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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

5.9 Management <strong>of</strong> foxes Eradication <strong>of</strong> foxes is not currently considered a viable proposition for mainl<strong>and</strong> Australia due to <strong>the</strong>ir population size <strong>and</strong> expansive range. A variety <strong>of</strong> fox control techniques are used including trapping, shooting, poisoning, den fumigation, exclusion fencing <strong>and</strong> changed farming practices. The most effective measures for conservation <strong>and</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> endangered species are poison baiting <strong>and</strong> exclusion fencing. The effectiveness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se can be greatly enhanced by developing buffer zones <strong>of</strong> up to 20 kilometres where foxes are held at a low density to decrease <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> inward migration rapidly replacing foxes killed (Saunders et al. 1995). Bounty systems The payment <strong>of</strong> a bounty or bonus upon presenting pro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> destruction <strong>of</strong> a pest animal has been frequently used against foxes (Rolls 1969, Whitehouse 1977, Lloyd 1980). These bounty systems have been shown to be an ineffective form <strong>of</strong> control <strong>and</strong> provide no long-term relief from fox <strong>impact</strong>s (Smith 1990, Braysher 1993, Saunders et al. 1995). Where private l<strong>and</strong> adjoins or contains important wildlife habitat, assistance or encouragement to l<strong>and</strong>holders <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> incentives to promote fox control on private l<strong>and</strong> may be appropriate, especially if <strong>the</strong> property forms part <strong>of</strong> a buffer zone to protect threatened species populations. This should be achieved through incentives such as resources to assist with control, ra<strong>the</strong>r than provision <strong>of</strong> bounties. Poison baiting In most situations, poison baiting is <strong>the</strong> most effective method <strong>of</strong> reducing fox numbers <strong>and</strong> <strong>impact</strong>, although a major drawback is that it may affect native carnivores <strong>and</strong> scavengers <strong>and</strong> also domestic pets. The benefits <strong>of</strong> this control method are confined to <strong>the</strong> baited area <strong>and</strong>, unless some barrier prevents reinvasion, last only for as long as baiting is regularly applied. A variety <strong>of</strong> toxins <strong>and</strong> bait types have been used, however only 1080 <strong>and</strong> strychnine are registered for fox control in Australia. 1080 is now <strong>the</strong> only widely recommended poison for fox control <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> strychnine is being phased out. A variety <strong>of</strong> baits are used to deliver poison to foxes, including injected eggs, dried meat baits, fresh meat, <strong>and</strong> commercial products (eg Fox<strong>of</strong>f baits). However meat is <strong>the</strong> primary bait used to deliver poisons to foxes. It is very palatable to foxes, easily obtained <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>led, <strong>and</strong> is relatively target-specific, being attractive only to a limited number <strong>of</strong> carnivores <strong>and</strong> omnivores. Targetspecificity can be fur<strong>the</strong>r enhanced by <strong>the</strong> manipulation <strong>of</strong> size <strong>and</strong> by drying. Tests have shown that smaller carnivorous marsupials <strong>and</strong> scavenging birds such as ravens, cannot consume dried meat baits as <strong>the</strong>y are too tough <strong>and</strong> stringy (Calver et al. 1989). However, <strong>the</strong> assumption that dried baits maintain <strong>the</strong>ir consistency in <strong>the</strong> field, <strong>and</strong> hence <strong>the</strong>ir target-specificity, has not been demonstrated in <strong>the</strong> higher rainfall areas <strong>of</strong> south-eastern Australia. Surface application <strong>of</strong> manufactured or fresh meat baits, which are equally or more attractive than dried meat baits, may put nontargets at risk because <strong>the</strong>y can be readily ingested. Dried meat is <strong>the</strong> preferred bait material in Western Australia especially for aerial application where native fauna have a tolerance to 1080. Manufactured baits, such as Fox<strong>of</strong>f, are now used extensively throughout south-eastern Australia. They can be easily distributed, stored on <strong>the</strong> shelf until required, have accurate amounts <strong>of</strong> poison <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> potential to include 118
attractants, such as Feralmone, to increase bait uptake. The disadvantage <strong>of</strong> manufactured baits is that <strong>the</strong>y tend to be deployed in a less coordinated manner due to <strong>the</strong> ease <strong>of</strong> deployment <strong>and</strong> storage. Establishing area specific baiting protocols for foxes can minimise <strong>impact</strong>s on nontarget species. Saunders etal. (1995) discuss methods for minimising <strong>the</strong> risk to nontarget species including: making <strong>the</strong> bait too big for smaller <strong>animals</strong> to swallow <strong>and</strong> too tough for <strong>the</strong>m to tear apart; burying baits to make <strong>the</strong>m inaccessible; minimising <strong>the</strong> dose <strong>of</strong> poison in each bait; <strong>and</strong> conducting surveys to detect <strong>animals</strong> which may be at high risk <strong>and</strong> avoiding baiting near <strong>the</strong>m. These increase <strong>the</strong> labour costs, but <strong>the</strong>se extra costs can be <strong>of</strong>fset to some extent by using fewer baits <strong>and</strong> ensuring greater target-specificity (Allen et al. 1989). Baits should be prepared <strong>and</strong> deployed in accordance with <strong>the</strong> St<strong>and</strong>ard Operating Procedures <strong>and</strong> Codes <strong>of</strong> Practice recently developed by DEH (Sharp & Saunders 2004). 1080 Poisoning using 1080 is <strong>the</strong> most suitable lethal technique for foxes. It can be readily applied to a wide variety <strong>of</strong> baits by authorised personnel <strong>and</strong> has <strong>the</strong> potential for minimal non-target poisoning (Section 4.1.1) in certain areas, allowing for its use in aerially delivered baits. In Western Australia, dried 1080 meat baits have been shown to be very effective for fox control over large areas. In New South Wales <strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> 1080 baits distributed for fox control rose dramatically from approximately 2000 in 1980 to over 300 000 in 1994. Similarly, in Queensl<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> 1080 baits has also increased tenfold from 1999 to 2004 (K. Strong, QDNR&M pers. comm.). Cyanide Cyanide was once commonly used to kill foxes for <strong>the</strong> fur trade in Australia. The rapid action <strong>of</strong> cyanide ensured that <strong>the</strong> carcass was found close to <strong>the</strong> bait point for easy retrieval <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pelt (Lugton 1987). The use <strong>of</strong> cyanide baits is now illegal in Australia <strong>and</strong> can only be used as a research or <strong>management</strong> tool by government agencies. Cyanide capsules are currently being re-evaluated for use as a toxin in new delivery systems; however <strong>the</strong> work is still at <strong>the</strong> experimental stage. New poisons Research is being undertaken to identify <strong>and</strong> register new, more target-specific <strong>and</strong> humane toxins for foxes. Australian Wool Innovation Ltd, Pestat Ltd <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pest Animal Control Cooperative Research Centre are working toge<strong>the</strong>r to develop additional chemical agents for use in lethal baiting <strong>of</strong> foxes. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chemicals under investigation is faster acting <strong>and</strong> more selective in its toxicity than 1080. Availability <strong>and</strong> adoption <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new chemical is expected to increase <strong>the</strong> efficiency with which fox control can be implemented in Australia <strong>and</strong> decrease non-target <strong>impact</strong>s. Aerial baiting Aerial baiting <strong>of</strong> foxes with 1080 has been demonstrated to be an effective method <strong>of</strong> control for covering large areas provided <strong>the</strong> risk <strong>of</strong> non-target bait uptake is minimal. Currently Western Australia is <strong>the</strong> only state that uses aircraft to lay bait for fox control. In Western Australia, fox-baiting programs over large areas (up to three million hectares) have been shown to dramatically reduce fox numbers, to allow populations <strong>of</strong> rare species to increase <strong>and</strong> have minimal <strong>impact</strong> on non-target species (Saunders et al. 1995). This is largely due to <strong>the</strong> native fauna having a higher resistance to <strong>the</strong> naturally occurring 1080 poison found in native plants. Aircraft 119
Page 1:
Review of<
Page 4 and 5:
Contributors Andrew Norris Pest Ani
Page 6 and 7:
3.7.36 Common Myna (Acridot
Page 8 and 9:
Table of figures F
Page 10 and 11:
Section 2 Introduction Feral <stron
Page 12 and 13:
Amanda Dimmock, QD
Page 14 and 15:
Section 3 A status review o
Page 16 and 17:
3.4 Birds Thirteen (or 14) species
Page 18 and 19:
Information on the
Page 20 and 21:
Summary A rodent that contributes t
Page 22 and 23:
Dingoes can become a threat to wild
Page 24 and 25:
The significance of</strong
Page 26 and 27:
macropods and b<st
Page 28 and 29:
^Lasiorhinus krefftii North
Page 30 and 31:
Perceived threat Geopsittacus occid
Page 32 and 33:
conservation areas. It is less clea
Page 34 and 35:
Table 8 Rare species found in <stro
Page 36 and 37:
Competition Several examples are re
Page 38 and 39:
In truth, camels do substantial dam
Page 40 and 41:
the Tanami. Buffal
Page 42 and 43:
The situation today Buffalo numbers
Page 44 and 45:
qualify under IUCN criteria as enda
Page 46 and 47:
3.7.16 Goat (Capra hircus) Summary
Page 48 and 49:
Drakonorchis drakeoides Hinged Drag
Page 50 and 51:
3.7.19 Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Su
Page 52 and 53:
Impacts Much is known about <strong
Page 54 and 55:
Distribution Ostriches have won <st
Page 56 and 57:
nest in tree hollows along
Page 58 and 59:
Distribution The skylark is found i
Page 60 and 61:
Distribution The blackbird is wides
Page 62 and 63:
Land, and<
Page 64 and 65:
have been translocated to o
Page 66 and 67:
esources. Significant investment in
Page 68 and 69:
many native species (Clarke et al.
Page 70 and 71:
spread across the
Page 72 and 73:
Section 4 Legislative framework 4.1
Page 74 and 75:
protection, as long as it falls wit
Page 76 and 77: Native Vegetation Conservation Act
Page 78 and 79: ehabilitate existing native vegetat
Page 80 and 81: suppression, which is the</
Page 82 and 83: al. 1986, 1987). The use of
Page 84 and 85: 5.1.4 Mustering Commercial musterin
Page 86 and 87: etal. (1997) found that many native
Page 88 and 89: the vaccine <stron
Page 90 and 91: Where possible, integration <strong
Page 92 and 93: strategy, relative cost-effectivene
Page 94 and 95: Fencing Feral buffalo have a reputa
Page 96 and 97: 5.3 Management of
Page 98 and 99: Summary of <strong
Page 100 and 101: time comes for the
Page 104 and 105: Individual tracking Tracking is a l
Page 106 and 107: SA - Currently cats are not widely
Page 108 and 109: Method of control
Page 110 and 111: Aerial shooting Aerial shooting can
Page 114 and 115: 80% of export was
Page 116 and 117: ensuring effective treatment <stron
Page 118 and 119: the lower cost, wi
Page 122 and 123: conservation value rathe</s
Page 124 and 125: effort on the cont
Page 128 and 129: follow transect lines, one kilometr
Page 130 and 131: as a refuge from predators. Removal
Page 134 and 135: was completed it was the</s
Page 136 and 137: warren structure amenable to recolo
Page 138 and 139: Poisons Traditionally, strychnine,
Page 140 and 141: infected and steri
Page 142 and 143: of high priority.
Page 144 and 145: Method of control
Page 148 and 149: technique can allow for cost-effect
Page 152 and 153: In South Australia, between 30 <str
Page 156 and 157: % respondents 100% 90% 80% 70% 60%
Page 158 and 159: a) b) Figure 3. a) Extent o
Page 160 and 161: Figure 4 Response frequency for lik
Page 162 and 163: distribution of <s
Page 164 and 165: Section 7 Key problems and<
Page 166 and 167: • Goats degrading temperate woodl
Page 168 and 169: conservation problems in Europe <st
Page 170 and 171: message that camels are a valuable
Page 172 and 173: In the Koolatong R
Page 174 and 175: environmental degradation’ (Nor<s
Page 176 and 177:
ecause dingo and d
Page 178 and 179:
Various control methods have been a
Page 180 and 181:
Pascale Taplin, an Indigenous L<str
Page 182 and 183:
Lack of a Strategi
Page 184 and 185:
eradicated after seeing the
Page 186 and 187:
In some situations, payment <strong
Page 188 and 189:
could have led to better protocols
Page 190 and 191:
Game hunting is a growing business,
Page 192 and 193:
Much as we might like it, t
Page 194 and 195:
conservation outcome. In such a sit
Page 196 and 197:
community consultation and<
Page 198 and 199:
• Have the non-t
Page 200 and 201:
provide opportunities for strategic
Page 202 and 203:
Section 9 Priorities for investment
Page 204 and 205:
contacted for exact locations <stro
Page 206 and 207:
way. Achilles heel research should
Page 208 and 209:
efficient in any given situation. R
Page 210 and 211:
west Queensland re
Page 212 and 213:
Crossland, MR, 199
Page 214 and 215:
Forsyth, DM, and P
Page 216 and 217:
Lange, RT, and Gra
Page 218 and 219:
Morgan, LA and But
Page 220 and 221:
Parkes, JP, 1990, Feral goat contro
Page 222 and 223:
Van Rensberg, PJJ, Skinner, JD, <st
Page 224 and 225:
Appendix A Ferals animals</
Page 226 and 227:
Indigenous lands I
Page 228 and 229:
Appendix B Stakeholder survey form
Page 230 and 231:
222
Page 232 and 233:
224
Page 234 and 235:
226
Page 236 and 237:
Appendix C Database on past NHT fun
Page 238 and 239:
Lachlan Rehabilitation of</
Page 240 and 241:
Northern Territory
Page 242 and 243:
Cape York Ambiilmungu-Ngarra tradit
Page 244 and 245:
Wet Tropics Expansion and</
Page 246 and 247:
Avon Protecting and</strong
show all

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?