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Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on ...

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SA – Currently cats are not widely c<strong>on</strong>trolled in SA due to a lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> suitable<br />

techniques. In some regi<strong>on</strong>s such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Western Mining Roxby recovery area,<br />

vermin pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fencing has been erected to exclude cats from <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> rehabilitati<strong>on</strong><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> area. Priority for efforts is currently given to areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> high<br />

c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> value such as <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Gamm<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> Flinders Ranges. In <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>se areas<br />

trapping <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> shooting are utilised. Baiting for cats is also being trialled.<br />

WA – A new bait is being developed that is palatable to cats in most cases. Trials<br />

have shown a bait uptake <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> approximately 80% when rabbit densities are low.<br />

The toxin to be used has yet to be decided. Predator-pro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> fencing has been used<br />

to effectively keep <str<strong>on</strong>g>feral</str<strong>on</strong>g> cats out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> several c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> reserves.<br />

Management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>feral</str<strong>on</strong>g> cats in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rangel<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s<br />

Management <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>feral</str<strong>on</strong>g> cats in <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> Rangel<str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g>s with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> current suite <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> available<br />

techniques is best targeted towards <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> protecti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> species <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> high<br />

c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> value. An integrated approach using exclusi<strong>on</strong> fencing surrounded by a<br />

buffer z<strong>on</strong>e maintained through trapping, shooting <str<strong>on</strong>g>and</str<strong>on</strong>g> tracking <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> individuals should<br />

prove effective around c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> areas. Effective populati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol over large<br />

areas will <strong>on</strong>ly be possible with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a toxin or bioc<strong>on</strong>trol for cats<br />

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