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

way. Achilles heel research should be a priority because it can enhance <strong>the</strong>
effectiveness <strong>of</strong> current <strong>feral</strong> animal control techniques, minimize <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se
techniques on biodiversity, <strong>and</strong> potentially provide a high return on investment. It
may also allow for currently restricted control techniques to be applied over broader
scales, such as <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a canid specific toxin that would allow aerial
baiting to occur in areas where native species are not tolerant to 1080, <strong>and</strong>
conventional 1080 aerial baiting cannot occur.
Humaneness
The RSPCA believes that it is unfortunate that most control techniques do not achieve
a humane death (Jones 2003). To remedy this, <strong>the</strong>y propose that a priority research
<strong>and</strong> development area in government <strong>management</strong> programs should be development
<strong>of</strong> humane alternatives. The RSPCA stance is for non-lethal control unless suitable
techniques are not available, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>y strongly advocate fertility control <strong>of</strong> wild
populations (Jones 2003). A priority area for investment is <strong>the</strong> assessment <strong>of</strong>
integrated <strong>feral</strong> animal control techniques based on <strong>the</strong> most humane techniques. The
SOPs <strong>and</strong> COPs being developed by Sharp & Saunders (2004) provide a good starting
point, but <strong>the</strong>se need to be extended fur<strong>the</strong>r to include integrated control practices.
Broad-scale control <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal populations
Effective broad-scale <strong>feral</strong> animal control methods will allow <strong>feral</strong> animal populations
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>impact</strong>s to be controlled over large <strong>management</strong> units. Research is needed to
develop broad-scale control methods for many <strong>feral</strong> animal species. The application
<strong>of</strong> an effective <strong>and</strong> broad-scale means <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control to areas <strong>of</strong> high
conservation <strong>impact</strong> is potentially <strong>the</strong> greatest means <strong>of</strong> controlling <strong>feral</strong> animal
<strong>impact</strong>s on <strong>the</strong> environment. Currently aerial shooting is <strong>the</strong> only effective means <strong>of</strong>
broad-scale control <strong>of</strong> many <strong>feral</strong> species on conservation estates, particularly in
remote or inaccessible locations. Ground baiting <strong>and</strong> trapping may allow broad-scale
control over areas where road access occurs. Aerial baiting is potentially an
alternative means <strong>of</strong> delivering effective <strong>feral</strong> animal control if it can be made more
target-specific.
Integrated <strong>management</strong>
The use <strong>of</strong> multiple <strong>and</strong> integrated control methods has been advocated to increase <strong>the</strong>
efficacy <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal control operations. However, <strong>the</strong>re are many different
combinations <strong>of</strong> control methods <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se methods can be applied at varying
intensities <strong>and</strong> in different orders. In many scenarios, it is unknown which
combinations <strong>of</strong> methods <strong>and</strong> efforts will produce <strong>the</strong> greatest conservation outcomes
in <strong>the</strong> most effective way. The optimal combinations will vary across species, space
<strong>and</strong> time, <strong>and</strong> will depend on <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> that <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> are causing at different
densities. However, research may reveal how best to apply integrated control
programs. Research should be pursued to investigate how multiple control methods
should be effectively applied during control operations to most effectively reduce
<strong>impact</strong>s <strong>and</strong> maximise conservation benefits whilst minimising control costs. It must
be remembered that <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> do not ‘respect’ property <strong>and</strong> jurisdictional
boundaries <strong>and</strong> control needs to be implemented across entire <strong>feral</strong> animal
populations where possible. A priority should be to develop mechanisms to improve
<strong>the</strong> coordination <strong>of</strong> pest animal <strong>management</strong> programs across all relevant l<strong>and</strong> tenures
<strong>and</strong> interest groups.
Strategic control
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