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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(5)

Efficacy of manufactured PIGOUT® baits for localised control of feral pigs in the semi-arid Queensland rangelands

Brendan D. Cowled A D E , Eddie Gifford A B , Michelle Smith C D , Linton Staples C D and Steven J. Lapidge A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre, GPO Box 284, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, GPO Box 284, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

C Animal Control Technologies Australia P/L, PO Box 379, Somerton, Vic. 3062, Australia.

D Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: brendan.cowled@invasiveanimals.com

Wildlife Research 33(5) 427-437 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05083
Submitted: 20 September 2005  Accepted: 1 May 2006   Published: 14 August 2006

Abstract

Conservative population declines of 73% were recorded in three independent feral pig populations in Welford National Park, Queensland, when PIGOUT® baits containing 72 mg of sodium fluoroacetate were used in a baiting program following prefeeding. Declines were measured using a prebaiting population census with remote cameras, followed by carcass recovery. The knockdown of susceptible feral pigs may have been higher than this, since any carcasses not recovered reduced the recorded efficacy. In addition, feral pigs know to have left the baiting area after trapping and telemetry-tagging, and subsequently not exposed to toxic baits, were included in the analysis. The use of remote cameras and carcass recovery appears to be a relatively accurate means of recording localised declines in feral pig populations. This method is applicable only when carcass recovery is possible, such as in open areas in the semi-arid rangelands. A decline of 86% of radio-tagged feral pigs attending bait stations was also recorded. Camera observations revealed no non-target consumption of baits. Measurement of sodium fluoroacetate–contaminated tissues from feral pigs showed that residues were too low to present a significant risk to recorded scavenging animals in the area. Some feral pigs vomited before death, with vomitus containing sodium fluoroacetate poison at high concentrations. No vomitus was consumed by non-target species. Almost all feral pigs were killed relatively rapidly after ingestion of sodium fluoroacetate and the signs observed in a small number of poisoned feral pigs did not indicate a significant welfare concern.


Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks go to Helen and Graeme Cross for invaluable and extensive assistance during the trial. Thanks are also extended to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service staff, especially Maree Mostert, Gary Porter and Carlin Burns, who assisted at various times throughout the trial. The data from this manuscript were generated from a study approved by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines Pest Animal Ethics Committee (Approval No. PAEC040805). The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority approved the use of PIGOUT® bait field trials (Approval no. PER7790). The Queensland government approved the use of Welford National Park for research (Approval no. WITK02540004). Thanks go to Bob Parker and Martin Hannan-Jones at Allen Fletcher Research Station for the sodium fluoroacetate analyses. Thanks go also to Trish Holyoake from the Australian Veterinary Association Pig Group for advice on anaesthetic protocols. The development of PIGOUT® has been a collaboration between the Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre and Animal Control Technologies Australia P/L, supported by financial grants from Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd and the Australian Government National Feral Animal Control Program. Thanks go to Associate Professor Tony English for review of the manuscript. Thanks go also to three anonymous reviewers for valuable assistance in improving the manuscript for publication.


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