Feral cat bait uptake in eastern Australia
Project Leader: Dr Elizabeth Denny, University of Sydney
Aim: To provide basic field data essential for the registration of Curiosity® PAPP feral cat bait and the future implementation of broad-scale baiting of feral cats on the Australian mainland.
Project: 6.u.1
Project summary
The control of feral cats in the eastern states of Australia has been limited to reserved areas bounded by predator-proof exclusion fencing. Although the toxin 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) has been used for some decades for the control of foxes and wild dogs over broad areas, the regulations covering the use of 1080, as well as the diet preferences and feeding behaviour of cats, has mitigated against the use of this toxin for broad-scale cat control throughout eastern Australia. Trapping, shooting and exclusion fencing are the only available cat control methods, all of which are time and labour intensive.
In Western Australia, because of naturally occurring fluoroacetatic acid in native flora and high tolerance of native species to 1080, broad-scale, above ground baiting is used effectively against introduced predators. In eastern Australia, the susceptibility of the native fauna to 1080 is higher, and broad-scale baiting with 1080 generally comprises buried, manufactured or dried meat baits that are less attractive to native species. However, buried baits and dried meat baits are less attractive to cats, and broad-scale baiting for foxes and wild dogs has had little impact on feral cats.
The search for a method of broad-scale baiting of feral cats has led to the development of a chipolata-sized bait that is attractive to cats and has been proven effective in WA rangeland trials. Eradicat® is a 1080 bait that when applied at 50 baits per square kilometre in late summer / early autumn has led to substantial declines in feral cat populations.
Research is ongoing by DEWHA into the development of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) for feral cats. A species specific delivery system — the Hard Shell Delivery Vehicle — which is a pea-sized capsule that is apparently ingested by cats but rejected by non-target species has been developed by Scientec for delivery of PAPP in the Eradicat® bait. The new product has been named Curiosity® for obvious reasons.
The possibility of broad-scale baiting for feral cats in eastern Australia may be increased through the use of the Curiosity® bait. Consequently non-toxic, broad-scale field trials were conducted in NSW, SA and WA to provide essential data on the specificity of both the baits and the delivery system in New South Wales open arid habitats and on Kangaroo Island. Such trials are essential for the registration of the product by IA CRC partners DEWHA, Vic DPI and WA DEC.
Key achievements
- Trials of the Curiosity® cat bait have been conducted at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Scotia Sanctuary (western NSW) and on Kangaroo Island. Results are currently being prepared for journal publication.
- The report Review of cat ecology and management strategies in Australia was submitted to the IA CRC by Dr Liz Denny and
Prof Chris Dickman.
Project team
Dr Elizabeth Denny, Prof. Chris Dickman (Uni of Sydney), Dr Steven Lapidge (IA CRC), Dr Pip Masters (KI NRMB), Dr Richard Southgate (Envisage Scientific Services.), Tony Cathcart (Australian Wildlife Conservancy).
Project partners
IA CRC, University of Sydney, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Kangaroo Island Natural Resource Management Board, Federal Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Vic Department of Sustainability and Environment, Vic Department of Primary Industries, WA Department of Environment and Conservation.
Further information
For further information, contact us.
