Observations Of The Behaviour Of Free Living Bush Rat, Rattus Fuscipes And Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon Obesulus At Buried Bait Stations

Abstract

EXCAVATION and burying of food items is a common behaviour in canids (Saunders et al. 1999). In Victoria burial of poisonous meat baits (containing 1080) to a depth of 8 - 10 cm for red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and wild dog (Canis lupus spp.) control is a standard practice (Saunders et al. 1995; Bloomfield 1999) and is thought to provide some protection to non–target native species (Allen et al. 1989; Staples and McPhee 1995). However, black rats (Rattus rattus) have been recorded taking Foxoff¿ baits buried at a depth of 10cm (Dexter and Meek 1998) and anecdotal evidence indicates that native rodents will occasionally excavate and consume buried meat baits although the frequency of this behaviour is not known (H. Brunner pers. comm.).