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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Contents Vol 51(9)

Feral cat control: improving Eradicat® bait efficiency and effectiveness for fauna conservation in the Southern Jarrah Forest, Western Australia

Adrian F. Wayne https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3102-4617 A * , Marika A. Maxwell A , Colin G. Ward A and Jodie Quinn A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, WA 6258, Australia.

* Correspondence to: adrian.wayne@dbca.wa.gov.au

Handling Editor: Penny Fisher

Wildlife Research 51, WR24073 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR24073
Submitted: 9 May 2024  Accepted: 29 July 2024  Published: 22 August 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Toxic meat baits are the most effective broadscale method used for reducing the densities and impacts of feral cats (Felis catus) on vulnerable Australian native fauna when alternative prey is minimal.

Aims

Our aim was to assess the efficiency (proportion of baits removed by target animals) and effectiveness (proportion of target animals removed) of Eradicat® baits and to identify how their use may be improved in Southern Jarrah Forest ecosystems of Western Australia. We sought to determine how, when, and where best to deploy baits using the current Eradicat® bait prescriptions to maximise the reduction of feral cats.

Methods

Eradicat® uptake trials were conducted over a 15-month period using remote sensor cameras (RSCs) to observe animals interacting with the baits at 40 sites. Ten successive baiting trials were conducted, each involving four randomly selected sites (two replicates for each of two bait deployment methods: clusters and transects).

Key results

The fate of 5658 Eradicat® baits at 2000 bait locations was recorded during 54,361 camera trap nights. Despite occupancy rates being high for cat and fox (Vulpes vulpes), (92% and 84%, respectively), the efficiency and effectiveness of Eradicat® baits was low for both introduced predators (cat: 0.1% and 10–12%, respectively; and fox: <0.6% and 8–20%, respectively). There were no major differences in baiting efficiency in relation to bait deployment method or time of year. More than half (56–58%) of the baits were removed by non-target animals prior to an introduced predator being observed on camera at the bait location. Along transects, there were more cat and fox visits closer to tracks and surface water features. Foxes were also more likely to visit bait locations closer to private property. Younger cats appeared to be more interested and more likely to eat a bait than older cats.

Conclusions

Substantial improvements could be made by increasing bait availability (reducing non-target interference), detectability and attractiveness to cats.

Implications

Additional introduced predator threat abatement methods may be needed for the conservation and recovery of many threatened native mammals in the Southern Jarrah Forests and elsewhere in Australia. Feral cat baiting should be conducted within an integrated and holistic invasive animal management system.

Keywords: 1080, bait, control, feral cat, introduced predator, invasive species, sodium fluoroacetate, threatened species.

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