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Response of feral cats to a track-based baiting programme using Eradicat baits

journal contribution
posted on 2015-05-01, 00:00 authored by Tim DohertyTim Doherty, D Algar
The feral Cat (Felis catus) is a significant threat to Australian fauna, and
reducing their impacts is considered an essential action for threatened species conservation. Poison baiting is increasingly being used for the broad scale control of feral cats. In this study, we measured the population response of feral cats to a track-based baiting programme
using Eradicat baits in the semi-arid northern wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Over two years, 1500 baits were laid once annually and the response of feral cats was measured using remote cameras in a before–after, control–impact design. There was a significant reduction in feral cat activity in the second year, but not the first. During bait uptake
trials, corvids removed the most number of baits, followed by cats and varanids. The lack of a response to baiting in the first year may be due to existing low cat numbers in the baited area and/or the timing of the baiting. We provide a list of key recommendations to help inform future cat baiting programmes and research.

History

Journal

Ecological management & restoration

Volume

16

Issue

2

Pagination

124 - 130

Publisher

Wiley

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

1442-7001

eISSN

1839-3330

Language

eng.

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2015, Ecological Society of Australia and Wiley Publishing Asia