Field assessment of the risk of feral cat baits to nontarget species in eastern Australia

Fancourt, Bronwyn A.; Zirbel, Christine; Cremasco, Peter; Elsworth, Peter; Harry, Glen; Gentle, Matthew

doi:10.1002/ieam.4445

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 51 publications

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“…Legislative requirements, bait efficacy and megaregion may therefore influence our results, underscoring the need for further research on aerial baiting efficacy under different management scenarios to provide optimal guidance for program design. Indeed, in some megaregions, there is little research into the efficacy of different baits; for example, very little research on baiting efficacy in the 'grasslands' megaregion exists in the literature (but see Fancourt et al 2022).…”

Section: Efficacy Of Control Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and emerging feral cat management practices in Australia

Dorph,

Ballard,

Legge

et al. 2024

Wildlife Res.

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Context Feral cats are responsible for the decline and extinction of species globally. Predation by feral cats is identified in Australian legislation as a key threatening process. However, clear guidance to local land managers on feral cat management techniques and their impacts, limitations and potential costs can be difficult to find. Aims In this study, feral cat management experts from around Australia identified available management techniques and their average environmental, social, and economic impact for different ecoregions and land-use types. Methods We convened a 1-day structured elicitation workshop with 19 experts and five facilitators. Experts identified the techniques used for feral cat management; the effectiveness, impact, and cost of each method; and the key knowledge gaps associated with feral cat management. Facilitators aided in the design and format of the workshop, led the discussion at each stage and collated the results. Key results Experts identified the following 10 techniques currently used in Australia: aerial baiting; ground baiting; leghold trapping; cage trapping; shooting; tracking with detector dogs; tracking by Indigenous Rangers; habitat modification; resource modification; and exclusion fencing. In general, experts highlighted that permits, legislation and scale of application constrained many of these techniques. Aerial baiting was considered the most effective technique for reducing feral cat populations in natural and production systems. Cage trapping, shooting, or tracking with detector dogs were considered more effective in residential areas. For all techniques, efficacy estimates varied according to the following three broad vegetation structural regions: (1) deserts and xeric shrublands; (2) forests and woodlands; and (3) grasslands, savannas and shrublands. Techniques considered to have the lowest social tolerance and highest impact to non-target native species included aerial baiting, ground baiting and leghold trapping. Techniques considered to have high social tolerance and low impact on non-target species included tracking by Rangers, tracking with detector dogs, and habitat and resource modification. Conclusions Estimates of management action efficacy differ among land-use types and at least three vegetation structural regions. However, social licence, logistic and legislative constraints are the key drivers of the availability of methods for these areas. Implications Feral cat management programs should consider how program strategy can be prioritised on the basis of technique availability, region of use and expected impact.

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Section: Efficacy Of Control Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current and emerging feral cat management practices in Australia

Dorph,

Ballard,

Legge

et al. 2024

Wildlife Res.

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Efficacy and safety of Eradicat® feral cat baits in eastern Australia: population impacts of baiting programmes on feral cats and non-target mammals and birds

Fancourt

Harry²,

Speed³

et al. 2021

J Pest Sci

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Advancing spatial analysis of invasive species movement data to improve monitoring, control programs and decision making: feral cat home range as a case study

Wilson,

Gentle,

Fancourt

2024

Pacific Conserv. Biol.

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Context Many invasive animals are typically active across large areas, making monitoring and control programs expensive. To be efficacious, monitoring devices and control tools need to be strategically located to maximise the probability of encounter. This requires an understanding of how the target species uses the landscape, through identifying key habitat or landscape features that are preferred and used disproportionately more frequently by the species. Spatial analysis of animal movements can help identify high use areas. Aims The variability introduced by different range calculation methods can lead to uncertainty in subsequent habitat analyses. We aimed to determine which method is superior for accurate delineation of core areas for feral cats. Methods We analysed spatial data from 35 collared feral cats across four Australian study sites between 2016 and 2019, and compared the core areas generated using seven commonly used home range estimation methods. Key results We found that the α-hull method provided a higher precision of polygon placement, resulting in lower Type I and II errors and higher conformity to landscape features than other methods. The α-hull used a single default parameter and required no subjective input, making it a more objective, superior method. Conclusions We recommend that the α-hull method be used to define core activity areas for feral cats, enabling more robust habitat analysis, and identification of key habitat and landscape features to strategically target for monitoring and control programs. Implications This strategic approach could significantly improve cost efficiencies, particularly where existing management is widely dispersed, and core activity areas are clumped.

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Field assessment of the risk of feral cat baits to nontarget species in eastern Australia

Cited by 4 publications

References 51 publications

Current and emerging feral cat management practices in Australia

Current and emerging feral cat management practices in Australia

Efficacy and safety of Eradicat® feral cat baits in eastern Australia: population impacts of baiting programmes on feral cats and non-target mammals and birds

Advancing spatial analysis of invasive species movement data to improve monitoring, control programs and decision making: feral cat home range as a case study

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