The ecological costs and benefits of a feral cat poison‐baiting programme for protection of reintroduced populations of the western quoll and brushtail possum

Uptake of ‘Eradicat’ feral cat baits by non-target species on Kangaroo Island

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr19056 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 547

Author(s):

Rosemary Hohnen ◽

Brett P. Murphy ◽

Sarah M. Legge ◽

Chris R. Dickman ◽

John C. Z. Woinarski

Keyword(s):

Rhodamine B ◽

Native Species ◽

South Australia ◽

Brushtail Possum ◽

Target Species ◽

Feral Cat ◽

Remote Cameras ◽

Poison Baiting ◽

Common Brushtail Possum ◽

Potential Impact

Abstract ContextPredation by feral cats (Felis catus) threatens a range of vertebrate species across Australia, and cat-free islands increasingly act as safe havens for biodiversity. A feral cat eradication program has begun on Kangaroo Island (4405km2) in South Australia, and poison baiting is likely to be one of the main methods used. Aims Here, we trial a non-toxic version of a cat bait, ‘Eradicat’, on western Kangaroo Island, to examine its potential impact on non-target species. MethodsNon-toxic baits containing the biomarker Rhodamine B were deployed across four sites in early August and late November in 2018, with bait take and consumption assessed both by remote cameras and by the presence of Rhodamine B in mammalian whisker samples taken post-baiting. Key resultsCats encountered baits on very few occasions and took a bait on only one occasion in August (<1% of 576 baits deployed). Non-target species accounted for over 99% of identifiable bait takes. In both seasons, >60% of all baits laid was taken by either the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) or Australian raven (Corvus coronoides). In November, Rosenberg’s goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) and southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern subspecies; Isoodon obesulus obesulus), listed nationally as Endangered, also took baits (3% and 1% respectively). The Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni), listed nationally as endangered, approached a bait on only one occasion, but did not consume it. Evidence of bait consumption was visible in the whiskers of captured common brushtail possums (100% of post-baiting captured individuals in August, 80% in November), bush rats (59% in August and 50% in November), house mice (Mus musculus) (45% in November) and western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) (33% in November). ConclusionsAlthough feral cat baiting has the potential to significantly benefit wildlife on Kangaroo Island, impacts on non-target species (particularly the bush rat and common brushtail possum) may be high. ImplicationsAlternative cat baits, such as those containing a toxin to which native species have a higher tolerance or that are less readily consumed by native wildlife, will be more appropriate.

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Ecology of the Feral Cat, Felis catus (L. ), in South-Eastern Australia I. Diet

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9810537 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 537 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

E Jones ◽

BJ Coman

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

New South ◽

European Rabbit ◽

Brushtail Possum ◽

Feral Cat ◽

South Wales ◽

Sugar Glider ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Eastern Highlands ◽

Ringtail Possum

Diets were determined for feral cats from the Victorian Mallee, Kinchega National Park in western New South Wales, and the Victorian eastern highlands. The percentages by weight of introduced mammals eaten (mainly European rabbit and house mouse) were 85, 64 and 45 for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats, respectively, of which rabbit contributed 74, 56 and 43% respectively to the total diets. The weights of native mammals eaten were 2% and 4% for Mallee and Kinchega cats; the species found were common brushtail possum, planigales and bats. For eastern highland cats the weight of native mammals eaten was 40% and at least 11 species were represented: the most important being southern bush rat (16%), common ringtail possum (8%), common brushtail and/or mountain brushtail possums (5%), brown antechinus (470) and sugar glider (4%). The weights of birds eaten were 9, 18 and 13% for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats. Less important foods were reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods and annelids; some food, both carrion and human food scraps, was scavenged. Seasonal changes in composition of the diet were evident in Mallee cats.

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On the right track: placement of camera traps on roads improves detection of predators and shows non-target impacts of feral cat baiting

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr19175 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (8) ◽

pp. 557 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael L. Wysong ◽

Gwenllian D. Iacona ◽

Leonie E. Valentine ◽

Keith Morris ◽

Euan G. Ritchie

Keyword(s):

Survey Design ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Apex Predator ◽

Target Species ◽

Ecological Consequences ◽

Large Herbivores ◽

Feral Cat ◽

Feral Cats ◽

Detection Probabilities ◽

Poison Baiting

Abstract ContextTo understand the ecological consequences of predator management, reliable and accurate methods are needed to survey and detect predators and the species with which they interact. Recently, poison baits have been developed specifically for lethal and broad-scale control of feral cats in Australia. However, the potential non-target effects of these baits on other predators, including native apex predators (dingoes), and, in turn, cascading effects on lower trophic levels (large herbivores), are poorly understood. AimsWe examined the effect that variation in camera trapping-survey design has on detecting dingoes, feral cats and macropodids, and how different habitat types affect species occurrences. We then examined how a feral cat poison baiting event influences the occupancy of these sympatric species. MethodsWe deployed 80 remotely triggered camera traps over the 2410-km2 Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area, in the semiarid rangelands of Western Australia, and used single-season site-occupancy models to calculate detection probabilities and occupancy for our target species before and after baiting. Key resultsCameras placed on roads were ~60 times more likely to detect dingoes and feral cats than were off-road cameras, whereas audio lures designed to attract feral cats had only a slight positive effect on detection for all target species. Habitat was a significant factor affecting the occupancy of dingoes and macropodids, but not feral cats, with both species being positively associated with open woodlands. Poison baiting to control feral cats did not significantly reduce their occupancy but did so for dingoes, whereas macropodid occupancy increased following baiting and reduced dingo occupancy. ConclusionsCamera traps on roads greatly increase the detection probabilities for predators, whereas audio lures appear to add little or no value to increasing detection for any of the species we targeted. Poison baiting of an invasive mesopredator appeared to negatively affect a non-target, native apex predator, and, in turn, may have resulted in increased activity of large herbivores. ImplicationsManagement and monitoring of predators must pay careful attention to survey design, and lethal control of invasive mesopredators should be approached cautiously so as to avoid potential unintended negative ecological consequences (apex-predator suppression and herbivore release).

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Using the research on intergroup conflict in nonhuman animals to help inform patterns of human intergroup conflict

Behavioral and Brain Sciences ◽

10.1017/s0140525x19000827 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda R. Ridley ◽

Melanie O. Mirville

Keyword(s):

Large Body ◽

Nonhuman Animal ◽

Intergroup Conflict ◽

Costs And Benefits ◽

Animal Groups ◽

Interesting Article ◽

Nonhuman Animals

Abstract There is a large body of research on conflict in nonhuman animal groups that measures the costs and benefits of intergroup conflict, and we suggest that much of this evidence is missing from De Dreu and Gross's interesting article. It is a shame this work has been missed, because it provides evidence for interesting ideas put forward in the article.

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