Monitoring and detection of feral cats on Auckland Island

Glen, Alistair S.; Sagar, Rachael; Brav-Cubitt, Talia; Jacques, Paul F.

doi:10.20417/nzjecol.46.3494

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Research from the Pilbara region found that the probability of detecting a feral cat with a camera trap and a food lure was less than 40% after 10 days whereas the probability rose to above 75% if the camera remained in place for 30 days (Moore et al, 2020). Before-after-control-impact (BACI) experimental designs should carefully consider the implications of survey duration and any aversive stimuli that might be created by cameras (Glen et al, 2022) on potential results (Comer et al, 2018). We might have detected more feral cats after baiting on Matuwa because any aversive stimuli that had been created with the establishment of the cameras declined over time and hence the second application of lures to the cameras was more attractive to any cats remaining in the vicinity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lures change the detectability of feral cats on the arid landscape

Lohr,

Nilsson,

Johnson

et al. 2023

Biol Invasions

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Feral cats (Felis catus) are di cult to manage and harder to detect. For 20 years, we have been using an annual aerial baiting program to suppress feral cat numbers on the Matuwa National Park in Western Australia. The e cacy of this management is monitored via pre-bait and post-bait surveys of feral cat activity on sandy tracks, and at least 120 camera-traps. In 2021, we detected cats on only ve occasions, despite using 130 camera-traps with an olfactory lure known as Catastrophic. In this study, we measured the detectability of feral cats at three camera-traps arrangements on Matuwa: passive cameras (n = 57), camera with the Catastrophic lure (n = 120), and cameras with a Magnum Scrape-Dripper ® (n = 63) dispersing cat urine. All 120 sites had two cameras, one with Catastrophic for comparison with data from prior surveys, plus a camera that was either passive or had a dripper. Camera-traps were active for an average of 57 days (range 55-60 days). Cats were detected by cameras with drippers 29 times more than passive cameras and six times more than Catastrophic cameras. Further, cats spent on average 2.6 seconds in front of passive cameras, 8.5 seconds in front of Catastrophic cameras, and 65.5 seconds in front of drippers. The ability to detect feral cats affects the magnitude and accuracy of abundance or occupancy estimates for cats. Therefore, our research highlights a severe weakness in current feral cat survey methodologies and any management decisions derived from that data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lures change the detectability of feral cats on the arid landscape

Lohr,

Nilsson,

Johnson

et al. 2023

Biol Invasions

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“…Footprint counts are commonly used as an index of relative abundance for feral cats. These can be obtained using tracking tunnels (Pickerell et al 2014;Glen et al 2019), plots of smoothed sand or soil (Catling & Burt 1994;Mahon et al 1998;Claridge et al 2010), or by searching for footprints in the natural substrate (Edwards et al 2000;Pickerell et al 2014). Lohr and Algar (2020) found that camera traps provided more reliable data than footprint counts.…”

Section: Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of cats in Aotearoa New Zealand: a review of current knowledge and research needs

Glen,

Edwards,

Finlay-Smits

et al. 2023

NZJE

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Cats (Felis catus) are among the most damaging invasive predators in the world, and their impacts in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) are particularly severe. However, unlike the invasive predators that are targeted for eradication under the Predator Free NZ initiative, cats are also highly valued by people and therefore will likely remain widespread in NZ for the foreseeable future. This raises the question of how to manage the impacts of cats, which include predation, competition, and disease affecting native species, livestock, and humans. Appropriate management actions will depend on land use (e.g. urban areas vs wilderness), the values to be protected (e.g. wildlife, human health), as well as safety, humaneness, social acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. We review current knowledge on the impacts and management of cats in NZ and overseas, identify knowledge gaps preventing effective management, and suggest approaches for research to address these gaps. Our suggested research priorities include: (1) improved methods for monitoring cats and their impacts on natural, social and economic values, (2) development of humane, effective, and socially acceptable methods to manage the impacts of cats, (3) engagement with cat owners to improve outcomes for cats, people, and the environment, and (4) investigating potential indirect ecological effects of cat control, such as ecological release of prey or competitors.

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“…This project is the first time that the eradication of all three mammals has been proposed in one logistical operation. Each of pigs, cats, and mice present unique challenges for At the same time as pig eradication was first being actively pursued, cat eradication was also first being proposed, and research on cat diet found they mostly ate land birds, but also relied on mice (Harper 2010a). Knowledge on the home range, habitat use and population density of feral cats on Auckland Island was also identified as important for progressing eradication feasibility planning (Rodríguez-Recio et al 2022), along with research on feral cat monitoring and detectability (Glen et al 2022a, b) and bait palatability (Cox et al 2022b).…”

Section: Pest Free Auckland Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Restoration of New Zealand subantarctic islands

Russell¹,

Horn²,

Broome³

2022

NZJE

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New Zealand manages five island groups in the Southern Ocean New Zealand subantarctic region: The Snares (Tini Heke), Bounty Islands, Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands (Motu Maha or Maungahuka) and Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku. Charted by Europeans in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, their preservation commenced in the early 20th century and restoration in the late 20th century. Since 1984, eradications of six introduced mammal species (cattle Bos taurus, sheep Ovis aries, goats Capra hircus, rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, Norway rats Rattus norvegicus, and mice Mus musculus) across five islands (Campbell, Antipodes, Auckland, Enderby and Rose) have taken place. The only introduced mammal species remaining in the New Zealand subantarctic region are pigs (Sus scrofa), cats (Felis catus) and mice on the main Auckland Island. Building on previous eradication work, from 2018 to 2020 the Department of Conservation undertook research and development to determine the feasibility and cost of a multi-species eradication programme on Auckland Island. The outcomes of the research programme not only inform eradication on Auckland Island, but have wider applicability to other eradication programmes throughout the Southern Ocean.

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Monitoring and detection of feral cats on Auckland Island

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Lures change the detectability of feral cats on the arid landscape

Lures change the detectability of feral cats on the arid landscape

Management of cats in Aotearoa New Zealand: a review of current knowledge and research needs

Restoration of New Zealand subantarctic islands

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