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

Feral cats
Every single person who responded to <strong>the</strong> survey believed that <strong>feral</strong> cats were having
detrimental <strong>impact</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> biodiversity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir area. Thirty-seven percent <strong>of</strong> people
thought that <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s were severe, 33% that <strong>the</strong>y were moderate in scale, <strong>and</strong> 30%
that <strong>the</strong>y were only small. The level <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> was reported to be static by 78% <strong>of</strong>
people surveyed, whilst <strong>the</strong> rest (22%) indicated that <strong>the</strong> situation was worsening.
Predation on native species was by far <strong>the</strong> most frequently (81%) reported <strong>impact</strong>
<strong>feral</strong> cats had on biodiversity. Displacement <strong>of</strong> native species (52%) was also
commonly mentioned, whilst resource competition (26%) <strong>and</strong> spreading disease
(19%) were reported to a lesser degree.
Feral cattle
Slightly more than half (55%) <strong>of</strong> those surveyed believed that <strong>feral</strong> cattle were having
a detrimental <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity in <strong>the</strong>ir area. The majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se people (42%)
indicated that <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> was low, with on a few people indicating ei<strong>the</strong>r moderate <strong>of</strong>
high <strong>impact</strong>s. Nearly all (93%) <strong>of</strong> those in areas where <strong>feral</strong> cattle were causing
problems believed <strong>the</strong> problem had not changed much in recent times. Resource
competition (40%) <strong>and</strong> habitat destruction (38%) were <strong>the</strong> most frequently reported
<strong>impact</strong>s, followed by <strong>the</strong> displacement <strong>of</strong> native species (24%) <strong>and</strong> spreading <strong>of</strong>
disease (10%).
Feral deer
Only 14% <strong>of</strong> people reported <strong>feral</strong> deer as a problem in <strong>the</strong>ir area. These people all
suggested that <strong>the</strong> biodiversity <strong>impact</strong>s were low, primarily habitat destruction (10%),
resource competition (5%) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> disease (5%), <strong>and</strong> at a relatively constant
level.
Feral goats
The level <strong>of</strong> <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity reported for <strong>feral</strong> goats varied greatly amongst
respondents. Thirty-three percent reported no significant <strong>impact</strong>s, 22% only minor
<strong>impact</strong>s, 25% moderate <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>and</strong> 20% high levels <strong>of</strong> environmental damage. The
majority <strong>of</strong> people (59%) believed that <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> <strong>impact</strong> was steady, however 32%
reported <strong>the</strong> situation as worsening <strong>and</strong> only 9% reported improvements. Habitat
destruction (60%), resource competition (50%) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> displacement <strong>of</strong> native species
(36%) were <strong>the</strong> most commonly reported environmental <strong>impact</strong>s.
Feral horses
Sixty-seven percent <strong>of</strong> people reported that <strong>feral</strong> horses were having detrimental
<strong>impact</strong>s on biodiversity in <strong>the</strong>ir region. The majority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se people believed <strong>the</strong>
<strong>impact</strong>s to be low (27%) or moderate (27%), with only 13% indicating high <strong>impact</strong>s.
All respondents believed that biodiversity problems caused by <strong>feral</strong> horses were ei<strong>the</strong>r
at a constant level (75%) or increasing (25%). Habitat destruction was <strong>the</strong> most
commonly reported <strong>impact</strong> (52%), followed by resource competition (43%) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>
displacement <strong>of</strong> native species (31%).
Feral pigs
Only respondents from <strong>the</strong> margins <strong>of</strong> arid <strong>and</strong> semi-arid regions reported <strong>feral</strong> pigs to
be having a negative <strong>impact</strong> on biodiversity in <strong>the</strong>ir area. This was consistent with <strong>the</strong>
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