Increasing the target-specificity of ERADICAT® for feral cat (Felis catus) control by encapsulating a toxicant
Cheryl A. Hetherington A , David Algar B C , Harriet Mills A and Roberta Bencini AA School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B The Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51, Wanneroo, WA 6065, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: dave.algar@de.wa.gov.au
Wildlife Research 34(6) 467-471 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR06140
Submitted: 19 October 2006 Accepted: 17 August 2007 Published: 2 November 2007
Abstract
ERADICAT®, a sausage-type meat bait, has been developed for use in managing feral cat (Felis catus) populations throughout Western Australia. However, concern about potential exposure of non-target species to bait-delivered toxicants has led to the development of a technique to more specifically target feral cats using a pellet. Research into the consumption, by cats and native animals, of toxic pellets implanted within the ERADICAT® bait has been simulated using ball bearings as a substitute pellet. Results from our work indicate that encapsulating the toxicant may pose less risk of poisoning to chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), woylies (Bettongia pencillata) and southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) as they consumed significantly fewer ball bearings (P = 0.003, <0.001, <0.001) than semi-feral cats (P = 0.07). Theoretically, a toxic pellet will not reduce the effectiveness of the ERADICAT® bait as there was no significant difference between consumption of baits and the consumption of ball bearings in feral cats (P = 0.07). Therefore, baits containing a toxic pellet have the potential to be a more selective method to control feral cats.
Acknowledgements
We thank DEC’s Science Division staff – John Angus, Mike Onus and Neil Hamilton from the Wildlife Research Centre and DEC’s Regional Services staff from Collie and Kirup who participated in the field work and provided the equipment. All experiments were approved by The University of Western Australia Animal Ethics Committee (RA/3/100/345) and the Department of Environment and Conservation Animal Ethics Committee (2004/06).
Algar, D. , and Burrows, N. D. (2004). A review of Western Shield: feral cat control research. Conservation Science Western Australia 5, 131–163.
Hutchings, S. (2003). The diet of feral house cats (Felis catus) at a regional rubbish tip, Victoria. Wildlife Research 30, 103–110.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marks, C. A. , Gigliotti, F. , Busana, F. , Johnston, M. , and Lindeman, M. (2004). Fox control using a para-aminopropriophenone formulation with the M-44 ejector. Animal Welfare (South Mimms, England) 13, 401–407.
McIlroy, J. C. (1981). The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison. II. Marsupial and eutherian carnivores. Australian Wildlife Research 8, 385–399.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Savarie, P. J. , Pan, H. P. , Hayes, D. J. , Roberts, J. D. , Dasch, G. J. , Felton, R. , and Schafer, E. W. Jr (1983). Comparative acute oral toxicity of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) in mammals and birds. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 30, 122–126.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
![](../../media/share/OpenURL_Image.gif)
Serena, M. , and Soderquist, T. (1989). Spatial organization of a riparian population of the carnivorous marsupial Dasyurus geoffroi. Journal of Zoology 219, 373–383.
![](../../media/share/OpenURL_Image.gif)
Short, J. , Turner, B. , Risbey, D. A. , and Carnamah, R. (1997). Control of feral cats for nature conservation. II. Population reduction by poisoning. Wildlife Research 24, 703–714.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
![](../../media/share/OpenURL_Image.gif)
Short, J. , Turner, B. , and Risbey, D. (2002). Control of feral cats for nature conservation. III. Trapping. Wildlife Research 29, 475–487.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
![](../../media/share/OpenURL_Image.gif)