Abstract
The impact of introduced predators is a major factor limiting survivorship and recruitment of many native Australian species. In particular, the feral cat and red fox have been implicated in range reductions and population declines of many conservation dependent species across Australia, including ground-nesting birds and small to medium-sized mammals. The impact of predation by feral cats since their introduction some 200 years ago has altered the structure of native fauna communities and led to the development of landscape-scale threat abatement via baiting programs with the feral cat bait, Eradicat. Demonstrating the effectiveness of broad-scale programs is essential for managers to fine tune delivery and timing of baiting. Efficacy of feral cat baiting at the Fortescue Marsh in the Pilbara, Western Australia was tested using camera traps and occupancy models. There was a significant decrease in probability of site occupancy in baited sites in each of the five years of this study, demonstrating both the effectiveness of aerial baiting for landscape-scale removal of feral cats, and the validity of camera trap monitoring techniques for detecting changes in feral cat occupancy during a five-year baiting program.
Highlights
Many species of Australian native mammals have experienced significant range declines or extinction in the arid zone since European settlement, and many species of birds have suffered similar declines over the same time period[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
Feral cat control programs around Australia monitor baiting efficacy through various methods such as deaths attributed to poisoning of radio-collared animals, with supporting evidence often obtained through activity indices from counts of prints on sand-pads[11,22,23,24,25,26]
This study aimed to determine the usefulness of camera traps for establishing feral cat baiting efficacy using Eradicat baits in the Fortescue Marsh, Western Australia[42]
Summary
Many species of Australian native mammals have experienced significant range declines or extinction in the arid zone since European settlement, and many species of birds have suffered similar declines over the same time period[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Baiting is recognised as the most effective method for controlling feral cats[10,11,12,13] in particular when there is minimal risk posed to non-target species. Effective and cost-efficient control of feral cats in large reserves, which often have restricted access, can only be achieved through aerial baiting campaigns[11,14]. Feral cat control programs around Australia monitor baiting efficacy through various methods such as deaths attributed to poisoning of radio-collared animals, with supporting evidence often obtained through activity indices from counts of prints on sand-pads[11,22,23,24,25,26]. Sand-pads lend themselves to observer bias, and in areas where access can be problematic due to wet weather or restricted public access, they can be of limited value[27,28]
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