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

have been reduced thorough o<strong>the</strong>r techniques, usually trapping <strong>and</strong> mustering. When
animal densities are high it can be a cost-effective way to quickly reduce animal
numbers, however at lower densities <strong>the</strong> cost per animal can become prohibitive. It is
one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most effective techniques where considerable numbers <strong>of</strong> <strong>animals</strong> have to
be controlled over large expanses, <strong>and</strong> is probably one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best control techniques
for large <strong>feral</strong> herbivores in <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s.
Ground shooting is also commonly used as a means <strong>of</strong> controlling pests. It can be
time consuming <strong>and</strong> labour intensive, <strong>and</strong> injured <strong>animals</strong> cannot be easily followed
<strong>and</strong> finished <strong>of</strong>f, as can be done with aerial shooting. It is mainly <strong>of</strong> value when
species or communities <strong>of</strong> high conservation value need protecting. Ground shooting
is generally restricted to areas with easy access <strong>and</strong> is <strong>of</strong>ten undertaken
opportunistically. Recreational hunting for <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> is commonly undertaken on
private l<strong>and</strong>s with <strong>the</strong> blessing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>holder. It reduces <strong>the</strong> cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal
control, but rarely provides effective control by itself, <strong>and</strong> needs to be incorporated
into an integrated strategy. It can be particularly useful in assisting with follow-up
control, especially where localised eradication is <strong>the</strong> objective.
5.1.3 Trapping
A wide variety <strong>of</strong> traps are used to capture <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong>. This ranges from individual
leg traps, snares <strong>and</strong> cage traps up to large fenced enclosures with one-way entrances.
Steel-jawed leg traps were once commonly used to capture smaller <strong>feral</strong> <strong>animals</strong> such
as dogs, cats, foxes <strong>and</strong> rabbits. These traps are generally considered inhumane, nontarget
specific <strong>and</strong> are now banned from use in several states. A modern version
called a s<strong>of</strong>t-jaw trap is sometimes used instead. It operates in a similar manner,
having a trigger that when trodden on releases a set <strong>of</strong> jaws to hold <strong>the</strong> animal. The
s<strong>of</strong>t jaw traps do not fully close, instead holding <strong>the</strong> animal through pressure between
<strong>the</strong> rubber-lined jaws. These traps are generally not used for <strong>feral</strong> animal control in
large areas because <strong>the</strong>y are time consuming, not target-specific, expensive <strong>and</strong> rarely
have a significant <strong>impact</strong> on <strong>the</strong> <strong>feral</strong> animal population. They can play a role in
capturing difficult or wary <strong>animals</strong> in particular circumstances, such as within an
enclosed nature reserve where poison baiting cannot be implemented.
Larger fenced traps can have a more significant <strong>impact</strong> on <strong>feral</strong> animal populations.
The traps consist <strong>of</strong> an enclosed yard or cage with a one way entrance. This may be a
one-way gate or a jump-down ramp over which <strong>animals</strong> cannot escape. For <strong>feral</strong> pigs
<strong>the</strong> traps are usually baited with carcasses to lure <strong>the</strong> pigs in. In <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> herbivores,
most self-mustering traps are located around watering points where <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong> must
come to drink. Often <strong>the</strong> entrance to <strong>the</strong>se traps is left open so that <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong> can
become accustomed to <strong>the</strong> traps presence. When enough <strong>animals</strong> frequent <strong>the</strong> trap, <strong>the</strong>
one-way entrances are installed <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>animals</strong> caught. These traps are particularly
effective in <strong>the</strong> arid zones <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Rangel<strong>and</strong>s where water sources can be scarce. It is
important that <strong>animals</strong> not be contained too long within <strong>the</strong>se traps for humane
reasons. They will quickly run out <strong>of</strong> food <strong>and</strong> become stressed. The trapped <strong>animals</strong>
are shot or transported away live. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> major advantages <strong>of</strong> live <strong>feral</strong> trapping
<strong>animals</strong> is that costs from <strong>the</strong> exercise can be partially <strong>of</strong>fset through <strong>the</strong> sale <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
<strong>animals</strong>.
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