Bait uptake by free living brush-tailed phascogales Phascogale tapoatafa and other non-target mammals during simulated buried fox baiting.

Abstract

Field trials were undertaken in box-ironbark woodland at Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA) in central Victoria between January 2000 and April 2001 to assess bait uptake by the brushtailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and other small mammals during simulated fox baiting exercises. The systemic marker Rhodamine B was used in non-toxic fox baits (Foxoff®) to detect non-target bait consumption. The trials demonstrated that free-living brush-tailed phascogales, yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were capable of accessing non-toxic fox baits buried under 10 cm of sand. Rhodamine B markings were detected in six (15%) of 40 P. tapoatafa captured during the study period. The implications of these results and future research needs are discussed.