Abstract
Poison baiting is used frequently to reduce the impacts of pest species of mammals on agricultural and biodiversity interests. However, baiting may not be appropriate if non-target species are at risk of poisoning. Here we use a desktop decision tree approach to assess the risks to non-target vertebrate species in Australia that arise from using poison baits developed to control feral house cats (Felis catus). These baits are presented in the form of sausages with toxicant implanted in the bait medium within an acid-soluble polymer capsule (hard shell delivery vehicle, or HSDV) that disintegrates after ingestion. Using criteria based on body size, diet and feeding behaviour, we assessed 221 of Australia's 3,769 native vertebrate species as likely to consume cat-baits, with 47 of these likely to ingest implanted HSDVs too. Carnivorous marsupials were judged most likely to consume both the baits and HSDVs, with some large-bodied and ground-active birds and reptiles also consuming them. If criteria were relaxed, a further 269 species were assessed as possibly able to consume baits and 343 as possibly able to consume HSDVs; most of these consumers were birds. One threatened species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) was judged as definitely able to consume baits with implanted HSDVs, whereas five threatened species of birds and 21 species of threatened mammals were rated as possible consumers. Amphibia were not considered to be at risk. We conclude that most species of native Australian vertebrates would not consume surface-laid baits during feral cat control programs, and that significantly fewer would be exposed to poisoning if HSDVs were employed. However, risks to susceptible species should be quantified in field or pen trials prior to the implementation of a control program, and minimized further by applying baits at times and in places where non-target species have little access.
Highlights
Invasive mammalian predators pose problems for agricultural production and especially for the conservation of biodiversity in many parts of the world [1]
The bait medium with implanted hard shelled delivery vehicle (HSDV) is being commercialized as Curiosity bait; preliminary trials show that it can be attractive to feral cats and effective in reducing their numbers [26,46], variable efficacy occurs in relation to other factors, such as alternate food availability [52]
In total 3,769 native Australian vertebrate species and subspecies were evaluated in this review, and 490 were determined as able to consume, or possibly able to consume, the Curiosity bait media if deployed on the ground surface
Summary
Invasive mammalian predators pose problems for agricultural production and especially for the conservation of biodiversity in many parts of the world [1]. In Australia, small native mammals and birds have experienced depredation by carnivorous marsupials (0.5–10 kg) since Miocene times to the present [5], yet many species in these prey groups have suffered serious population declines or extinction following the arrival of two novel predators, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral house cat (Felis catus) [6,7,8,9] in the wake of European colonization. In Australia, the control of invasive predators for the conservation of biodiversity and protection of primary production assets is conducted principally through the use of poison baits [12]. In line with community expectations [22], the development of new baits should be as target-specific as possible
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