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

fox baiting could lead to an increase in <strong>feral</strong> cats, which may prove more harmful to
overall biodiversity than foxes <strong>and</strong> dingoes (which are poisoned by fox baits, <strong>and</strong>
which suppress cat numbers). Joe Benshemesh (pers. comm.), who wrote <strong>the</strong> recovery
plan for malleefowl, is also concerned that fox predation may be overrated. He does
not question that foxes take many young malleefowl, but mortality among young
malleefowl is naturally high, with most recruitment occurring in wet years. He says
<strong>the</strong>re is very little evidence to show that baiting for foxes has brought about any
benefit for malleefowl.
In o<strong>the</strong>r examples, bilbies appear to be strongly threatened by foxes in temperate
Australia, but in <strong>the</strong> Gibson <strong>and</strong> S<strong>and</strong>y Deserts, Bilbies are doing well, despite
substantial populations <strong>of</strong> foxes <strong>and</strong> cats (C. O’Malley pers. comm.). Cats appear to
threaten Julia Creek dunnarts at some localities but not o<strong>the</strong>rs.
General statements about threats appearing in books or on websites should not be
taken as <strong>the</strong> sole basis for action. Managers should instead be asking <strong>the</strong> question:
‘Can we confidently say that pest X poses a threat to species Y in this particular
location?’ The expertise <strong>of</strong> local biodiversity managers should be sought. Where this
information is unavailable, <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> plan will most likely be based on ‘best
bet’ ra<strong>the</strong>r than ‘best practice’, <strong>and</strong> is likely to be less effective. Often <strong>the</strong>re is a
considerable risk involved in deciding <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> resources that should be invested.
The alternative risk is that no <strong>management</strong> is undertaken <strong>and</strong> biodiversity values are
lost.
• What is <strong>the</strong> scale <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>s in comparison to o<strong>the</strong>r influences on
biodiversity in <strong>the</strong> region?
The scale <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>impact</strong>s in comparison to o<strong>the</strong>r negative influences on
biodiversity in <strong>the</strong> region will determine <strong>the</strong> priority <strong>of</strong> a <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong>
plan within a region. If <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> are having an <strong>impact</strong> but it is significantly less
than that inflicted by weeds, pollution, salinity or any o<strong>the</strong>r anthropogenic activity
<strong>the</strong>n resources may be better invested in controlling <strong>the</strong> activity having <strong>the</strong> greatest
<strong>impact</strong>. For example, <strong>the</strong>re would be little point in controlling <strong>feral</strong> predators in
remnant vegetation if l<strong>and</strong>-clearing practices will soon clear that area. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r
h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>feral</strong> animal control is sometimes necessary to meet o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>management</strong> goals.
Feral <strong>animals</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten promote <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> weeds, both by disturbing <strong>the</strong> soil <strong>and</strong> by
carrying <strong>the</strong>ir seeds, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> may become a necessary
component <strong>of</strong> a weed control program. Feral animal control may also contribute to <strong>the</strong>
goals <strong>of</strong> improving water quality <strong>and</strong> halting soil erosion.
• What is <strong>the</strong> area to be managed <strong>and</strong> who are <strong>the</strong> stakeholders affected by <strong>the</strong>
<strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>?
Determining <strong>the</strong> distribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> in <strong>the</strong> region allows <strong>the</strong> area for control
to be established. This is best achieved by mapping pest distribution <strong>and</strong> problem
areas. It is also essential to identify <strong>and</strong> involve from <strong>the</strong> beginning, all stakeholders
who are <strong>impact</strong>ed by <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> <strong>and</strong> all who may be <strong>impact</strong>ed or involved with <strong>the</strong>
implementation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>management</strong> plan. Cooperation is vital for any broad-scale
<strong>management</strong> plan to be effective <strong>and</strong> by including all concerned parties from <strong>the</strong>
beginning, ownership <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> problem <strong>and</strong> commitment to a solution is likely to be
more forthcoming.
• Are <strong>the</strong> control efforts coordinated over <strong>the</strong> <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>’ distribution?
Implementing a coordinated ‘nil-tenure’ approach to <strong>feral</strong> animal <strong>management</strong>
provides for <strong>the</strong> highest chance <strong>of</strong> success. This can only be achieved through
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