the rabbit calicivirus also known as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) – in a bid to come up with a new, more effective rabbit biological control for Australian conditions…NSW DPI http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/recent-news/agriculture-news-releases/new-rabbit-control-agent

Dogged approach required: Our neighbour lost 14 sheep in that time – he has the luxury of being able to bring his flock in close to his house. I don’t…Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/04/04/465161_opinion-news.html

Rural and Resources Report for North West and Western Queensland, Monday 2nd April 2012: Wild dogs forcing sheep producers to quit, Council unsure whether Cloncurry solar project will go ahead, Increase in national livestock yardings…ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/regions/content/201204/3468605.htm

Wild dogs still a real threat: THE Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority is urging landholders to be vigilant with reports on wild dog sightings to assist in curbing their impact…The Border Mail http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/wild-dogs-still-a-real-threat/2507148.aspx

Pet dogs attacking livestock in Delegate: FOLLOWING reports of dogs roaming on rural properties within the South East Livestock Health and Pest Authority, domestic dog owners are being reminded to supervise their dogs at all times to avoid unintentional attacks on livestock…Bombala Times http://www.bombalatimes.com.au/news/local/news/rural/pet-dogs-attacking-livestock-in-delegate/2504226.aspx

New control option on way: THE development of new toxins and toxin-delivery devices plus the increasing use of livestock guardian dogs for flock protection, are part of the fight against wild dogs…Stock Journal http://sj.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/news/new-control-option-on-way/2498969.aspx

Landholders urged: ‘unite to tackle pigs’: LANDHOLDERS need to work together to help tackle feral pig problems, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) says…North Queensland Register http://nqr.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/landholders-urged-unite-to-tackle-pigs/2497356.aspx

Upcoming Conferences

2012

• Tilapia in Australia – State of Knowledge Forum. Brisbane, Queensland, 15-16 May 2012.
• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May 2012.
• Wildlife Tourism Australia’s 3rd National Workshop: ‘USING WILDLIFE FOR TOURISM’ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast Qld Wednesday – Friday 16-18th May 2012
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July 2012
• Queensland Pest Animal Symposium. Caloundra. 30 July – 2 August 2012
• Recreational Fishing Conference. Gold Coast. 17-19 August 2012
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 August-1 September 2012
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 August-1 September 2012

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

First meeting of extension Invasive Animals CRC Participants

The Participants of the new extension Invasive Animals CRC (IA CRC) have met to progress the legal and commercial documentation to ensure the new IA CRC hits the road with a five-year research program “ready to accelerate from the starting blocks”, with no time to waste from 1 July 2012 through to 2017.

Chaired by Jim Thompson, Chief Biosecurity Officer with Biosecurity Queensland, the meeting of Participants heard that each successive IA CRC built on the achievements of the CRC before and that the new IA CRC had a solid foundation.

Jim Thompson (Chief Biosecurity Officer with Biosecurity Queensland) & Helen Cathles (IA CRC Chair)

Helen Cathles, Chair of the Invasive Animals CRC, said that the IA CRC consisted of a well-integrated team and welcomed the new Participants aboard. Helen described the IA CRC as a “PestSmart Powerhouse” and the best of the current CRC was being brought forward into the new extension CRC.

“The doors of the IA CRC are always open to participants for ongoing conversations,” Helen said. “Our Centre is end-user driven and focused on developing new technologies which has proven a magnet for international collaboration with Participants from New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States”.

Andreas Glanznig – IA CRC CEO said that the business case for the new CRC was a strong one. In addition to our commercial program, there is a strong public good component to our future research program and community engagement is a critically-important new research platform for the extension IA CRC.”

Some of the highlights discussed by Participants included:

* end-users involved in regular research reviews to ensure research “hits the mark”

* the IA CRC’s role to build community leadership capacity

* more than 30 research projects ready to start from 1 July 2012

* more than 15 PhDs under the Balance Researcher extended four-year initiative, embedded in the research program to build research capacity

* enhanced role of Participants as members of the Research Program Advisory Panel to add strategic input to the research mix of the IA CRC

* integrated strategic and operational plans (with milestones articulated from project plans) for the new IA CRC, underpinned by a Strategic Evaluation & reporting framework

* whole-of-CRC research reviews scheduled for 2015 and 2017

* the re-insertion of a Commercialisation and Utilisation plan in the Participants Agreement

* better use of the Participants Committee role to act as an advisory committee to the Governing Board of the IA CRC.

Questions from the floor in a “balanced” approach to discussing the new extension IA CRC.

One of the Participants at the meeting, Mr Cameron Begley – General Manager, Business Development and Commercialisation at CSIRO, said that all Participants had demonstrated a “balanced” approach to discussing all of the issues involved in establishing the new extension IA CRC.

In closing the Participants Committee Meeting, Helen Cathles asked Participants to picture why the IA CRC matters. “Imagine a paddock today in 2012 impacted by invasive animals. Then imagine that paddock in 2017 if nothing is done to improve control measures against invasive animals. That is why the new IA CRC matters.”

Participants were then invited to come back to Canberra on 15 October 2012 for the celebration of the IA CRC just finished plus the official launch of the new extension IA CRC, which would be followed by the next Participants Committee meeting and the AGM on 16 October 2012.

Some of our Participants
Linton Staples (Animal Control Technologies Pty Ltd)  and Annabelle Duncan (University of New England)	Phil Cassey (University of Adelaide) and Andrea Byrom (Landcare Research New Zealand)

Pest management training being developed

Mike Braysher from the Invasive Animals CRC said that the recent boost to technical training announced by the Prime Minister may assist in providing resources for upskilling pest animal managers.

The Prime Minister has announced an additional $7.2 billion in funding for the vocational education and training (VET) sector over the next five years to upskill Australians and ensure ‘jobs for the future’.

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement which NFF President Jock Laurie said comes at a time when the agricultural sector is facing a serious skills and labour shortage.

Mike Braysher said that the lack of suitably qualified pest managers is now the most serious impediment to effectively reducing the hundreds of millions in damage caused by pests.

“Before the 21st century, most pest animal management was focused on the biology of pests and how best to kill them, and if possible eradicate them,” he said. “The focus now is on the outcome, reducing damage caused by pests”.

In 2007, this approach was endorsed in the Australian Pest Animal Strategy. Up until now, there has been little attention to incorporating this approach in pest animal Vocational Education and Training courses, said Mike.

To help address this deficiency, the Invasive Animals CRC in cooperation with Agrifood Skills Australia, Vertebrate Pests Committee and NSW DPI are cooperating to review current pest management competencies and develop revised training packages based on the Australian Pest Animal Strategy.

Mike said that once developed, the challenge will be to train pest managers under the new training packages.

For further information, please contact Mike on (02) 62608112 or mike.braysher@canberra.edu.au

Nominations open for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science

Do you know early/mid-career scientists who merit national recognition?

Please help identify potential candidates for the 2012 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.  Each prize has a significant personal cash component.  The closing date is 27 April.

The main prize – the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science – is worth $300,000.

There are also two awards for early- to mid-career scientists, both worth $50,000:

• Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year
• Science Minister’s Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.

Nomination forms and more details at: the PM’s Prizes website.

Detection and Prevention loses Wendy Henderson

Dr Wendy Henderson will be leaving the IA CRC on March 22 after almost six years as Program Coordinator and Project Leader for the Detection & Prevention Program.

She will be working at ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research). Wendy wishes everyone all the best with finalising their current projects with the IA CRC, and/or on their new ventures with the IA CRC’s extension.

The IA CRC will miss a very valuable member and we all wish her the very best for the future.

Pest Animals Twitter on #Agchatoz

Keryn Lapidge (@PestSmartCRC) and Glenn Conroy (@Glennconroy1) from the Invasive Animals CRC recently participated in a late night AgChatOZ Twitter discussion on pest animals.

AgChatOZ is on every Tuesday night from 8pm and anyone interested in Australian Agriculture is welcome to join in.

Tony Peacock (@crcassoc) from the CRC Association said that Agchatoz Cofounders, Sam Livingstone, Danica Leys and Tom Whitty are having a big impact on the public conversations that are taking place on the wide range of issues facing agriculture in Australia. Danica recently won the NSW Rural Women’s Award.

Glenn Conroy said that using Twitter is an addictive process that was most useful in keeping your finger on the “pulse” of people interested in common issues, in this case the control of invasive animals.

There were 89 participants with 682 tweets about pest animals/weeds/diseases during #AgChatOZ.

They were in regions including East Gippsland, the Mallee and the Wimmera in Victoria, Geraldton and the Kimberley in WA, Katherine in the NT, Adelaide, rural NSW including the Hunter Valley, Bathurst, Armidale, Yass and the Liverpool Plains, far North Queensland, Burdekin in central Queensland and Longreach in western Queensland, people waiting at airports and all points north, south, east and west.

In a wide-ranging discussion over two hours, some of the topics raised included:

* feral pig control using HogHopper™ baiting station and the toxins available now and in the future. Baiting stations and specialised bait matrix/formulations together help ensure risk to native animals is minimised.

* Sodium nitrite pig bait HOGGONE® to be submitted for registration to APVMA

*wild dogs and foxes (mentioning the free wild dog trapping DVD available from Invasive Animals CRC)

* rabbits (lots of them), feral goats and donkeys

* pest animals not recognising property boundaries and council coordination of neighbouring baiting programs

* pest animals in national parks and difficulty with pest management is it requires private & public land holders to cooperate which means layers of government “difficult”

* dingoes controlling foxes (and evidence to the contrary from the Invasive Animals CRC)

* guardian animals (not only dogs) to protect livestock (with reference to Best Practice Manual for the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs available through the Invasive Animals CRC)

* using grazing for woody weeds and lead for rabbits

* kangaroo and wallaby control, with reference to GonaCon® research vaccination on the fertility of macropods

* licensed sporting shooter control of pest animals

* PestSmart Roadshows completed and coming up (Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, Victoria on 17 April)

* references to information available from the PestSmart website and also the email for Invasive Animals CRC contact@invasiveanimals.com

* even farmers offering to help in research field trails

* a lot of subjects in between like invasive weeds, bees, wombats and eating kangaroos.

People can follow us on Twitter at #PestSmartCRC, #Glennconroy1, #crcassoc and #Agchatoz. For further information about Agchatoz, email Sam Livingstone and Tom Whitty at email agchatoz@gmail.com

Imagine if you could get 10,000 people to help you with your research!

ABC Science Online is looking for innovative scientists to be partners in three online citizen science projects.  If you have a research idea that could benefit from accessing thousands of people, then the ABC would love to hear from you.

It is looking for a scientific research project that will:

• appeal to lots of people
• involve an experiment/ survey/ test that can be done online.
• be open to people living all across Australia, regardless of location
• be a valid scientific research project, associated with an Australian university or research organisation, with the aim to publish some results in a peer-reviewed journal or equivalent.

ABC Science will:

• develop and run the online platform for the research project
• promote the project.

You will be responsible for:

• the science behind the research project
• analysing the data collected
• assisting in promoting the project (doing media interviews).

The period that the project is open for data collection will be from three weeks to two months, but will always include National Science Week in August 2012.  ABC Science will run one citizen science project each year for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Please email ABC Science at science@your.abc.net.au to register your interest, covering the following details:

• your name, position and institution
• your experience and areas of scientific interest
• your proposed project – a brief synopsis of the idea including why this research is interesting and /or important; the questions it hopes to answer and how you imagine the ‘citizen scientists’ might be involved in providing data for your research.

For further information, contact Kylie Andrews, Producer at ABC Science Online, on kylie.andrews@abc.net.au or phone 02 8333 2473 – Monday to Wednesday only.

Women in Science Fellowships open 1 April

This year L’Oréal is making some changes to its ‘For Women in Science’ Fellowships.

Nominations are now open to women researchers from New Zealand and the prize value has been increased to $25,000.

Nominations will open on Sunday 1 April and run until Tuesday 1 May.

The L’Oréal Fellowships are awarded to three female scientists with no more than five years of post-doctoral experience to assist their research at an Australian or New Zealand academic or research institution.

The Fellowships are worth up to AUD$25,000 over 12 months.

For more information, and for application forms (when they become available in April), please visit the L’Oréal ‘For Women in Science’ website.

PestSmart Roadshow Dates

Register for any of these events by logging onto: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshow

New Publications

DJ Russell,  PA Thuesen and FE Thomson (2012). A review of the biology, distribution and control of Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters 1852) (Pisces: Cichlidae) with particular emphasis on feral Australia populations. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. Online First™, 17 January 2012  DOI: 10.1007/s11160-011-9249-z

PestSmart Publications

• Case study: Introduction of the cane toad to Australia
• Factsheet: Cane toad (Bufo marinus, also Rhinella marina)
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-case-study-carp-spawning-hotspots/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-public-consultation/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-containment-as-a-method-for-pest-fish-control/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-chemicals-as-poisons/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-fishing-as-a-carp-control-method/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-impacts-of-carp-in-australia/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-introduction-and-distribution-of-carp-in-australia/
• http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-koi-herpesvirus/

Media round-up

Giddings backs fox force.  PREMIER Lara Giddings says she has faith in expert advice that foxes are living in Tasmania…The Mercury http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/21/311251_tasmania-news.html

The Tasmanian Fox Eradication Program says it has new evidence of foxes in the north west of the state. It says testing by the University of Canberra has found fox DNA in scats found near Railton and Burnie last year…ABC News http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-14/20120314-new-fox-evidence-found/3888858

Scats on Coast test positive for fox DNA. FOX scats collected from Burnie and Railton last year have been positively identified by the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology as containing fox DNA…The Advocate http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news/local/news/general/scats-on-coast-test-positive-for-fox-dna/2487348.aspx

Cats added to fox force list. THE State Government, the Opposition and the Greens have each taken credit for the idea of combining the Fox Taskforce into a new agency that will take on invasive animals and weeds…The Mercury http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/03/18/310461_tasmania-news.html

Controlling rabbits: let’s not get addicted to viral solutions. Brian Cooke manages and advises on rabbit control research and is financially supported in a part-time capacity by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra… The Conversation http://theconversation.edu.au/controlling-rabbits-lets-not-get-addicted-to-viral-solutions-5701

Biological warfare declared on rabbits. A NEW biological attack on Australia’s exploding rabbit population could begin by 2015…Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/03/17/457205_latest-news.html

Council issues warning amid wild dog attacks. Dog owners are being urged to keep control of their animals after a spate of recent wild dog attacks across Townsville in north Queensland…ABC North Queensland http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-19/council-issues-warning-amid-wild-dog-attacks/3898140/?site=northqld

Victorian wild dog aerial baiting delayed. A stalemate between the Victorian and Federal Governments has put a plan to aerial bait for wild dogs in Victoria on hold…ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201203/s3460146.htm

Have your say on wildlife corridors. THE National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling on farmers and rural landholders to contribute to the consultation phase of the Draft National Wildlife Corridors Plan…Farm Weekly http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness-and-general/general/have-your-say-on-wildlife-corridors/2483051.aspx

Inaugural Northern Territory Ranger Awards. Minister for Parks and Wildlife, Karl Hampton, said the Northern Territory Ranger Awards program is a first for the Territory, and a great opportunity to acknowledge the amazing work our Rangers do…Northern Territory Government http://www.newsroom.nt.gov.au/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewRelease&id=9204&d=5

Sheep still dogged by ferals.WYANDRA grazier Peter Lucas is passionate about keeping wild dogs under control. He has seen the destruction…Queensland Country Life http://qcl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/sheep/sheep-still-dogged-by-ferals/2481880.aspx

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

PestSmart Roadshow Dates

Register for any of these events by logging onto: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshow

PestSmart YouTube Channel now online!

PestSmart now has its own YouTube channel! This is where you can watch video clips from our best practice DVDs. So far most of the clips from the very popular Introduction to using foot hold traps for the capture of wild dogs and foxes DVD have been uploaded. Clips from our Guide to practical pest animal management DVD and other audio-visual material will also be available soon. Clips can all be viewed separately but are also arranged in playlists by region or related information and these can be played together. Stay tuned to Feral Flyer or the PestSmart Facebook page for updates or subscribe to the feed now!

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/PestSmart/

Decision Support Tool for the Management of Freshwater Fish Incursions

An interactive online tool is now available to lodge reports of freshwater fish incursions. Designed by the Arthur Rylah Institute at Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, this tool aims to assist managers maximize the speed of response to an incursion once this has been confirmed, by enabling logical consideration of all management options. Create reports with sighting, fish, and location details. Once submitted the report is forwarded to the relevant state authority for follow up. This tool will serve as an important step in the detection and rapid response to new incursions of invasive fish in Australian waterways.

LINK: http://www.feral.org.au/dss/

Australian Museum Eureka Prizes entries close 4 May

Isn’t it time your research was rewarded? This is the question posed by the 2012 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes which is Australia’s premier science awards program. The winner of the 2011 Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research with research to ‘Hit Cane Toad Myths on the Head’ was Professor Rick Shine who is Australia’s leading researcher into controls against the cane toad. Professor Rick Shine’s spirited and informed communication style is ensuring a more balanced discussion.

Professor Shine has substantially shifted the cane-toad debate. There is now broad community consensus about several issues – for example, that toad invasion affects only a small proportion of native species; that physical removal of toads can be a stop-gap measure at best; and that long-term toad control is most likely to emerge from a detailed understanding of the biology of cane toads, not from simply going out and hitting toads on the head.

Perhaps the most clear-cut evidence of Professor Shine’s campaign comes from broad community acceptance of the Federal Government’s Threat Abatement Plan, which draws heavily on his work, and runs counter to many long-enshrined myths about toads.

In 2006, he won the Eureka Prize for Biodiversity Research in recognition of his pioneering work on ecology, evolution and conservation of Australian reptiles. He says “Winning a Eureka Prize was almost as much fun as catching king brown snakes!”

Entries for the Eureka Prizes which reward excellence in the fields of research & innovation, leadership & commercialisation, school science and science journalism & communication close on midnight 4 May 2012. Entry is by online form so go to http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/enter where the prizes are listed. You click on the Eureka Prize you wish to enter, then click on Online Entry Form under the sponsor’s logo on the right.

The online forms may vary from prize to prize but generally ask:

Short entry title
50-word entry summary
Contacts for up to six researchers (on a multi-disciplinary team for example)
Contacts for assessors (up to four assessors)
Upload supporting documents
Conditions of entry
Entry questionnaire
Confirm and submit entry

The Eureka Prizes are a unique partnership between the Australian Museum and external sponsors and supporters. Among the lineup this year is:

Research & Innovation

Environmental Research, sponsored by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Outstanding Young Researcher, sponsored by Macquarie University
Scientific Research, sponsored by University of New South Wales
Scientific Research that Contributes to Animal Protection, sponsored by Voiceless
Commercialisation of Innovation, sponsored by Rio Tinto
Emerging Leader in Science, sponsored by 3M
Leadership in Science, sponsored by CSIRO
Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers, sponsored by University of Technology, Sydney
Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research, sponsored by Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Science Journalism, sponsored by Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Science Photography, sponsored by New Scientist

Leadership & Commercialisation

• Commercialisation of Innovation, sponsored by Rio Tinto
• Emerging Leader in Science, sponsored by 3M
• Leadership in Science, sponsored by CSIRO
• Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers, sponsored by University of Technology, Sydney

Science Communication & Journalism

• Promoting Understanding of Australian Science Research, sponsored by Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
• Science Journalism, sponsored by Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
• Science Photography, sponsored by New Scientist

The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes judges are expert representatives from a variety of disciplines and work in universities, schools, media, research institutes, industry, science centres and government departments. Collectively, they are the ‘Who’s Who’ of Australian science, science communication and education. Here’s a list of what they are looking for in a winning entry.

• Think clearly about which prize is most appropriate for your work.
• Before you apply, ask yourself is your work timely, novel and paradigm shifting.
• Assessor reports are critical for success so organise them first.
• Select your assessors carefully and use people of recognised standing.
• Talk with your assessors and encourage them to interpret the judging criteria in their two-page report.
• Take careful note of the judging criteria and align your submission to these criteria.
• Keep your reports brief, explicit and focused on the judging criteria.
• Ask a critical friend or colleague to review your application.
• Avoid hype. The judges not only see through it, some dislike it.
• Be concise. We realise you have a lot you want to say, however work out which of the detail is essential and think carefully about including the rest.
• Communicate as though your audience are not experts in your field.
• Avoid jargon, acronyms and abbreviations. Don’t assume judges will know what they mean.

These are all good tips when entering any competition evaluating your science research. For further information on the Eureka Prizes and entry for 2012 phone (02) 9320 6483 or email eureka@austmus.gov.au

2012-13 Community Action Grants – Now Open:

The 2012-13 round of Community Action Grants (CAGS’s) is now open! Grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 (GST exclusive) are available for environmental, Indigenous, Landcare and Coastcare groups and the sustainable agriculture community to take action to help protect and conserve Australia’s natural resources and environment. Note that applications this year are particularly encouraged from groups with projects that will build community skills and raise awareness as well as on-ground projects. Applications from non-incorporated local groups can be hosted by incorporated organisations such as industry bodies or regional NRM groups/CMAs.

Hurry! Applications close 27 March 2012. For more information please go to www.nrm.gov.au or call 1800 552 008.

We can help you:
If you are applying for funding to manage pest animals or to run pest animal-related education or community projects, we can help! Contact Jessica Marsh – email: jessica.marsh@dpi.nsw.gov.au or phone: 0400 586 060. Or email: annette.brown@dpi.nsw.gov.au Alternatively, you can contact the Australian Government NRM officer in your state or your Regional Landcare Facilitator – further details are available at  http://www.nrm.gov.au/contact/officers.html.

Here are some grant-writing resources that you may find helpful:
http://www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/index.cgi?ID=69&TYPE=num&PG=1&RES=10&SORTBY=1
http://www.ourcommunity.com.au/boards/boards_article.jsp?articleId=2626
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-write-an-application-that-wins-grants.html

Tell us about it:
If you have received CAG funding for pest animal projects in the past, please feel free to share your experience with us and we can include it in our March edition of NRM Notes.

Publications

Banks, Peter B., and Hughes, Nelika K. (2012) A review of the evidence for potential impacts of black rats (Rattus rattus) on wildlife and humans in Australia. Wildlife Research 39, 78–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11086 http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WR11086

PestSmart Publications

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre Community Awareness Survey (CAS) has pioneered a new technique in opinion research called ‘Reading the Public Mind’ (RtPM). http://www.feral.org.au/community-awareness-survey/

Media

Biosecurity threats of vertebrate pests in Australia: A new study finds that exotic pets and stowaway animals present some of the highest risks for the introduction and establishment of new invasive animals in Australia…Science Alert http://www.sciencealert.com.au/features/20122702-23164-2.html

The $50 Million Fox Hunt: Nick Mooney, who is the longtime public interlocutor for Tasmania’s Fox Eradication Program (FEP), believes that if foxes establish in Tasmania, it will be the worst thing to happen here ecologically “since the ice age.”…Tasmanian Times http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/the-50-million-fox-hunt/

Wild dog threat on our doorstep: An increasing number of sightings of wild dogs in the Armidale region was a high priority at last week’s meeting of the Armidale branch of NSW Farmers… Armidale Express http://www.armidaleexpress.com.au/news/local/news/general/wild-dog-threat-on-our-doorstep/2471619.aspx

Farmers take aim at fox numbers: Organisers of a feral animal shoot held over the weekend say the cull was very successful… ABC South West WA http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-29/farmers-take-aim-at-fox-numbers/3859858/?site=southwestwa&section=news

Army of volunteers enlists in a fight to save the farm. THE hunter is conflicted, Edward Hoogenboom says. The adrenalin rush that comes with a kill is quickly followed by ”the hunter’s lament”…Canberra Times http://www.canberratimes.com.au/environment/conservation/army-of-volunteers-enlists-in-a-fight-to-save-the-farm-20120302-1u88z.html#ixzz1oTZyuBdF

Expansion causes urban fox invasion  FOXES in urban areas around Orange are on the increase because of housing developments creeping into agricultural land, according to the Department of Primary Industries (DPI)… Central Western Daily http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/expansion-causes-urban-fox-invasion/2476095.aspx

Red tape makes it difficult to bait foxes. DIFFICULTY obtaining 1080 bait is deterring owners of small acreage from fox baiting…Central Western Daily  http://www.centralwesterndaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/red-tape-makes-it-difficult-to-bait-foxes/2476092.aspx

Close eye on mice. MICE numbers are down across south-eastern Australia, but farmers are still casting an uneasy eye on populations, wary of another situation like 2011, where the plague caught many unawares…Stock Journal  http://sj.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/grains-and-cropping/general/close-eye-on-mice/2473635.aspx

MICE numbers are down but lessons can be learnt from 2011 plague. Following the plague of 2011, mice numbers are now down across the high-risk areas of South Eastern Australia… Fat Cow http://www.fatcow.com.au/c/Animal-Control-Technologies/MICE-numbers-are-down-but-lessons-can-be-learnt-from-2011-plague-n914762

Controlling rabbits: let’s not get addicted to viral solutions. Rabbit-killing viruses – first myxoma, then rabbit haemorrhagic disease – have rid many of our landscapes of rabbits and lulled Australians into a false sense of security… The Conversation http://theconversation.edu.au/controlling-rabbits-lets-not-get-addicted-to-viral-solutions-5701

Upcoming Conferences

2012

• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May 2012.
• Wildlife Tourism Australia’s 3rd National Workshop: ‘USING WILDLIFE FOR TOURISM’ Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast Qld Wednesday – Friday 16-18th May 2012
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July 2012
• Queensland Pest Animal Symposium. Caloundra. 30 July – 2 August 2012
• Recreational Fishing Conference. Gold Coast. 17-19 August 2012
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 August-1 September 2012
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 August-1 September 2012

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

PestSmart Roadshow Dates

Register for any of these events by logging onto: http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/

CRC Selection Round online

CRC online is now open for applications for the 15th Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) selection round. The CRC program guidelines, selection round application instructions, application forms and impact tool are available at: www.crc.gov.au

Applications for the 15th CRC program selection round must be lodged by 5:00pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time) Thursday 14 June 2012.

LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

If you have any queries please contact the CRC help line on (02) 6213 7177 or email crc.program@innovation.gov.au.

Churchill Fellows Back In Australia

Paul Meek from the Invasive Animals CRC and Jim Mitchell from Biosecurity Queensland have returned from their respective prestigious Churchill Fellowships overseas. Paul studied the emerging world of camera trapping and Jim studied novel techniques to control wild boar.

Paul Meek setting a camera trap in the Swiss Alps above the snow line at 2,000 feet.

In 2010, Paul learned about camera trapping techniques for different species, data management and analysis tools. His newly-acquired knowledge has been incorporated into a best-practice camera trapping manual to provide information for Australian and New Zealand fauna researchers and managers. Paul’s journey started in the United Kingdom where he met scientists at the Royal Zoological Society of London.

Next stop was KORA in Switzerland which coordinates research for the conservation and management of carnivores. Paul participated in surveys for wolves in the Swiss Alps. In the Netherlands, he met researchers using camera trapping to survey foxes and mustelids which include weasels, badgers and otters. He ventured into the Netherlands woods to see his first badger set.

Paul then went to the United States and visited various experts, conservation researchers, camera trap manufacturers and agents. Paul’s interesting findings are described in his travelogue <www.foxandberry.blogspot.com> and his final report will soon be available upon request.

Paul gratefully acknowledged the Winston Churchill Trust and thanked Dr Glen Saunders and Mr Terry Korn for being his referees.

Wild boar in Europe

Jim Mitchell said that in Europe wild boar is a native species and is protected by legislation as a hunting resource. However, their numbers in Europe are increasing and they are becoming a serious agricultural pest which is similar to the Australian feral pig situation. Overall, Jim found Australian expertise in feral pig control to be far superior to European wild boar control strategies. However, European expertise in disease containment, ecological studies, modeling, fertility control and developing novel monitoring techniques including remote cameras and thermal imagery may offer some lessons for Australia.

In England, devices such as the ‘Boar Operating System’ (BOS) were able to deliver baits that are wild boar specific

The Churchill Fellowship allowed Jim to visit six wild boar research institutes in France, England and Scotland. He also presented a paper ‘Ecological impacts of feral pigs on freshwater ecosystems in tropical Australia’ at the 8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference in Berlin.

The BOS device incorporates a heavy sliding cone covering the bait material to prevent non-target species from accessing the bait material. Pigs learn to lift the cone with their powerful noses. Similar commercially sold bait systems, developed by the Invasive Animals CRC, rely on the same snout lifting principle and are sold in Australia as HogHopper™.

Jim said that research trials by Biosecurity Queensland have commenced, with thermal imagery equipment to monitor feral pig populations having been purchased. Thermal imaging cameras allow greater precision in calculating population densities.

This technique has enormous potential for use in feral pig monitoring throughout Australia. Indeed, this technique has potential in all feral and pest animal monitoring. The results of these trials will be published through scientific and technical articles.

Jim gratefully acknowledged the Churchill Fellowship sponsorship by the Samual and Eileen Gluyas Trust and thanked his two referees, Dr. Jim Thompson and Dr. Glen Saunders, who supported this Fellowship application, and Biosecurity Queensland for its support.

Both Paul’s report and Jim’s report are on the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust www page. For further information, contact Jim at jim.mitchell@deedi.qld.gov.auand Paul at paul.meek@invasiveanimals.com.

CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS OPEN UNTIL 29 FEBRUARY

APPLICATIONS are now open for 2012 Churchill Fellowships through the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. The fellowships allow Australians to study abroad and undertake projects that will deliver a benefit to Australia.

2012 applications close on 29 February 2012 for travel between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013.

More information 2012 Churchill Fellowships is available here http://www.churchilltrust.com.au/

USDA to be briefed on Invasive Animals CRC

Mike Braysher and Tony Buckmaster from the Invasive Animals CRC will be presenting at the 25th Vertebrate Pest Conference at Monterey, California from March 5-8. Prior to the conference, Mike and Tony will meet with fellow scientists at the USDA’s National Wildlife Research Centre at Fort Collins in Colorado and at Logan in Utah.

They will speak generally on pest management in Australia where community groups and pest management agencies work together to identify local pest management problems and plan and implement programs to achieve locally determined management outcomes.

At the conference, Mike’s paper will cover the principles that underpin the strategic approach to managing invasive species; namely why pest management should focus on the desired outcomes from management not just killing pests.

Tony is presenting two papers at the conference on:

• Feral cats in the temperate wet forests of South Eastern Australia. This presentation is based on the outcomes of Tony’s PhD research on feral cats in the Southern Ark Demonstration site in Victoria.

• Strategic Pest Management Training in Australia. This will cover the range courses developed with the Invasive Animals CRC in conjunction with the University of Canberra. This will include the Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and the Graduate level programs that give senior managers the understanding and skills to plan and implement landscape-scale plans to manage the damage due to pests.

For further information on invasive animals courses from the Invasive Animals CRC, please contact Mike.Braysher@canberra.edu.au and Anthony.Buckmaster@canberra.edu.au

Backyard Bandicoot Diggings by Alex Carthey

Just a quick email to all those who have donated time, odour samples, knowledge or other assistance to my PhD (naiveté towards alien predators in Australian native mammals) over the years, to let you know that my first chapter has just been published in the journal PLoS ONE, as a paper co-authored with my supervisor Assoc. Prof. Peter Banks, and is freely available online to download if you are interested. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0031804

The paper has also appeared in the media in a few formats, so you might see or hear more about it sometime in the coming days.

Here are two links to the story on the University of Sydney website: http://sydney.edu.au/news/84.html?newscategoryid=2&newsstoryid=8650&utm_source=console&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=cws
http://sydney.edu.au/news/science/397.html?newscategoryid=60&newsstoryid=8656

The paper reports on research I did in 2009, where I surveyed residents who live adjacent to Kuringai Chase, Garigal and Sydney Harbour (North Head) National Parks, asking them to report on the frequency and quantity of bandicoot diggings that typically appear in their back yards, and to tell me whether they own pet dogs or cats. Spoiler alert: The bandicoots avoided yards with resident dogs but seemed unfazed by resident cats, and of course dug happily in yards without pets.

In our paper we suggest that this could be due to the thousands of years experience that bandicoots have had with dingoes (which are very closely related to domestic dogs), allowing them to recognise the predation danger posed by dogs. Since cats only spread throughout Australia about 150 years ago, bandicoots have had far less experience with them, which may be why they failed to avoid yards with resident cats. It may also be that cats roam beyond yards whereas dogs do not, so that threat is closely tied to a particular yard for a dog, but not so for cats.

We also take it a step further and suggest that for a species that was introduced a very long time ago, such as the dingo, one way to decide whether they should be considered a native species or not is to ‘ask’ the local fauna it interacts with – in this example, bandicoots appear to recognise and avoid dogs, suggesting that they respond to them as they would to a native predator. You would of course need to ‘ask’ a lot more fauna before making any serious decisions about how to manage dingoes based on these results, but we think it is a good idea to consider how a species such as the dingo is interacting with native fauna at the fine scale when deciding how to manage it.

Hopefully this is of interest to some of you – I mostly wanted to show you that your help is appreciated and that my research is moving forward. The field work that followed, with night-vision cameras, and the laboratory analyses of the predators’ odours, all stemmed from this initial piece of work (and will be keeping me very busy with analysis and writing for the next few months!).

I plan to submit my thesis at the end of August, and will keep you informed of any findings that come from the rest of the thesis.

Thanks again for your help with my research.

Cheers,
Alex

Community Action Grants

The Australian Government is seeking applications for 2012-13 Community Action Grants from local community groups to help them conserve and protect their local environment.
As part of the Caring for our Country initiative, Community Action Grants recognise the contribution that community groups make to the Caring for our Country priority areas of:

• Coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats

• Sustainable farm practices, or

• Biodiversity and natural icons

Local community, farming and Indigenous groups can apply for grants between $5,000 and $20,000 to fund projects that encourage participation and build skills and knowledge of the community to protect our environment and natural resources.

To find out more or to submit your application, visit the Caring for our Country website or call 1800 552 008. Applications close at 5pm (AEDT), on Tuesday 27 March 2012.

New Publications

Assoc Prof. Phill Cassey and Dr Wendy Henderson (2012) A new study finds that exotic pets and stowaway animals present some of the highest risks for the introduction and establishment of new invasive animals in Australia. http://www.ecosmagazine.com/?paper=EC12188

Bronwyn Merritt (2011) The Southern Brown Bandicoot (SBB) Isoodon obesulus, once common along the coast from Sydney through to Adelaide, has dramatically declined in range and number since European settlement. EMR Project Summaries

PestSmart Publications:

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is a serious environmental and agricultural pest throughout Australia. PestSmart Factsheet: Economic and environmental impacts of rabbits in Australia

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), previously known as calicivirus or rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD), has been highly effective in reducing rabbit populations across most of Australia. PestSmart Factsheet: Using RHDV for rabbit control

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), previously known as calicivirus or rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD), has been highly effective in reducing rabbit populations across most of Australia. PestSmart Factsheet: Rabbit legislation in Australia

Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, was thought to have been introduced illegally into Australian waterways during the 1970s. PestSmart Factsheet: Biology and ecology of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

The Mozambique tilapia is a species of deep-bodied fish belonging to the family Cichlidae. PestSmart Factsheet: Mozambique tilapia distribution in Australia

The black mangrove cichlid or ‘spotted tilapia’ (Tilapia mariae) and the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) were illegally introduced into Australian waterways during the 1970s. PestSmart Factsheet: Impacts of introduced tilapia — Australia and overseas

The black mangrove cichlid is a deep-bodied fish native to West Africa1. It has a blunt or rounded head with red eyes that are often intersected by a dark band extending downwards toward the mouth. PestSmart Factsheet: Black mangrove cichlid (Tilapia mariae)

Media round-up

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Animal welfare & ethics: from principles to practice. 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
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

Send the Feral Flyer to your friends.

PestSmart Roadshow Dates

Register for any of these events by logging onto: http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/

Humaneness Assessments for Pest Animal Control Species now on feral.org.au

Assessments are available for various methods used to control foxes, rabbits, wild dogs, feral cats, feral goats, feral horses, pest birds, feral camels and feral donkeys. Assessments for other pest species will be added later.

Go to  http://www.feral.org.au/animal-welfare/humaneness-assessment/.

Dingo Documentary and New Publications

Photo: Lee Allen

The Invasive Animals CRC, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation are cooperating with a film documentary company in the making of a dingo documentary to air on ABC Television likely in the second half of 2012, as well as on the BBC in the United Kingdom for possible international distribution. The documentary film crew starts filming this week at the Benjamin Allen organised Wild Dog Management meeting in Broken Hill on 9 February.

The documentary maker, Essential Media and Entertainment, promotes the dingo documentary as: “The Australian bush is at war… ‘DINGO: Wild Dog at War’ follows farmer and canine advocate Dave Graham as he hunts for solutions to the dilemma surrounding Australia’s native canine, the Dingo. A secretive and stealthy predator, Dingoes are responsible for devastating livestock losses. Farmers, in defense of their livelihoods, have long retaliated with culling. It’s a battle for survival, and it’s escalating. Featuring stunning behavioral photography and a wide cast of passionate stakeholders, this one-hour natural history documentary will attempt to untangle one of the most complex and emotional debates facing the Australian landscape today”.  For further information go to:  www.essential-media.com

Meanwhile the researchers being interviewed for the documentary – Ben Allen, Guy Ballard and Greg Mifsud – National Wild Dog Facilitator (with production assistance by Peter Fleming) have been involved in the production of the following new scientific papers on dingoes.

Seven considerations about dingoes as biodiversity engineers: the socio-ecological niches of dogs in Australia

Peter Fleming, Benjamin Allen and Guy Ballard

Corresponding: peter.fleming@industry.nsw.gov.au

Abstract: Australian dingoes have recently been suggested as a tool to aid biodiversity conservation through the reversal or prevention of trophic cascades and mesopredator release. However, at least seven ecological and sociological considerations must be addressed before dog populations are positively managed.

• Domestication and feralisation of dingoes have resulted in behavioural changes that continue to expose a broad range of native and introduced fauna to predation.
•  Dingoes and other dogs are classic mesopredators, while humans are the apex predator and primary ecosystem engineers in Australia.
• Anthropogenic landscape changes could prevent modern dingoes from fulfilling their pre-European roles.
• Dingoes are known to exploit many of the same species they are often presumed to ‘protect’, predisposing them to present direct risks to many threatened species.
• The assertion that contemporary dog control facilitates the release of mesopredators disregards the realities of effective dog control, which simultaneously reduces fox and dog abundance and is unlikely to enable increases in fox abundance.
• The processes affecting threatened fauna are likely a combination of both top-down and bottom-up effects, which will not be solved or reversed by concentrating efforts on managing only predator effects.
• Most importantly, human social and economic niches are highly variable across the ecosystems where dingoes are present or proposed. Human perceptions will ultimately determine acceptance of positive dingo management.

Outside of an adaptive management framework, positively managing dingoes while ignoring these seven considerations is unlikely to succeed in conserving native faunal biodiversity but is likely to have negative effects on ecological, social and economic values.

Article available in Australian Mammalogy http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AM11012

Email contact@invasiveanimals.com for a PDF of this article.

Reintroducing the dingo: the risk of dingo predation to threatened vertebrates of western New South Wales

Benjamin Allen and Peter Fleming

Corresponding author: benjamin.allen@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Abstract: The reintroduction of dingoes into sheep-grazing areas south-east of the dingo barrier fence has been suggested as a mechanism to suppress fox and feral-cat impacts. Using the Western Division of New South Wales as a case study, Dickman et al. (2009) recently assessed the risk of fox and cat predation to extant threatened species and concluded that reintroducing dingoes into the area would have positive effects for most of the threatened vertebrates there, aiding their recovery through trophic cascade effects. However, they did not formally assess the risk of dingo predation to the same threatened species.

Aims: To assess the risk of dingo predation to the extant and locally extinct threatened vertebrates of western New South Wales using methods amenable to comparison with Dickman et al. (2009).

Methods: The predation-risk assessment method used in Dickman et al. (2009) for foxes and cats was applied here to dingoes, with minor modification to accommodate the dietary differences of dingoes. This method is based on six independent biological attributes, primarily reflective of potential vulnerability characteristics of the prey. Individual attribute scores were used to derive an overall risk score.

Key results. Up to 75 (94%) of the 80 extant species were predicted to be at risk of dingo predation (71% at high risk) regardless of any effect dingoes might have on foxes or cats. Up to 17 of the 21 (81%) locally extinct species were predicted to be at high risk of dingo predation using this approach. The re-establishment of even low-density dingo populations may have negative effects on at least 22% of extant threatened vertebrates.

Conclusions: The generic risk-assessment method was insensitive, and experienced difficulty in describing the true nature of canid predation risk. Despite this weakness, however, it is clear that several threatened vertebrates are susceptible to dingo predation. Prior to the re-establishment of dingoes, we recommend that dingo predation risks to all vertebrates (threatened or otherwise) be assessed using more sensitive and descriptive techniques, and we strongly caution against the positive management of dingoes under current ecological conditions.

Implications: The results of this study imply that dingoes present similar levels of direct risk to threatened species as foxes and feral cats, and dingo predation of threatened species should be formally considered in any proposal encouraging dingo populations in western New South Wales.

CSIRO PUBLISHING – Wildlife Research http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR11128

Email contact@invasiveanimals.com for a PDF of this article.

Speaking of desert regions where dingoes roam – here’s a survey

The Inspiring Australia: A national strategy for engagement with the sciences, through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Sciences, Research and Tertiary Education, invites you to complete a five-minute survey about science communication activities in desert regions of Australia.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VGVRVXZ

This survey will contribute to the findings of the Expert Working Group for Desert regions.  The survey closes on
14 February.

PHD in Vertebrate Pest Management

An opportunity exists for a student interested in vertebrate pest management to undertake a PhD on the mitigation of rabbit damage.  The project is to evaluate the efficacy of commercial feeding deterrents in a number of growing environments including vegetable crops and wineries.  There is also scope within the project to evaluate these deterrents against native pest species to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in urban environments. This project presents an exciting opportunity for the right person to undertake a PhD in a burgeoning area of vertebrate pest management.  For more information please contact:  Associate Professor Peter Murray (07) 5460 1256, peter.murray@uq.edu.au

Dr Tarnya Cox (02 6391 3952), tarnya.cox@dpi.nsw.gov.au

APVMA Extended the Consultation Period for its 2012-15 Corporate Plan to 13 February

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is keen to get input and opinions that contribute to the development of its next three-year corporate plan, especially to ensure it is appropriate for the reforms that will take place during this period.

The APVMA Corporate Plan identifies the principal objectives of the APVMA in performing its functions and gives a broad outline of the strategies to achieve those objectives. It guides the APVMA’s operational activities over a period of three years.

To obtain the broadest possible input into its next plan, the APVMA has extended its consultation period until 13 February 2012.

APVMA would like to hear about:

• What principal objectives should the APVMA identify for the period 2012–15?
• What strategies should the APVMA pursue to achieve those objectives?

Comments can be sent by email, fax or letter to:

Program Manager
Corporate Services
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
PO Box 6182
KINGSTON ACT 2609

Telephone: 02 6210 4844
Fax: 02 6210 4874
Email: communications@apvma.gov.au

Position Vacant APVMA Advisory Board

Applications now open for part-time members and a Chair of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Advisory Board.
Applications close 5pm AEST 20 February 2012.

The Advisory Board is selected and appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and provides advice and makes recommendations to the CEO of the APVMA on its functions.

Experience and qualifications

The eight Board members will need experience in one or more of the following areas:

• regulation of chemical products under the law of a state or territory
• the agricultural chemical industry
• the veterinary chemical industry
• the protection of the interests of consumers
• primary production
• public health and occupational health and safety
• environmental toxicology

Applicants should nominate one of the areas of expertise listed above and provide details of relevant experience, knowledge, skills, referees and contact information that relates to that area.

Appointment period

The Advisory Board and Chair are expected to be appointed in July 2012 for a term of up to three years.

http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/ag-vet-chemicals/regulation/apvma-advisory-board

Job Opportunity for Research Position at the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

Agricultural Resource Risk Management – Position Number: 20010003
‘Invasive Species Science’ is an initiative within the DAFWA Invasive Species Program. Invasive Species Science incorporates research on vertebrate pests and weeds, conducts risk assessments for invasive plants and animals and delivers scientific and policy information for managing invasive species in Western Australia.

The Department is seeking a highly experienced Senior Research Officer with extensive, demonstrated research expertise in wildlife ecology, weed science or invasive species science to lead the Invasive Species Science team. This team includes a small group of dedicated research and technical staff which has been recognised nationally and internationally for their achievements in invasive species research and management.

In this role you will utilise your high level expertise in ecology to develop and contribute to a Research and Development program that will address the strategic requirements of the Invasive Species Program. As the successful applicant you will be responsible for providing expert advice on invasive species management and policy, leading a small research and risk assessment team, developing collaborations within DAFWA and with external research organisations and seeking external research funding for the Program. In addition this position will assist with Staff Development within Invasive Species Science and represent DAFWA at relevant state and national meetings.

Extensive experience relevant to the position is required as this is a challenging senior leadership position where you will be granted the opportunity to utilise your extensive research management experience to lead and coordinate this initiative.
Discuss position: Viv Read (08) 9368 3561 or email viv.read@agric.wa.gov.au
Link to job details http://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=160&windowUID=0&AdvertID=129367

Agriculture Blueprint

The National Farmers’ Federation is now calling for input into the Blueprint for Australian Agriculture. The NFF is asking all with an interest in, or involvement with, the agricultural industry and the wider supply chain to contribute to the development of the Blueprint.

Simply visit our Blueprint website and fill in the online survey to tell us the issues, challenges, opportunities and risks you see facing agriculture now and in the future. An interesting feature of the online survey (which is thoughtful so allow 30 minutes) is that the end of the survey – the current status of answers is presented.

For example, on 7 February, Biosecurity was listed as being a very important issue today by 44% of respondents and an even more important issue in the future by 59.3% of respondents.

Alternatively, come along to a Blueprint forum, hosted by the NFF and Westpac, in each State and Territory across Australia. Forums are taking place in every state and territory from March to May 2012:

• Toowoomba, QLD – Wednesday 7 March, 1pm to 5pm, Highfields Cultural Centre.
• Perth, WA – Friday 23 March, 9am to 1pm, Burswood Entertainment Complex.
• Darwin, NT – Thursday 29 March, 1pm to 5pm (location TBC).
• Wagga Wagga, NSW – Wednesday 4 April, 1pm to 5pm, Country Comfort.
• Shepparton, VIC – Wednesday 18 April (time and location TBC).
• Adelaide, SA – Wednesday 2 May 2012 (time and location TBC).
• Tasmania (date, time and location TBC).

Ultimately, Blueprint is about coming together as an industry to identify the issues, challenges and opportunities ahead for the farming sector. For more information or to register for a forum, complete the online survey or call the NFF on (02) 6269 5666.

New Institute for Applied Ecology Director at University of Canberra

Professor Frances Shannon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at University of Canberra has announced that Professor David Choquenot has recently accepted the position of Director of the Institute for Applied Ecology, to commence 10 April 2012.

Professor Shannon also took the opportunity to publicly thank Professor Stephen Sarre for his strong leadership of the Institute for Applied Ecology over the last year or so. Stephen will continue as Director of Institute for Applied Ecology until 10 April. The Invasive Animals CRC also thanks Stephen Sarre and welcomes David Choquenot to the University of Canberra.

Call all Innovators

If your organisation has delivered an innovation in the past five years worthy of recognition, please put it up for the Inaugural Australian Collaborative Innovation Awards (unless it has previously won an Excellence in Innovation Award). Entry is simple, free and open until 30 March. You can do your whole entry online after you create an account.

Collaboration is a common goal of all Cooperative Research Centres and the CRC Association has decided to focus its annual awards for excellence on collaborative innovation.

The Australian Collaborative Innovation Awards recognise the important role of teamwork in converting ideas into impacts. The impact that is making a difference might have come through sales of a new product or service, implementation of new knowledge or a changed policy or practice. Impact might have resulted from a policy or clinical change that the research caused.

Judges will take into account the relative impact of your innovation. For example, the prevention of a species becoming extinct may have a profound impact on an ecosystem but may not have an easily measurable dollar impact.

Entry is open to any Australian-based researcher, innovation team, company or organisation that has delivered significant innovation in one or more of the categories. Any entrant may provide up to three entries per category but may only be shortlisted in one category and be eligible to win in one category according to the judges’ discretion. Applicants can nominate up to 10 team members.

Awards are available in the categories of:

• Agriculture and Food
• Community
• Environment
• Health and Wellbeing
• Infrastructure
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Mining and Energy
• Service Industries.

Judging is based on “relative” impact, so something that resulted in a major impact on the lives of a small community is equally worthy of recognition as something that might have changed a major industry incrementally. The three judging criteria are:

• Quality of Collaboration
• Impact of Innovation
• End user support

Applicants must provide evidence of collaboration. Judges will look at the quality of collaboration through the establishment of relationships and synergies between the participants (2+2=5). This may include collaboration across different disciplines or cultures. It may involve collaboration by public sector researchers (eg from University) in the premises of a company delivering the innovation and end-user involvement in collaboration will be deemed valuable in ensuring the innovation is appropriately targeted.

You can do your whole entry online. You’ll need to supply the CRC Association with three high-res colour images and a letter of end-user endorsement from someone that has been impacted by your innovation. This is much easier than previously when you needed to produce a video for the awards night – but now no longer needed!

The Australian Collaborative Innovation Awards will be presented at a gala dinner at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide on 16 May 2012, in conjunction with the Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 meeting. Up to four entrants may be shortlisted in each category. All applicants will be notified of the shortlisting results by 20 April. Shortlisted entrants will be provided with a ticket to the awards dinner ceremony. Announcement of the winners will be reserved until the ceremony.

So don’t delay – go to the website, nominate and get some recognition. For further information, contact Pauline Quinane, Cooperative Research Centres Association on (02) 6270 6524 and PQuinane@crca.asn.au.

Adapting Pest Animal Management to a Changing World

Mark 30 July to 2 August this year at Caloundra down in your diaries for the Queensland Pest Animal Symposium where speakers from the Invasive Animals CRC and other professionals in the invasive animals arena will address participants.

The Program Committee has announce the first round of Keynote Speakers for the Symposium at the Sunshine Coast Function Centre, Caloundra.

This year, the Symposium will feature highly sought after and inspirational Keynote Speakers including:

•  Kate Reardon-Smith, Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments, University of Southern Queensland
•  Tarnya Cox, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Primary Industries
•  Andreas Glanznig, CEO of the Invasive Animals CRC
•  Craig Jennings, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

The symposium will address the key areas of:

•   How environmental extremes affect pest management
•   Adapting pest animal management to changing land use
•   Advances in pest management – new technologies, legislation and partnerships
•   Pests other than mammals
•   Prioritisation in Pest Animal Control
•   Social factors influencing pest animal control

Abstracts need to be submitted online no later than Wednesday 29 February 2012.
Check the Symposium Website regularly for more Program Updates!

Invasive Species: Why Not Just Eat Them?

Extracted from the article ‘Invasive Species Cookbook’ originally by Tim Wall

http://news.discovery.com/earth/invasive-species-recipes-cookbook-photos-120124.html

Out of the USA comes the story that any invasive species aren’t an easy sell on the plate — or fashion runways. But for some animals, that could change. Hunters could help wipe out troublesome invasive species. An obstacle is selling these animals as good food to the public.  Other invasive animals, like the feral pig, may be dangerous to eat.  Edmond Mouton, biology program manager with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said feral swine are riddled with diseases that can be detrimental to humans, like brucellosis, and a suite of diseases that affect wildlife.”

Fur-bearing and edible invasive species now run rampant, damaging native North American ecosystems. Increased demand for invasive species products could overcome those difficulties. But cultural and logistic hurdles remain.  A movement by foodies to put local invasive species on the menu may have to watch what it eats.  An Aussie species that has invaded Louisiana’s waters is the tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon).  The Invasive Species Cookbook offers this recipe from allrecipes.com.

Grilled Lemon and Garlic Louisiana Tiger Prawns
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced
1 orange, juiced
1 teaspoon dried basil or to taste
2 tablespoons white wine (optional)
30 tiger prawns, peeled and de-veined

In a glass dish, mix together the olive oil, mustard, garlic, lemon juice, orange juice, basil and white wine. Add the prawns, and stir to coat. Cover, and let marinate for 1 hour.

Heat an outdoor grill to high heat. Thread prawns onto skewers. Grill for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until pink.

Pig Out on Feral Pigs (bearing in mind risk of brucellosis)
If you are sure the wild pig you have is disease free, then pig out with this German-style recipe from allrecipes.com.

Braised Wild Boar in Sauerkraut
2 (20 ounce) cans sauerkraut, drained
3 pounds wild boar roast
1 large onion, quartered
4 potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 carrots, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).  Pour one can of sauerkraut into the bottom of a Dutch oven. Set the roast on top of it, then arrange the onions potatoes and carrots around the roast. Cover with the remaining can of sauerkraut and pour in the beer. Cover with a lid. Bake in the preheated oven until the roast is extremely tender, about 3 hours.

Jumping Silverfin Carp

The waterways of America are being taken over by a variety of carp species, most notoriously the jumping silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). With the right recipe, the fish will jump out of the water onto your plate and right into your stomach.  Recipe from chefphilippe.org.

Silverfin Almondine
4 silver carp fish steaks
2 tablespoon of olive oil
2 ounces of unsalted butter
3 oz of white wine
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
½ cup of roasted almonds
Seasoning to taste

In a skillet, preheat olive oil and butter until very hot.  Place seasoned carp steaks and brown both sides.  Add white wine and lemon juice.  Place carp steaks with sauce into a baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes or until done.  When served, top carp steaks with sauce then top with roasted almonds.

Bon appetite!

Publications

Use of seismic technology to divert, herd, or eradicate invasive Asian carp from the Great Lakes ecosystem.  http://nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/Asian_carp

Lyn A. Hinds and Grant R. Singleton (2011). Rodent biology and management – who is outsmarting whom?   CSIRO Publishing Wildlife Research
Volume 38 Number 7

Cowled BD, et al., (2012) Controlling disease outbreaks in wildlife using limited culling: modelling classical swine fever incursions in wild pigs in Australia. Veterinary Research 43:3 (16 January 2012): http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/3/abstract

Massey PD, Polkinghorne BG, Durrheim DN, Lower T, Speare R (2011).  Blood, guts and knife cuts: reducing the risk of swine brucellosis in feral pig hunters in north-west New South Wales, Australia. Rural and Remote Health 11: 1793. http://www.veterinaryresearch.org/content/43/1/3/abstract

Liu J., et al., (2011). Serological Assays to Discriminate Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus from Australian Non-pathogenic Rabbit Calicivirus. Veterinary Microbiology  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.01.018 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378113512000387

Hangkyo Lim & Peter W. Sorensen (2011) Common Carp Implanted with Prostaglandin F2α Release a Sex Pheromone Complex that Attracts Conspecific Males in Both the Laboratory and Field Read more

Media

Forests NSW wild dog trapper featured at PestSmart roadshow: Forests NSW wild dog trapper Mark Goldspink’s skills were featured in Albury at the first-ever Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre’s PestSmart roadshow…Dept. Primary Industries NSW  http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/recent-news/forests/wild-dog-trapper-at-pestsmart-roadshow

Killing pests humanely:  Animal welfare concerns now extend to pest eradication. The Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre is travelling the country with the Pest Roadshow, informing landholders about new ways to eradicate pests…ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201202/s3425726.htm

Rise in rabbit numbers: RABBITS are back to pre-calicivirus levels across northern Victoria. The rabbit plague has exploded into full bloom after the sodden end to the drought…Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/02/08/440011_latest-news.html

We must beat pest plagues: PESTS such as rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, mice, feral pigs and carp cost Australia more than $1 billion a year…Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/02/08/439991_opinion-news.html

Highlighting the challenge of invasive animals: It’s estimated that invasive animals could be costing Australia up to a billion dollars every year…SBS Podcasts http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/naca/radionews/episode/201725/Highlighting-the-challenge-of-invasive-animals

Pigs on notice: aerial cull kills hundreds: Feral swine, some weighing 100kg, are destroying cane and ripping up turf – but their days of hogging prime agricultural land around Mackay may soon be over…Brisbane Times http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pigs-on-notice-aerial-cull-kills-hundreds-20120201-1qryq.html

Experience gets dog count down: TRAPPING feral animals is in Mark Goldspink’s blood. He learnt from his father and grandfather. And the Tumbarumba wild dog man can claim almost eight years without a single stock loss…The Border Mail http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/experience-gets-dog-count-down/2443633.aspx

Wild dog control is proving possible: FARMING communities in remote areas of South Australia and Queensland are showing how headway against the massive problem of wild dogs is possible…Stock Journal http://sj.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/sheep/wild-dog-control-is-proving-possible/2439602.aspx

Fish classification riles irrigators: THE Federal Government is failing to protect river ecosystems while spending $10 billion to buy water for them, irrigators say…Weekly Time Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/02/01/437091_water.html

Feral pests and mould loving the big damp:AS SYDNEYSIDERS await more dreary weather, some creatures at least seem to be relishing the unseasonably wet conditions over the past year…Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/feral-pests-and-mould-loving-the-big-damp-20120127-1qlmp.html#ixzz1ljzPec7P

Watch for mice: FOLLOWING last year’s record-breaking mouse plague, Mallee farmers are again being urged to monitor numbers to see whether the rodents will breed up to plague proportions once again….Stock and Land  http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/general/watch-for-mice/2430891.aspx

Upcoming Conferences

2012

• Animal welfare & ethics: from principles to practice. National Convention Centre, Canberra. Tuesday 28 February 2012
• Weeds Across Borders 2012 Conference: Meeting the Challenges of the future. Cancún, Quintana Roo. April 24th to 27th 2012.
• Collaborate | Innovate | 2012 National Wine Centre in Adelaide from 15-17 May 2012.
• Wildlife Tourism Australia’s 3rd National Workshop: “USING WILDLIFE FOR TOURISM” Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Gold Coast Qld Wednesday – Friday 16-18th May 2012 (opening cocktails Tuesday evening at Vikings, Currumbin Beach)
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• Queensland Pest Animal Symposium. Caloundra. 30 July – 2 Aug
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

Feral predators are key factor in decline of Woylies

Woylie Numbers Double: success for predator-proof sanctuary in Western AustraliaIn December 2010, the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) released 41 Woylies (Brush-tailed Bettong) into the predator-proof Perup Sanctuary near Manjimup (south-west WA). In less than a year the Woylie numbers within the sanctuary have reached more than 83 individuals. This success brings hope for the survival of the critically endangered Woylie.Populations of the Woylie have undergone a mysterious decline in the past 10 years. The success of the population at Perup Sanctuary indicates that feral predators are a key factor in the decline of Woylies in recent year.

Help FAME protect Woylies at Wadderin Sanctuary

First PestSmart Roadshow – Queanbeyan, Monday

For the first time the Invasive Animals CRC is bringing the PestSmart Roadshow to a place near you. It will showcase best practice pest animal management including the latest innovations brought to you by the species experts.

 http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/

New Publications

The use of fauna gates to facilitate the movement of Southern Brown Bandicoots through a feral proof fence at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne

Bronwyn Merritt (2011) The Southern Brown Bandicoot (SBB) Isoodon obesulus, once common along the coast from Sydney through to Adelaide, has dramatically declined in range and number since European settlement. EMR Project Summaries

Integrated predator management on the south coast of Western Australia

Allan Burbidge (2011) The Western Ground Parrot (‘kyloring’ to Noongar people) may be the ‘canary in the coal mine’ warning of imminent fauna collapse on the south coast of WA. http://site.emrprojectsummaries.org/2011/10/26/integrated-predator-management-on-the-south-coast-of-western-australia/

Fish Invasions in the World’s River Systems: When Natural Processes Are Blurred by Human Activities

Fabien Leprieur, Olivier Beauchard, Simon Blanchet, Thierry Oberdorff, Sébastien Brosse (2012). Because species invasions are a principal driver of the human-induced biodiversity crisis, the identification of the major determinants of global invasions is a prerequisite for adopting sound conservation policies. http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0060028

Media round-up

Greens welcome carp eradication grant Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown has welcomed the $820000 Commonwealth Grant to get rid of introduced predatory carp from Tasmania’s Lake Sorell…The Greens [Read more]

Invasive animals roadshows to criss-cross Australia The Invasive Animals CRC will embark on a nationwide 17-stop roadshow in coming weeks to showcase the latest technologies…Beef Central [Read more]

More ammo welcome in wild dog fight: PGA THE Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) has welcomed the Northern Mallee Declared Species Group receiving $40,000 in State Government…Farm Weekly [Read more]

Mixed response to wild dog fencing WITH wild dogs still an issue in WA, the State Government has committed $1.3 million towards projects working to protect WA’s natural resources…Farm Weekly [Read more]

Wild dogs on the move near Tilpa, Louth INCREASED sightings of wild dogs have been reported in the Tilpa and Louth areas of the Darling Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA)…Cowra Community News [Read more]

Fox plague proving costly for farmers  HUNTERS say a bounty is needed to help to fight a population explosion of foxes, which are a growing threat to the state’s farms and native animals…Adelaide Now [Read more]

Call for more baits MORE needs to be done to prevent dingo attacks in Maryborough according to Granville cattle farmer Royce Sommerfeld after his stock was attacked for the first time this year…Fraser Coast Chronicle [Read more]

Farmers urged to tackle feral pests early A regional environmental group has urged landholders to help reduce increasing feral animal numbers in southern Western Australia…ABC Esperance [Read more]

Mice numbers hit peak levels in SA FARMERS should be taking steps to combat a mice threat greater than at this time last year, according to National Mouse Management Working Group chairman Simon Humphrys…Stock Journal [Read more]

Rabbits are breeding … aaah, like rabbits RABBIT numbers in the Geelong region are set to jump after last year’s record rains has seen rapid grass growth in rural areas…Geelong Advertiser [Read more]

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Island Ark Symposium. Great Hall, University House, Australian National University 7-9 February
• Animal welfare & ethics: from principles to practice. 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
• 4th International Wildlife Management Congress. Durban, South Africa. 9-12 July
• Invertebrates associated with invasive alien organisms. Riga (Latvia) 16–18 August
• Invasive organisms and globalisation. Riga (Latvia) 20-23 August
• 3rd European Congress of Conservation Biology. Glasgow, Scotland. 28 Aug-1 Sept
• Fertility Control Conference. Jackson Wyoming, USA. 29 Aug-1 Sept

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.

Welcome to issue 204 of Feral Flyer.

Send the Feral Flyer to your friends.

 17-stop Nationwide PestSmart Roadshow about to start

Invasive animals cost Australia more than a billion dollars annually.  For your personal update on research and management developments to control invasive animals such as wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, feral pigs and carp, the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre for the first time is bringing the PestSmart Roadshow to a place near you in 2012.

The PestSmart Roadshow is carried out in conjunction with the Invasive Animals CRC partners Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.  It will criss-cross the country with 17 events starting in Queanbeyan on 30 January and ending in Townsville on 1 May 2012.

The Roadshow will also showcase the PestSmart Toolkits – which is a national online collection of invasive species information.  At all times before, between and after these Roadshow dates, the Invasive Animals CRC encourages graziers, farmers, public land managers and others with responsibility to control invasive animals to visit the PestSmart website:

www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/

and examine the PestSmart Toolkits on specific invasive animals to guide them in policy, legislation, control tools, best-practice management and implementation.

Places are limited so you MUST register at http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/ for each Roadshow and for catering purposes which provides free morning and afternoon teas and lunch.  The Roadshow which starts at 8am through to 5pm at all venues will showcase best practice pest management incorporating currently used techniques and the latest innovations.  New products to be covered include:

• Wild dogs and foxes:
  Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) baits, Blue-Healer™ antidote , mechanical bait / toxin ejectors and Lethal Trap Devices
• Feral pigs:
  PIGOUT^®, PIGOUT^® Econobait, HOG-GONE^®, HogHopper™ and a nitrite concentrate
• Rabbits:
  carbon monoxide fumigator and freeze-dried Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease for carrots
• Foxes and cats:
  spray tunnel technology.

Information and product demonstrations will be brought to you directly by the Australian species experts.

For more information, please see the website at www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshow or phone Suzy Balogh 0418 417 943, email: suzy.balogh@invasiveanimals.com

For media enquires eg to arrange interviews with the research leaders or to obtain photographs, please email: contact@invasiveanimals.com or phone Glenn Conroy – Communications Manager, Invasive Animals CRC on (02) 6201 2890 or 0406 376 648.

Please visit http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshow/ for more information and to register for any Roadshow events.

The PestSmart Roadshow is presented by the Invasive Animals CRC in conjunction with our partners Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The PestSmart toolkit is funded under the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

Numbers are limited at each venue so register early to save your seat (and lunch) and avoid disappointment

15th CRC program selection round – information sessions

The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research will be conducting information sessions on the CRC program beginning 13 February 2012. The information sessions will be an excellent opportunity for groups to find out about the CRC program and details of the 15th selection round including the priority areas for the selection round: clean manufacturing, social innovation and sustainable regional communities. Further details about the sessions can be found on the CRC website – www.crc.gov.au.

Departmental representatives will also be available to meet separately with potential consortia. Please RSVP to crc.program@innovation.gov.auwith your name, organisation, information session city and indicate if your proposed consortia will require an individual meeting with the department.

Genetics give vital clues in controlling starlings

Western Australia’s starling control program hopes to take advantage of recently completed genetic research in the coming season.

Former Department of Agriculture and Food research officer Andrew Woolnough said the research data indicated WA starlings have originated not only from South Australia, but further east from Victoria, Tasmania or New South Wales.

“We are using data gathered in a four-year PhD research project, undertaken by Dr Lee Ann Rollins from the University of New South Wales,” Dr Woolnough said.

The work was funded by the department, a linkage grant from the Australian Research Council, the University of New South Wales and the South Australian Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.

“The data from her research enhances our knowledge of starlings in WA and is enabling us to research better ways to improve our control techniques,” Dr Woolnough said.

“Dr Rollins used molecular techniques to map the genetic structure of starling populations throughout Australia. Knowing the location of source populations and invasion pathways assists us in creating more target-specific and habitat-specific control.

“During the research, approximately 1000 starlings were sampled at 17 localities across known areas of establishment in Australia. The research also included samples taken from previous control operations held at the Western Australian Museum, and from starlings collected by our department field officers as part of our ongoing control program.”

Dr Woolnough said a significant discovery was that a population of starlings at Munglinup contained genetically distinct individuals not linked to the eastern states.

“This suggests that they have come long-distance from another area not yet identified, and it highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and monitoring in WA. While starling numbers in WA are currently low, genetic data supports the need for vigilance against ongoing invasion,” he said.

“The research work with starlings also demonstrates that genetic techniques can be used to aid management of any pest, even when applied to a highly mobile species such as the starling.”

Dr Woolnough said a long-term goal was to integrate molecular approaches, control techniques, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to ensure the best use of control related resources.

“For starlings, it is hoped this work will prevent the pest from becoming an established pest in WA,” he said. “For other control programs, genetic techniques are being considered to improve their effectiveness.”

The starling season is underway through to March, with surveillance focused primarily in the South coast region between Condingup, Munglinup and towards Hopetoun.

Pest sparrows’ cruise cut short in Geraldton

The public are encouraged to report sightings of unusual birds following the recent discovery of two tree sparrows on a cruise ship at Geraldton.

WA Department of Agriculture and Food Invasive Species Project Manager Tim Stevens said the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service reported the birds to the department, which subsequently removed the exotic species.

Mr Stevens said the tree sparrows had been reported onboard by a cruise ship which had arrived in Geraldton from Singapore.

“On inspection the birds were found to have flown to the grain terminal at the Geraldton port, where they were again reported to the department,” he said.

Residents living near sea ports are asked to keep an eye out for tree sparrows and report any sightings immediately to the WA Department of Agriculture and Food (photo, Dani Studler)

“It is a good example of how those working and living at or near ports frequently help protect our native wildlife and agricultural industries from exotic pests by quickly reporting any unusual birds, because sparrows have the potential to damage grain and horticulture crops, spread disease and compete with native species.”

Tree sparrows are a declared pest in Western Australia and there are no wild populations in the state, though individuals and small groups are often found near ports, after arriving on ships from Asia.

The birds are about 15cm long and look similar to finches but are slightly plumper. They are brown or dark grey in colour, with a streaked back and a wedge-shaped beak. They hop, rather than walk, along the ground.

“Sparrows are especially attracted to sites including bird-feeding tables, aviaries, grain storage facilities and seed works where they can feed on spilt grain,” Mr Stevens said.

“This is the time of year when we tend to see more sparrow incursions. Between now and June we expect to manage a number of cases along the coast, with the highest numbers being between Perth and Bunbury and Dampier to Port Hedland.”

Recent detections of sparrows include one found on a domestic aircraft that had travelled from Melbourne to Perth, one at port facilities in Henderson, two at Esperance port and one in a residential area of Dampier.

Effective removal can involve extensive surveillance and planning by department officers, who also rely on cooperation from the community.

Any sightings of sparrows or other unusual birds in the area should be reported to the department’s Pest and Disease Information Service on freecall 1800 084 881.

For more information on sparrows and other pest birds, visit the department’s website www.agric.wa.gov.au

Exciting opportunity to join a leading research based agrichemical manufacturer

Animal Control Technologies (Aust) Pty Ltd (ACTA) a leading Australian research-based agrichemical company, is seeking an Area Sales Manager (Victoria, SA & Tas.) providing effective solutions in vertebrate pest management. It services Australian farmers and government agencies.   ACTA is a core member of and principle commercial partner to the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre which contributes novel intellectual property for development. Products from ACTA provide great benefit to Australian agriculture and wildlife conservation.
http://www.seek.com.au/Job/area-sales-manager/in/melbourne-melbourne/21400974

25^th Vertebrate Pest Conference in the United States

This is an educational event for discussing and exchanging information on human-wildlife conflicts.  It will be held 5-8 March in Monterey, California.  Registration is now open and “early bird” rates apply through 3 February, with a savings of $50.  See www.vpconference.org.

Publications

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the United Kingdom has announced that their ground-breaking project to erradicate rats from Henderson Island has been successfully implemented. http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/henderson_newsletter_tcm9-300407.pdf

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

PestSmart publications

PestSmart Case Study: The effectiveness of warren ripping to control rabbits on a wool-producing property in far-west New South Wales. (http://www.feral.org.au/warren-ripping-on-thackaringa-station/)

PestSmart Factsheet: Feral pigs adversely impact large sections of Australian agriculture and the natural environment, costing the economy more than $100 million annually. (http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-practical-feral-pig-control/)

PestSmart Factsheet: Carp are now widely established throughout the Murray-Darling Basin and can also be found in all states and territories except the Northern Territory. (http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-factsheet-carp/)

PestSmart: This Glovebox Guide for Managing Wild Dogs is a general guide to managing populations of wild dogs in Australia.  (http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart-glovebox-guide-for-managing-wild-dogs/)

Media

Victorian rabbit numbers on the rise: RABBIT numbers are on the increase this summer due to high rainfall and strong pasture growth across Victoria…Weekly Times Now http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/01/04/426611_national-news.html

Rabbit numbers set to rocket: DPI: THE Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has warned of a rapid increase in rabbit numbers across Victoria…Stock and Land http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/livestock/news/rabbit-numbers-set-to-rocket-dpi/2409711.aspx

Rabbit resistance movement: RESISTANCE to a biological control virus is contributing to an increase in the rabbit population across Victoria…The Standard http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/rabbit-resistance-movement/2410354.aspx

Tilapia ‘along the length’ of Burdekin River: A TOWNSVILLE angler who caught two tilapia at Greenvale last weekend says…Townsville Bulletin http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2012/01/07/295991_news.html

Carp eradication effort gets a boost: The Commonwealth Government today announced more money is on the way to help eradicate european carp from Lake Sorell…ABC Rural http://www.abc.net.au/rural/tas/content/2012/01/s3404506.htm

Greens welcome carp eradication grant: Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown has welcomed the $820000 Commonwealth Grant to get rid of introduced predatory carp…The Greens http://www.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-welcome-carp-eradication-grant

Farmer warns walkers of wild pigs: A MAPLETON man who shot and killed a wild pig on his hinterland property says he is worried there are more out there and people could be in danger…Sushine Coast Daily http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/01/08/farmer-warns-walkers-of-wild-pigs-catch-mapleton/

Latest Australian Wool Innovation Publication

Beyond the Bale contains articles about some of AWI’s recent activities to help increase the demand for wool through investments in marketing, innovation and R&D – from farm to fashion and including dates to the PestSmart events.  http://digital.wool.com.au/?xml=awi.xml

Natural Resource Managment Notes

People working in natural resource management should look at: Issue 8 ~ December 2011  http://www.invasiveanimals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/NRM-Notes-Issue8-Dec2011.pdf

Upcoming conferences

2012

• Humane killing of animals – an ethical perspectives seminar. National Convention Centre, Canberra.
  Tuesday 28 February 2012
• 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

For more information on these and other events, please see details on our website.