Control of Bennett's and Tammar Wallabies in New Zealand Using Compound 1080 Gel on Foliage Baits.

Abstract

Trials were carried out against Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus) and tammar wallabies (M. eugenii) in areas of indigenous forest where browsing is preventing or damaging regeneration. Compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) in a carbopol gel was spread on the foliage of palatable plants. Numbers of Bennett's wallabies were reduced by 91% and tammar wallabies by 87%. These kill estimates compare favourably with those achieved using aerially sown baits. The costs per hectare of gel poisoning were estimated to be as little as 40% of those for aerial baiting, but the costs of using gel will increase as the control areas become larger, more rugged, and less easily traversed on foot.