To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Fox baiting.
Journal articles on the topic 'Fox baiting'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 journal articles for your research on the topic 'Fox baiting.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse journal articles on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Körtner, Gerhard, Shaan Gresser, and Bob Harden. "Does fox baiting threaten the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus?" Wildlife Research 30, no. 2 (2003): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr02107.
Full textAbstract:
In Australia, baiting with 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) is widely used to reduce predation of native wildlife by the red fox. However, such control programs may place some native carnivores at risk, particularly the spotted-tailed quoll in eastern Australia. We measured the mortality in a total of 57 quolls fitted with mortality radio-transmitters during four experimental fox baitings with Foxoff® 1080 baits containing Rhodamine B in north-east New South Wales. In all experiments quolls visited bait stations regularly and removed a total of 20 baits. All but one of these baits was found in the vicinity of the bait station, indicating that quolls did not ingest baits. This was confirmed by the absence of Rhodamine B in the vibrissae of all quolls retrapped after baiting. The only quoll that may have died from a bait had eaten a cached bait some six weeks after baiting concluded. Thus, baiting did not threaten any of the quoll populations sampled. Therefore it appears that most restrictions imposed to protect spotted-tailed quolls during fox baiting are unnecessary as long as this bait type is used.
2
Bengsen, Andrew. "Effects of coordinated poison-baiting programs on survival and abundance in two red fox populations." Wildlife Research 41, no. 3 (2014): 194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13202.
Full textAbstract:
Context Poison-baiting programs coordinated among neighbouring landholders should provide the most effective and efficient tool for controlling fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations and impacts in mixed agricultural landscapes, but the effects of such programs on fox mortality and abundance have not been well described. Aims This study aimed to describe the effects of coordinated fox-control programs conducted by landholders on fox mortality and abundance, and to evaluate the likely impacts of reduced landholder participation rates on the proportion of the fox population exposed to baits. Methods The effects of two baiting programs on fox abundance were evaluated using camera-trap surveys and abundance-induced heterogeneity models. The proportion of foxes surviving baiting was estimated by tracking the fate of 19 GPS-collared individuals. The benefits of coordinated baiting were examined using simulated scenarios based on local fox movements and bait distribution patterns. Key results Examination of actual and simulated fox home ranges demonstrated that coordinated baiting increases exposure of the target population to baits. However, 69% of foxes captured on properties that later baited were estimated to have survived the baiting period. Camera-trap surveys across baited and unbaited properties showed no detectable decline in average fox abundance after baiting. Conclusions Coordinated baiting increases the proportion of the fox population encountering baited properties. However, high fox survival and the absence of detectable declines in abundance after baiting showed that even well coordinated baiting programs can produce suboptimal results if many of the foxes using baited properties fail to locate and ingest lethal baits. Implications Baiting programs aiming to reduce the density and impacts of foxes in agricultural landscapes should strive to maximise participation among neighbours. Programs may also benefit from taking steps to improve bait-encounter and consumption rates within properties, for example, by deploying baits at sufficient intensity to provide all foxes with access to at least one bait within their short-term home range. Future research should aim to identify optimal baiting intensities within properties and conditions to maximise bait uptake.
3
McLeod, Lynette J., Glen R. Saunders, Steven R. McLeod, Michelle Dawson, and Remy van de Ven. "The potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on lamb production." Wildlife Research 37, no. 8 (2010): 695. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10082.
Full textAbstract:
ContextRed fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation has an impact on populations of many species throughout its range worldwide, and as such, the red fox is the target of control programs. AimsWe investigated the potential for participatory landscape management to reduce the impact of fox predation on a major prey species, lambs. MethodsThe present study monitored fox-management programs already operating across 4.5 million hectares of regional New South Wales to compare the impact of varying (frequency and spatial coverage) control effort on lamb survival. Key resultsThe frequency and timing of fox control was correlated with lamb survival. Lamb survival was higher in areas where fox baiting was carried out twice a year, in autumn and late winter/spring. Spatial coverage of the control program was also positively correlated with lamb survival. Properties that had near neighbours (up to 2.5 km away) participating in group fox-control programs had higher survival of lambs than properties that did not. ConclusionsThese results support the development of a high level of group participation in fox-control programs that considers both spatial extent and frequency of baiting programs. They also support a movement away from the reactionary, short-term practice of baiting small areas to protect vulnerable prey. ImplicationsCoordinated group-baiting programs are likely to deliver improved lamb survival and should be promoted in areas where ongoing control programs for foxes are necessary.
4
Berry, Oliver, Jack Tatler, Neil Hamilton, Steffi Hilmer, Yvette Hitchen, and Dave Algar. "Slow recruitment in a red-fox population following poison baiting: a non-invasive mark–recapture analysis." Wildlife Research 40, no. 7 (2013): 615. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13073.
Full textAbstract:
Context Optimal management of invasive species should determine the interval between lethal-control operations that will sustain a desired population suppression at minimum cost. This requires an understanding of the species’ rate of recruitment following control. These data are difficult to acquire for vertebrate carnivores such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), which are not readily trapped or observed. Aims To provide a long-term evaluation of the effects of 1080 poison baiting on the abundance and extent of movement of red foxes in a semiarid environment. Methods We used non‐invasive DNA sampling of fox hairs in semi-arid Western Australia where the population was subject to two episodes of aerially delivered sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poison baits within 12 months. Sampling took place at ~45-day intervals and individual foxes were identified by genotyping eight microsatellite DNA markers and a gender-specific marker. Open-population and spatially explicit mark–recapture models were used to estimate the density, apparent survival and movements of foxes before and following baiting. Key results Following a severe reduction in density after baiting, fox density during the ensuing 12 months increased slowly (0.01 foxes km–2 month–1), such that density had only reached 22% of pre-baiting levels ~10 months after the initial baiting. Moreover, recovery was non‐linear as population growth was negligible for 6 months, then exhibited a nine-fold increase 7–9 months after control, coincident with the dispersal of juveniles in autumn. Fox movements between recaptures were on average 470% greater after baiting than before, in line with expectations for low-density populations, suggesting that the probability of encountering baits during this period would be higher than before baiting. Conclusions Baiting with 1080 poison significantly reduced the density of foxes, and the low density was sustained for more than 6 months. Foxes moved significantly further between recaptures after baiting when at low densities. Implications Control programs in this region may be carried out at low frequency to suppress fox density to a fraction of unbaited levels. The intensity of follow-up baiting may also be adjusted downwards, to take account of an increased probability of bait encounter in more mobile foxes.
5
Roberts, Michael W., Nick Dexter, Paul D. Meek, Matt Hudson, and William A. Buttemer. "Does baiting influence the relative composition of the diet of foxes?" Wildlife Research 33, no. 6 (2006): 481. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05009.
Full textAbstract:
The changes in the diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Jervis Bay Region was assessed following a long-term baiting program by analysing the composition of fox faecal excreta (scats). In all, 470 fox scats were collected between April and August 2003 from two baited sites, Booderee National Park (BNP) and Beecroft Peninsula, and from two unbaited sites in the southern and northern parts of Jervis Bay National Park (SJBNP and NJBNP respectively). Diet was compared between these sites and mammalian diet was also compared from scats collected before baiting in 1996 and after baiting in 2000 at Beecroft Peninsula and in 2001 at Booderee National Park. In 2003, the most common species consumed by foxes was the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), except at unbaited NJBNP, where the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) was the most frequent dietary item. Significant dietary differences were found between unbaited and baited sites, with the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) and P. peregrinus featuring more in the diet of foxes from the baited sites. Marked increases in the frequency of occurrence of P. peregrinus and P. nasuta in fox scats occurred from before baiting through to after baiting. Relative fox abundance, as indexed by the number of scats collected per kilometre, was lowest in Booderee, followed by Beecroft, then SJBNP, with NJBNP having the highest relative abundance of foxes. We suggest that baiting did affect the diet of foxes on both peninsulas and that the dietary changes across baiting histories were intrinsically related to an increase in abundance in some taxa as a result of relaxed predator pressure following sustained fox control. However, the lack of unbaited control sites over the whole study precludes a definitive conclusion.
6
Towerton, Alison L., Christopher R. Dickman, Rodney P. Kavanagh, and Trent D. Penman. "Control of the red fox in remnant forest habitats." Wildlife Research 43, no. 2 (2016): 169. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr15133.
Full textAbstract:
Context The European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is subject to control by poison baiting in many parts of its range in Australia to protect both native and domestic species. Assessments of baiting programs can improve their effectiveness and help ensure that long-term control outcomes are achieved. Aims We describe spatial and temporal patterns of bait uptake by the red fox in remnant forest within an agricultural matrix, including multiple bait-takes and hotspots of activity over time, and examine the response of foxes to baiting operations. Methods We analysed bait uptake (Foxoff®) from 12 baiting operations over 5 years in the Goonoo forest, a 62 500 ha remnant surrounded by cleared land in central New South Wales, Australia. More than 8000 checks of bait-stations were analysed to provide indices of fox activity per bait-check, patterns of bait removal during bait-checks, and bait uptake at stations within and across operations. Fox activity was also assessed before and after four operations using sand plots. Key results There was no consistent decline in relative fox activity in relation to changes in bait-take; increases in the activity index occurred in successive checks within most operations. Spatial analyses of checks within control operations showed that consecutive baits were removed at more than 70% of bait stations that were visited by foxes. Temporal analyses showed further that within an operation, multiple bait-takes occurred at ~20% of stations and, across all operations, hot spots of activity could be identified. Conclusions A short (2-week) baiting window in standard baiting operations may not be effective in reducing the activity of foxes across the landscape. It is likely that many baits are being cached during each operation, and that foxes move into the baited area from unbaited surrounding areas. Implications More frequent and timely baiting operations are needed to achieve maximum disruption to the fox population in the remnant forest environment, at least as indicated by patterns of bait-take. Increasing the distance between baits, to ~1.5 km, while reducing baiting-gaps at the landscape scale, will also be important to reduce caching and still ensure that baits are encountered.
7
Priddel, David, and Robert Wheeler. "Efficacy of Fox Control in Reducing the Mortality of Released Captive-reared Malleefowl, Leipoa ocellata." Wildlife Research 24, no. 4 (1997): 469. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr96094.
Full textAbstract:
The effectiveness of localised, high-intensity fox baiting in reducing the incidence of fox predation was examined after captive-reared malleefowl were released and their survival monitored. Malleefowl released into baited areas survived longer than those released into nearby areas that had not been baited. Survival in both baited and non-baited areas was greater than that prior to any fox control. Of those malleefowl released, 29% were still alive three months later, whereas prior to fox control almost all were killed by foxes within a month of release. Despite the improvement in survival of malleefowl, fox predation remained the primary cause of malleefowl mortality. The number of baits taken by foxes indicated a large fox population and a high level of reinfestation. A more widespread, but less intensive, regime of baiting failed to further enhance the survival of malleefowl. Malleefowl were also particularly vulnerable to predation by raptors in habitats where the mallee was interspersed with areas of open woodland, and where the understorey was sparse. Fox baiting will need to be frequent, intensive and widespread to reduce fox density to levels where predation no longer threatens the survival or recovery of malleefowl populations.
8
Carter, Andrew, and Gary W. Luck. "Fox baiting in agricultural landscapes: preliminary findings on the importance of bait-site selection." Wildlife Research 40, no. 3 (2013): 184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr12169.
Full textAbstract:
Context Little is known about the importance of bait-site selection during lethal fox-baiting programmes. Improved bait placement may increase the efficacy of baiting and help reduce fox impacts on wildlife and livestock. Aims To determine whether bait uptake by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) differed among five landscape elements (roadsides, fence lines, open paddocks, creek lines and remnant vegetation) and at sites with high or low habitat (ground cover) complexity. Methods We measured bait uptake at 300 bait stations distributed evenly among the landscape elements in agricultural landscapes in northern Victoria, Australia. Bait uptake was also compared between sites with low and high habitat complexity in districts subject to no fox control and annual fox control. Key results Among landscape elements, bait uptake was significantly higher in roadside vegetation and along vegetated creek lines than it was along fence lines and in open paddocks (P < 0.05 in each case). Within roadside vegetation, bait uptake was significantly (P = 0.001) lower at sites with a high habitat complexity than at sites with low complexity, particularly in areas subject to annual fox control. Conclusions Bait placement influences bait-uptake rates considerably and greater consideration should be placed on bait-site selection during fox-baiting programmes. Habitat complexity limited bait uptake, which may indicate a reduced capacity of foxes to find baits in complex habitats. Implications Our results should help improve bait-site selection in agricultural landscapes and may increase the efficacy of fox baiting to the benefit of native fauna and livestock.
9
Dexter, Nick, and Paul Meek. "An analysis of bait-take and non-target impacts during a fox-control exercise." Wildlife Research 25, no. 2 (1998): 147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97020.
Full textAbstract:
The effectiveness of a fox-control exercise at the Beecroft Peninsula, New South Wales, was evaluated by examining the change in proportion of baits taken during free-feeding and after lethal baiting in four different habitats (heath, forest, coastal scrub, beach), and the change in number of radio-collared foxes alive during the course of the baiting exercise. The change in proportion of baits taken by non-target species was also examined over the course of the study. Bait take declined by 97% from the initiation of poison baiting to the final day of poison baiting eight days later with significantly more baits being taken in heath than in any other habitat. Four out of six radio-collared foxes died on the first day of poison baiting while the other two foxes died within ten days of the start of the poison-baiting session. Black rats, currawongs and ravens took a small number of baits throughout the baiting exercise.
10
Thompson, JA, and PJS Fleming. "Evaluation of the Efficacy of 1080 Poisoning of Red Foxes Using Visitation to Non-Toxic Baits as an Index of Fox Abundance." Wildlife Research 21, no. 1 (1994): 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9940027.
Full textAbstract:
Visits of foxes to non-toxic baits were used to derive fox abundance indices at 4 sites in north-eastern New South Wales. A 1080 (sodium fluoracetate) poisoning campaign resulted in a mean population reduction of 69.5% (s.d. = 4.9). Fox densities before baiting, calculated using the index-removal-index method, ranged from 4.55 to 7.16 foxes km-2. Visitation to non-toxic baits is recommended as a reliable estimate of relative density. This study investigated the efficacy of 1080 baiting as a technique for the control of foxes in tableland environments. The implications of the estimated fox densities and population reductions on fox control in agricultural areas and in the context of rabies are discussed.
11
Towerton, Alison L., Trent D. Penman, Rodney P. Kavanagh, and Christopher R. Dickman. "Detecting pest and prey responses to fox control across the landscape using remote cameras." Wildlife Research 38, no. 3 (2011): 208. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10213.
Full textAbstract:
Context The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a widespread pest in southern Australia and is subject to control over large areas using poison baits to protect both agricultural and ecological assets. Foxes and their prey are often cryptic or in low densities, making it difficult to quantify the efficacy of control programs. Aims We explore the use of remote cameras to estimate the activity and spatial occupancy of foxes and potential mammalian and avian prey species before and after poison baiting in the Goonoo region, central New South Wales. Methods In the first of two studies, we set camera traps at 48 sites in forest and cleared areas, on and off tracks, during autumn 2009. In the second study, we placed camera traps in forest and cleared areas, on tracks only, at 100 sites covering an area of ~441 500 ha during winter 2009. We examined camera-trap rates of all species detected and the activity and site occupancy of a selected subset of species before and after poison baiting. Key results Camera traps indicated greater levels of fox activity on vehicular tracks than off them, with this difference being more marked in forest than in cleared agricultural land. Fox activity and occupancy were greater in agricultural land than in forest, with no effect of baiting detected at the landscape scale. Thirty-five other mammal and bird species were identified from photos, with activity for most being greater on than off tracks. Conclusions No clear effects of fox-baiting were detected on foxes or potential prey species in either study by either activity or occupancy. The lack of a baiting effect may reflect rapid recolonisation by foxes from unbaited areas, as bait placement is generally clustered in agricultural land, or the ready availability of alternative food (lambs or lamb carcasses) in some cleared areas. Implications Our results demonstrate that remote cameras provide a simple means of monitoring changes in fox activity and occupancy at the landscape level, and that these measures have great potential to quantify the success or otherwise of fox-control campaigns on both pest and prey species.
12
Stobo-Wilson, Alyson M., Robert Brandle, Christopher N. Johnson, and Menna E. Jones. "Management of invasive mesopredators in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia: effectiveness and implications." Wildlife Research 47, no. 8 (2020): 720. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19237.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract ContextSignificant resources have been devoted to the control of introduced mesopredators in Australia. However, the control or removal of one pest species, such as, for example, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), may inadvertently benefit other invasive species, namely feral cats (Felis catus) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), potentially jeopardising native-species recovery. AimsTo (1) investigate the impact of a large-scale, long-term fox-baiting program on the abundance of foxes, feral cats and introduced and native prey species in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and (2) determine the effectiveness of a short time period of cat removal in immediately reducing feral cat abundance where foxes are absent. MethodsWe conducted an initial camera-trap survey in fox-baited and unbaited sites in the Flinders Ranges, to quantify the impact of fox baiting on the relative abundance of foxes, feral cats and their prey. We then conducted a secondary survey in sites where foxes were absent, following an intensive, but short, time period of cat removal, in which 40 cats were shot and killed. Key resultsNo foxes were detected within baited sites, but were frequently detected in unbaited sites. We found a corresponding and significant increase in several native prey species in fox-baited sites where foxes were absent. Feral cats and rabbits were also more frequently detected within baited sites, but fox baiting did not singularly predict the abundance of either species. Rather, feral cats were less abundant in open habitat where foxes were present (unbaited), and rabbits were more abundant within one predominantly open-habitat site, where foxes were absent (fox-baited). We found no effect of short-term cat removal in reducing the local abundance of feral cats. In both camera-trap surveys, feral cat detections were positively associated with rabbits. ConclusionsLong-term fox baiting was effective in fox removal and was associated with a greater abundance of native and introduced prey species in the Flinders Ranges. To continue to recover and conserve regional biodiversity, effective cat control is required. ImplicationsOur study showed fox removal has likely resulted in the local release of rabbits and an associated increase in cats. Because feral cat abundance seemingly fluctuated with rabbits, we suggest rabbit control may provide an alternative and more effective means to reduce local feral cat populations than short-term removal programs.
13
Kinnear, J. E., C. Pentland, N. Moore, and C. J. Krebs. "Fox control and 1080 baiting conundrums: time to prepare for a CRISPR solution." Australian Mammalogy 39, no. 2 (2017): 127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am16020.
Full textAbstract:
For many years, managing rock-wallaby colonies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) in the Western Australian Wheatbelt seemed to be a matter of routinely exposing foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to toxic baits (sodium fluoroacetate, 1080®) laid around their rocky outcrops. Recent research has revealed that 1080 baitings are no longer a viable management option. Baiting is flawed over the long term because it does not erase the wallabies’ pervasive fear of being depredated by foxes, which can still make their menacing presence felt before succumbing to poison bait. Accordingly, a ‘landscape of fear’ exists on all rock-wallaby sites, creating a ‘virtual boundary’ beyond which they fear to forage. Severe overgrazing occurs, ultimately causing population crashes, leaving behind devastated outcrops greatly diminished in carrying capacity. The fallout from this scenario produces a management conundrum. Rock-wallaby populations are unstable in the absence of fox control, and conversely, they are also unstable under long-term fox control. Management is now left with few options, and the future of the colonies remains open. Other conundrums involving bait interference and mesopredator release are described. An alternative to 1080 baiting is clearly needed. Recent developments in gene engineering (CRISPR technology) offer a solution in the foreseeable future.
14
Dennis, Carina. "Baiting plan to remove fox threat to Tasmanian wildlife." Nature 416, no. 6879 (March 2002): 357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/416357b.
Full text
15
Kirkwood, Roger, Duncan R. Sutherland, Stuart Murphy, and Peter Dann. "Lessons from long-term predator control: a case study with the red fox." Wildlife Research 41, no. 3 (2014): 222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13196.
Full textAbstract:
Context Predator-control aims to reduce an impact on prey species, but efficacy of long-term control is rarely assessed and the reductions achieved are rarely quantified. Aims We evaluated the changing efficacy of a 58-year-long campaign against red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on Phillip Island, a 100-km2 inhabited island connected to the Australian mainland via a bridge. The campaign aimed to eliminate the impact of foxes on ground-nesting birds, particularly little penguins (Eudyptula minor). Methods We monitored the success rate of each fox-control technique employed, the level of effort invested if available, demographics of killed foxes, the numbers of penguins killed by foxes and penguin population size. Key results The campaign began as a bounty system that ran for 30 years and was ineffective. It transitioned into a coordinated, although localised, control program from 1980 to 2005 that invested considerable effort, but relied on subjective assessments of success. Early during the control period, baiting was abandoned for less effective methods that were thought to pose fewer risks, were more enjoyable and produced carcasses, a tangible result. Control was aided by a high level of public awareness, by restricted fox immigration, and by a clear, achievable and measurable target, namely, to prevent little penguin predation by foxes. Carcasses did prove valuable for research, revealing the genetic structure and shifts in fox demographics. The failure of the program was evident after scientific evaluation of fox population size and ongoing fox impacts. In 2006, the campaign evolved into an eradication attempt, adopting regular island-wide baiting, and since then, has achieved effective knock-down of foxes and negligible predation on penguins. Conclusions Effective predator control was achieved only after employing a dedicated team and implementing broad-scale baiting. Abandoning widespread baiting potentially delayed effective control for 25 years. Furthermore, both predator and prey populations should be monitored concurrently because the relationship between predator abundance and impact on prey species is not necessarily density dependent. Implications Critical to adopting the best management strategy is evaluating the efficacy of different methods independently of personal and public biases and having personnel dedicated solely to the task.
16
Thomson, P. C., and D. Algar. "The uptake of dried meat baits by foxes and investigations of baiting rates in Western Australia." Wildlife Research 27, no. 5 (2000): 451. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99034.
Full textAbstract:
The uptake of dried meat baits by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was measured in large-scale field trials using non-toxic baits containing the biomarker tetracycline. Baits were aerially delivered at nominal baiting rates of 5 baits km–2 (4 sites) and 10 baits km–2 (3 sites). The proportion of sampled adult foxes that had consumed the bio-marked baits ranged from 62 to 88% (mean 79.5%). Uptake of baits did not increase at the higher baiting rate. Bait uptake at the levels recorded in these trials would result in effective reductions in fox populations exposed to toxic baits. Bait uptake would have been sufficient to prevent the spread of rabies within fox populations at the densities occurring during the study, either by population reduction or in conjunction with oral vaccination.
17
Twigg, Laurie E. "1080-baits for fox control: Is everything all that it seems?" Pacific Conservation Biology 20, no. 3 (2014): 230. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc140230.
Full textAbstract:
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), wild Dog (Canis lupus familiaris), Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and feral Pig (Sus scrofa) can have a significant and profound impact on biodiversity and/ or agricultural production in Australia (Saunders et al. 1995; Williams et al. 1995; Choquenot et al. 1996; Fleming et al. 2001). Baiting programmes with 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) form an integral and, in some cases, the only means by which the impacts of these invasive species can be managed over a large-scale (Saunders et al. 1995; Williams et al. 1995; Choquenot et al. 1996; Fleming et al. 2001). However, in recent times, there has been growing concern among some Australian rural communities that some 1080 products are not as effective as they once were, particularly those used for baiting foxes. Although such reports are often anecdotal, their increasing frequency is of concern. Recently, the Malleefowl Preservation Group in Western Australia conducted a semi-formal survey of their Newsletter readers regarding the effectiveness of 1080 products against Foxes, wild Dogs, and Rabbits. Over 40 responses were received from 15 different postcode regions with up to 50% of these respondents believing some 1080 products were no longer effective (Malleefowl Preservation Group unpublished data). Similarly, participants in coordinated community 1080-baiting programmes in Victoria surveyed during 2004/05 suggested that poor bait take, loss of efficacy, risk to farm dogs, and the high associated costs were the main reasons for less than ideal control programmes (McPhee 2005). This suggests that questions regarding the effectiveness of 1080 products are not unique to Western Australia. More recently, in NSW, the effectiveness of some 1080-baiting programmes was shown to be less than ideal, even when a coordinated approach was used (Gentle 2007a; Bengsen In Press). In one instance, such a programme with 3 mg 1080 baits reduced fox abundance by only 30% (Bengsen In Press). There are a number of reasons why baiting programmes may have, or are perceived to have failed (see below), including the loss of effectiveness of the active ingredient against the target species. With respect to foxes, the only assessment of their sensitivity to 1080 was a provisional study undertaken in the late 1980s when the sensitivity to 1080 of 11 foxes was determined: 3 from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and 8 from Western Australia (WA) (McIlroy and King 1990). The provisional nature of this study precluded a detailed estimate of the sensitivity of these foxes to 1080. Moreover, it is also possible, and probably highly likely, that the sensitivity of Australian foxes to 1080 has changed since the assessment undertaken in the 1980s. This Forum Essay raises some of the possible reasons for any decreased baiting effectiveness, particularly the impact of any decrease in the sensitivity of foxes to 1080. The original data of McIlroy and King (1990) are reworked so as to gain estimates of the Lethal Dose 50 and Lethal Dose 99 values and their associated 95% Confidence Limits. The implications of these findings for pest management and conservation programmes, and some suggestions for future research, are also discussed.
18
Dexter, Nick, and Andy Murray. "The impact of fox control on the relative abundance of forest mammals in East Gippsland, Victoria." Wildlife Research 36, no. 3 (2009): 252. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08135.
Full textAbstract:
Predation by European red foxes is believed to be the major cause of the extinction and decline of a large number of native medium-sized terrestrial mammals in Australia. We examined the impact of poisoning of foxes on the relative abundance of a group of medium-sized mammals in an experiment conducted in three large forest blocks in south-eastern Australia. The blocks consisted of paired sites, as follows: one site where poison baiting was used to control foxes (treatment site) and one where foxes were not controlled (non-treatment site). At all six sites, the population responses of a range of mammals were measured, and compared between treatment and non-treatment sites. The relative fox abundance, as indexed by bait-take, declined during the course of the study at treatment sites and to a lesser extent at non-treatment sites. The decline in bait-take at non-treatment sites was most likely due to treatment sites acting as ecological traps, so that reduced intra-specific competition attracted foxes from non-treatment to treatment sites, where they were subsequently poisoned. There was a significant treatment effect for the abundances of total mammals, long-nosed potoroos, southern brown bandicoots and common brushtail possums, with higher abundances at treatment sites than at non-treatment sites. Common ringtail possums increased in abundance during the course of the study, with no significant difference between treatment and non-treatment sites. There was no significant effect of time or treatment on the abundance of long-nosed bandicoots. The increase in the abundance of native mammals at treatment sites was most likely due to a lower predation pressure by foxes brought about by fox control, and the smaller increase in abundance in non-treatment blocks was likely due to the ecological-trap effect because of fox baiting at treatment sites. The present study demonstrated that broad-scale fox control can lead to increases in the abundance of native mammals in forested habitats, without recourse to aerial baiting or fences. The study also demonstrated that the influence of fox control on the fox abundance can extend well beyond the perimeter of the area baited.
19
Körtner, Gerhard, and Peter Watson. "The immediate impact of 1080 aerial baiting to control wild dogs on a spotted-tailed quoll population." Wildlife Research 32, no. 8 (2005): 673. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05014.
Full textAbstract:
In eastern Australia, the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) is the species thought to be most likely at risk from aerial baiting with compound 1080 to control wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris and C. l. dingo). Although it is known that quolls occasionally die of 1080 poisoning, the broader impact on populations remains unresolved. We therefore assessed the impact of a regular aerial baiting campaign on a population of spotted-tailed quolls. Baiting with 1080 meat baits was conducted by the local Wild Dog Control Association and followed the same procedure as in previous years with the exception that the biomarker, rhodamine B, was added to the baits. Prior to the baiting, 36 quolls were trapped and fitted with mortality radio-collars; 31 of these collars were still functional at the time of baiting. Quolls were monitored from a helicopter and on the ground until retrapped 5–9 weeks after baiting. Transmitters were then removed and a sample of vibrissae was taken for rhodamine B analysis. Carcasses found were analysed for 1080. Predator numbers were assessed before and after baiting using track pads across trails. Among the initial 36 radio-collared quolls, nine mortalities were recorded during the course of the study (seven after baiting). Only one of the nine deaths could be directly attributed to 1080 poisoning. In addition, vibrissae from five of the 35 individuals sampled after baiting were marked with rhodamine B, indicating that these individuals had consumed bait, and survived. Consequently, mortality attributable to this particular aerial baiting campaign was low, apparently because few quolls ate bait and most of those that did survived. Track counts for predators indicated a significant decrease in dog and fox numbers after baiting. Cat activity remained unchanged and the number of quoll tracks increased.
20
Comer, S., L. Clausen, S. Cowen, J. Pinder, A. Thomas, A. H. Burbidge, C. Tiller, D. Algar, and P. Speldewinde. "Integrating feral cat (Felis catus) control into landscape-scale introduced predator management to improve conservation prospects for threatened fauna: a case study from the south coast of Western Australia." Wildlife Research 47, no. 8 (2020): 762. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19217.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract ContextFeral cat predation has had a significant impact on native Australian fauna in the past 200 years. In the early 2000s, population monitoring of the western ground parrot showed a dramatic decline from the pre-2000 range, with one of three meta-populations declining to very low levels and a second becoming locally extinct. We review 8 years of integrated introduced predator control, which trialled the incorporation of the feral cat bait Eradicat® into existing fox baiting programs. AimsTo test the efficacy of integrating feral cat control into an existing introduced predator control program in an adaptive management framework conducted in response to the decline of native species. The objective was to protect the remaining western ground parrot populations and other threatened fauna on the south coast of Western Australia. MethodsA landscape-scale feral cat and fox baiting program was delivered across south coast reserves that were occupied by western ground parrots in the early 2000s. Up to 500000ha of national parks and natures reserves were baited per annum. Monitoring was established to evaluate both the efficacy of landscape-scale baiting in management of feral cat populations, and the response of several native fauna species, including the western ground parrot, to an integrated introduced predator control program. Key resultsOn average, 28% of radio-collared feral cats died from Eradicat® baiting each year, over a 5-year period. The results varied from 0% to 62% between years. Changes in site occupancy by feral cats, as measured by detection on camera traps, was also variable, with significant declines detected after baiting in some years and sites. Trends in populations of native fauna, including the western ground parrot and chuditch, showed positive responses to integrated control of foxes and cats. ImplicationsLandscape-scale baiting of feral cats in ecosystems on the south coast of Western Australia had varying success when measured by direct knockdown of cats and site occupancy as determined by camera trapping; however, native species appeared to respond favourably to integrated predator control. For the protection of native species, we recommend ongoing baiting for both foxes and feral cats, complemented by post-bait trapping of feral cats. We advocate monitoring baiting efficacy in a well designed adaptive management framework to deliver long-term recovery of threatened species that have been impacted by cats.
21
Hayward, Matt W., Paul J. de Tores, Michael J. Dillon, and Peter B. Banks. "Predicting the occurrence of the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Macropodidae:Marsupialia), in Western Australia's northern jarrah forest." Wildlife Research 34, no. 3 (2007): 194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr06161.
Full textAbstract:
The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a medium-sized, macropodid marsupial that is endemic to south-western Australia. It has declined markedly in its distribution and abundance since the early 1930s and is listed as vulnerable under IUCN criteria. The presence or absence of quokka populations at 66 sites in the northern jarrah forest of Australia was investigated using generalised linear models (GLM). We hypothesised that fox control and the presence of a mosaic of post-fire seral stages within Agonis linearifolia swamp vegetation were important in predicting the presence of quokkas. The number of poison meat baits delivered per hectare, the average number of years since the swamps burnt and the number of post-fire age classes within the swamps (mosaic value) were used as explanatory variables. Two models had substantial support (ΔAICc < 2), with the best approximating model including the variables ‘baiting’ and ‘swamp age’, and the second-best model including the additional variable ‘swamp mosaic value’. The two best models had Akaike weights (weight of evidence as being the best model of the data) of 0.465 and 0.308 respectively. We used an information-theoretic approach and multimodel inference to determine the best approximating model of baiting, swamp age and swamp mosaic, and Akaike weights to assess model fit and to rank variable importance. Baiting had a model average parameter estimate of 98, swamp age 79 and a mosaic of swamp age classes 42, implying that baiting was more than twice as important as the number of swamp ages classes at a site in predicting the occurrence of quokkas. Evidence from our analysis therefore supports previous studies that concluded that continued fox control and the maintenance of a mosaic of early seral stage (<10 years since fire) and long unburnt habitat (>19 years since fire) are essential for its conservation.
22
Romig, T., B. Bilger, A. Dinkel, M. Merli, D. Thoma, R. Will, U. Mackenstedt, and R. Lucius. "Impact of praziquantel baiting on intestinal helminths of foxes in southwestern Germany." Helminthologia 44, no. 3 (September 1, 2007): 137–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11687-007-0021-9.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractFox baits containing 50 mg praziquantel were distributed by aircraft in a 3000 km2 area of southwestern Germany from 1995 to 1999. 20 baits / km2 were initially distributed at intervals of six to twelve weeks. Starting from a prebaiting prevalence of 64 % (95 % C.I. 59–69), a level of 15 % (C.I. 10–21) was reached after 18 months. Further decreasing the frequency and discontinuing the bait distribution caused a surge to 55 % (C.I. 49–61) within 36 months. Other cestode species (Taenia spp., Mesocestoides spp.) showed similar responses, while the prevalence of ascarid nematodes did not decline during baiting. New infections of fox cubs with E. multilocularis, but not with other cestodes, drastically decreased after one year. Prevalences of fox helminths in an external control area remained stable. Our data suggest that repeated praziquantel treatment of free ranging foxes is suitable to reduce the prevalence of E. multilocularis in a large area.
23
Fairbridge, D., R. Anderson, T. Wilkes, and G. Pell. "Bait uptake by free living brush-tailed phascogales Phascogale tapoatafa and other non-target mammals during simulated buried fox baiting." Australian Mammalogy 25, no. 1 (2003): 31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am03031.
Full textAbstract:
Field trials were undertaken in box-ironbark woodland at Puckapunyal Military Area (PMA) in central Victoria between January 2000 and April 2001 to assess bait uptake by the brushtailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and other small mammals during simulated fox baiting exercises. The systemic marker Rhodamine B was used in non-toxic fox baits (Foxoff®) to detect non-target bait consumption. The trials demonstrated that free-living brush-tailed phascogales, yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) were capable of accessing non-toxic fox baits buried under 10 cm of sand. Rhodamine B markings were detected in six (15%) of 40 P. tapoatafa captured during the study period. The implications of these results and future research needs are discussed.
24
Coates, T. D. "The effect of fox control on mammal populations in an outer urban conservation reserve." Australian Mammalogy 30, no. 2 (2008): 51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am08007.
Full textAbstract:
European red foxes were systematically removed from a 370 ha conservation reserve on Melbourne?s urban fringe between December 2003 and September 2005. Activity indexes monitored throughout the removal phase indicated that the fox population declined dramatically when poison baits were available and then increased again predictably during winter and summer each subsequent year. Three alternate indices of fox activity were highly synchronous throughout the study suggesting that the bait-removal index used widely in Australia may provide a reliable measure of overall fox activity in small urban reserves. With monitoring and strategic baiting, fox activity was maintained at a fraction of its pre-control level. Activity indices for several other species of mammal also appeared to respond to the reduced density of foxes at the site after 2003. Southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) and swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) increased in both activity and range after the reduction in the fox population indicating that fox predation may act to limit both the total size of populations and types of vegetation occupied by indigenous mammals in small patches of remnant vegetation.
25
Comte, S., V. Raton, F. Raoul, D. Hegglin, P. Giraudoux, P. Deplazes, S. Favier, et al. "Fox baiting against Echinococcus multilocularis: Contrasted achievements among two medium size cities." Preventive Veterinary Medicine 111, no. 1-2 (August 2013): 147–55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2013.03.016.
Full text
26
GENTLE, MATTHEW N., GLEN R. SAUNDERS, and CHRIS R. DICKMAN. "Poisoning for production: how effective is fox baiting in south-eastern Australia?" Mammal Review 37, no. 3 (July 2007): 177–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2007.00107.x.
Full text
27
Busana, F., F. Gigliotti, and C. A. Marks. "Modified M-44 cyanide ejector for the baiting of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)." Wildlife Research 25, no. 2 (1998): 209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr96096.
Full textAbstract:
Fox carcasses are seldom recovered after a 1080-baiting program, making analysis of efficacy difficult. Sodium cyanide was selected as an alternative toxin due to its rapid mode of action. A number of bait techniques were trialled in order to develop an appropriate cyanide delivery system that could be used as a buried bait. Techniques investigated included treated wax and gelatine capsules, a wooden capsule holder and a modified M-44 cyanide ejector. Subsequent trials showed that the modified M-44 ejector had greater efficacy in recovering fox carcasses at bait stations when compared with the other techniques trialled. This paper describes the range of baits trialled and the modifications that allow the M-44 to be used as a buried bait. A protocol for deployment of the M-44 in the field, together with a brief assessment of efficacy for each technique is also provided.
28
Thomson, P. C., N. J. Marlow, K. Rose, and N. E. Kok. "The effectiveness of a large-scale baiting campaign and an evaluation of a buffer zone strategy for fox control." Wildlife Research 27, no. 5 (2000): 465. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99036.
Full textAbstract:
The effectiveness of a baiting campaign against red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated in a rangeland area near Carnarvon, Western Australia. An area of 3180 km2 was aerially baited with dried meat baits containing 3 mg 1080 poison (5 baits km–2) in August 1995. All 45 radio-collared foxes monitored in the area were killed by baits. More than half the radio-collared foxes died within 3 days of baits being laid; the last surviving radio-collared fox died 44 days after baits were laid. The overall population reduction was estimated to be >95%. Further implications of this high level of bait uptake are discussed in relation to immunocontraceptive control of foxes, as well as for population reduction or vaccination of foxes to control rabies. Reinvasion of the baited area occurred mainly in autumn, when juvenile foxes were dispersing. The relevance of this result is discussed in relation to developing more effective baiting strategies. As part of another experiment, outer sections of the baited area were periodically re-baited as a buffer zone to reduce immigration by foxes into the central baited area; the buffer baiting proved to be very effective in preventing recolonisation of the entire baited area.
29
Dundas, Shannon J., Peter J. Adams, and Patricia A. Fleming. "First in, first served: uptake of 1080 poison fox baits in south-west Western Australia." Wildlife Research 41, no. 2 (2014): 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13136.
Full textAbstract:
Context In Western Australia, baits containing 1080 poison are widely used to control the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) for fauna conservation. Despite long-term (15–17 years) baiting programs, bait uptake by target and non-target species is largely unknown, but affects baiting efficacy. Aims We examined bait uptake of 1080-poisoned fox baits laid according to current practice at seven riparian sites in the northern jarrah forest (of south-west Western Australia). There, intensive baiting regimes have been implemented for the protection of quokka (Setonix brachyurus) populations. Methods Over 9 months, 299 Probait® baits were monitored regularly to determine their persistence, and, at 142 of these, Reconyx HC500 remote cameras were used to identify the species taking baits. To compare bait uptake with species presence at these sites, we calculated an activity index for each species from the number of passes of animals in front of the cameras. Key results The species taking baits was identified for 100 of the baits monitored with cameras, and, because of multiple species taking baits, 130 bait take incidents were recorded in total. The fate of 40 of the baits was not discernible and two baits were not removed. In all, 99% of baits monitored by cameras were taken by non-target species and quokkas took 48% of them. The majority of baits (62% of the total 299 monitored) were taken before or on the first night of deployment, and 95% of baits had been taken within 7 days. With the exception of feral pigs, which took more baits than predicted from their activity index at these sites, baits were taken in proportion to the activity index of species. Foxes were present at four of the seven sites, but only one fox was observed taking a bait. Conclusions The high level of uptake of baits by non-target animals reflects their diversity and abundance at these sites, but also significantly reduces the availability of baits to control foxes. Implications Strategies to reduce non-target bait uptake and increase bait availability for foxes are required.
30
Kinnear, J. E., C. J. Krebs, C. Pentland, P. Orell, C. Holme, and R. Karvinen. "Predator-baiting experiments for the conservation of rock-wallabies in Western Australia: a 25-year review with recent advances." Wildlife Research 37, no. 1 (2010): 57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr09046.
Full textAbstract:
Predation is widely believed to be the main threatening process for many native vertebrates in Australia. For 25 years, predator-baiting experiments have been used in the Western Australian Central Wheatbelt to control red fox predation on rock-wallabies and other endangered marsupial prey elsewhere. We review here the history of a series of baiting experiments designed to protect rock-wallaby colonies by controlling red foxes with 1080 poison baits. We continue to support the conclusion that red foxes can reduce or exterminate rock-wallaby populations in Western Australia. Research trials from 1990 to 2008 have uniformly shown a dramatic recovery of rock-wallaby populations once red foxes are baited. Baiting experiments are often black boxes and their success should not blind us to their weaknesses. Ideally, what we would like to measure are the functional responses of predators to prey abundance directly. As a contribution towards this goal, we describe new technology that enables one to determine which predator killed which prey, at exactly what time, with improved research and management outcomes.
31
Marks, Clive A. "Bait-delivered cabergoline for the reproductive control of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes): estimating mammalian non-target risk in south-eastern Australia." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 13, no. 8 (2001): 499. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd01076.
Full textAbstract:
Cabergoline (CAB) is a potent dopamine agonist and an inhibitor of prolactin (PRL). In red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), a single oral dose of 100 g kg–1 CAB can cause abortions and postnatal cub mortality from at least Day 21 of the 52-day pregnancy. The abortifacient activity of CAB is owing to the suppression of PRL, which is essential for luteotrophic support in some eutherian species. Postnatal cub mortality probably results from a reduction in the development of the mammary ductile system, which is also partially dependant on PRL during pregnancy. This paper investigates the potential risks faced by non-target mammalian species that may consume CAB baits intended for fox control. Baiting with CAB is proposed from 1 August until 1 October each year, to correspond with the time that most vixens are pregnant in south-eastern Australia. Thirty-four endemic mammals in south-eastern Australia (9 eutherians and 25 marsupials) are considered to be potentially bait-consuming (PBC) species. The percentage overlap of pregnancy and birth periods for each PBC species was compared with the duration of the proposed CAB baiting period. Only Antechinus (3 species) and Sminthopsis leucopushave greater than 40% overlap, whereas overlap in endemic rodents ranges from 0% to 22%. Overall, most PBC rodent populations appear to face little risk from CAB baiting, as their period of pregnancy does not overlap significantly with the proposed CAB baiting period. The Antechinus species, Phascogale tapoatafa and Dasyurus maculatus are the only PBC mammals that are seasonally mono-oestrous and are thus probably more susceptible to disruption of breeding compared with polyoestrous species that may breed many times a year. At a baiting density of 8 baits km–2, theoretical bait availability for small dasyurids, rodents and peramelids is low. This suggests a low potential for affecting these populations if CAB was indiscriminate in affecting reproductive success in all mammal groups. Presently, studies in a limited range of marsupials suggest that, unlike eutherians, the marsupial corpus luteum is independent of pituitary control and thus suppression of PRL is not likely to cause abortions in marsupials. As yet, CAB has not been shown to be orally active in any PBC species other than rodents and carnivores. Oral doses of CAB given post partum have not been found to affect lactation in Sminthopsis crassicaudata,Trichosurus vulpecula, Macropus eugenii andSetonix brachyurus. Further studies are required in order to assess the potential for high doses of oral CAB to affect pre-partum mammary development and early lactation post partum, especially in peramelids and larger dasyurids. Highly target-specific baiting techniques, may eliminate most PBC species from being exposed to CAB and these are briefly discussed.
32
Marks, Clive A., Frank Busana, and Frank Gigliotti. "Assessment of the M-44 ejector for the delivery of 1080 for red fox (Vulpes vulpes) control." Wildlife Research 26, no. 1 (1999): 101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr98014.
Full textAbstract:
The M-44 ejector delivered a reliable lethal dose of 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) to captive foxes, with a capsule dose of 2.0 mg of 1080, if a ‘collar’ modification was used. Behavioural observations indicated that the collar influenced the orientation of the fox’s mouth to the M-44 bait upon activation, resulting in a much greater amount of 1080 entering its mouth. This dose is below the 3 mg currently used in fox baits in Victoria and may increase the margin of safety for non-target species during 1080 baiting programs. The authors discuss some of the potential advantages of the ejector over the use of meat baits, such as the elimination of bait caching and improved target specificity. The potential for the M-44 to deliver an even lower lethal dose of 1080, which is closer to the reported theoretical bait LD100 of 1.25 mg for this species, may further reduce the risk of 1080 baiting to non-target species such as tiger quolls.
33
Pech, R., G. M. Hood, J. McIlroy, and G. Saunders. "Can foxes be controlled by reducing their fertility?" Reproduction, Fertility and Development 9, no. 1 (1997): 41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/r96059.
Full textAbstract:
A model based on data from research in New South Wales conducted by the Cooperative Research Centre for the Biological Control of Vertebrate Pest Populations suggests that the effectiveness of fertility control in reducing the abundance of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) can be strongly influenced by environmental variability. The model includes age-specific recruitment and survival as functions of resources indexed by rainfall. It is assumed that fertility control will affect only female foxes and that the use of a baiting regime to deliver a contraceptive agent will result in fixed proportional changes in pregnancy rates. By comparing the variability in the rate of increase of treated and untreated fox populations, the model predicts that: (i) frequent baiting, every one or two years, will be more effective than applications of baits at longer time intervals; (ii) the abundance of foxes will decline more rapidly with higher levels of fertility control; (iii) infertility which lasts for only one breeding season is less effective than permanent sterility which allows for accumulation of sterile animals in the population; and (iv) highly variable results are likely to be the outcome of low-frequency baiting with an agent that produces only temporary infertility.
34
Marlow, Nicola J., Neil D. Thomas, Andrew A. E. Williams, Brian Macmahon, John Lawson, Yvette Hitchen, John Angus, and Oliver Berry. "Cats (Felis catus) are more abundant and are the dominant predator of woylies (Bettongia penicillata) after sustained fox (Vulpes vulpes) control." Australian Journal of Zoology 63, no. 1 (2015): 18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo14024.
Full textAbstract:
The control of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) is a key component of many fauna recovery programs in Australia. A question crucial to the success of these programs is how fox control influences feral cat abundance and subsequently affects predation upon native fauna. Historically, this question has been difficult to address because invasive predators are typically challenging to monitor. Here, non-invasive DNA analysis was used to determine the fate of radio-collared woylies (Bettongia penicillata) in two reserves in a mesic environment where foxes had been controlled intensively for over two decades. Woylie trap success had increased more than 20-fold after fox baiting commenced in the 1980s but decreased precipitously in 2000. Ninety-eight monitored woylies were killed between 2006 and 2009. DNA analysis of swabs taken from radio-collars and carcasses of these woylies indicated that predation by cats (Felis catus) caused most mortalities (65%) and was three times the fox predation rate (21%). Also, indices of cat abundance were higher in fox-baited sites where foxes were less abundant. Predation on woylies by cats was greater than previously recognised and, by implication, may significantly reduce the effectiveness of fox control programs throughout Australia. Integrated fox and cat control is essential to ensure the success of fauna recovery programs.
35
Mcilroy, JC, and EJ Gifford. "Effects on non-target animal populations of a rabbit trail-baiting campaign with 1080 poison." Wildlife Research 18, no. 3 (1991): 315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9910315.
Full textAbstract:
Populations of non-target birds and mammals on a semi-cleared grazing property near Braidwood, New South Wales, did not appear to be affected by a trail-baiting campaign against rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus, using pellet bait and 1080 poison. Rabbit numbers were reduced by about 90% and those of the fox, Vulpes vulpes, another exotic pest, by about 75%. Populations of both pest species began recovering soon after the campaign, indicating the need for continued control measures.
36
Kay, Barry, Glen Saunders, and Lynette McLeod. "Caching of baits by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on agricultural lands." Wildlife Research 26, no. 3 (1999): 335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr98056.
Full textAbstract:
Baiting is widely used to control the introduced fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia. Caching of baits by foxes was observed through the use of miniature radio-transmitters. Both non-toxic and toxic (1080) baits were used to determine the number of baits cached, the location of these caches with respect to original placement and the extent to which these caches are later retrieved and consumed. These trials established that foxes cache 1080 baits. An average of 34% of transmitter baits offered were taken and 10% were cached. The mean distance from the bait station to the cache was 156 m, with some baits being cached up to 800 m away. Implications of these results for current fox management strategies and the consequences of using bait take as a population index are discussed.
37
Glen, Alistair S., and Chris R. Dickman. "Effects of bait-station design on the uptake of baits by non-target animals during control programmes for foxes and wild dogs." Wildlife Research 30, no. 2 (2003): 147. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01060.
Full textAbstract:
The removal of non-toxic baits was monitored during a simulated trail-baiting programme for foxes and wild dogs in the central tablelands of New South Wales. Ninety-one buried baits were removed by a number of species including spotted-tailed quolls, Australian brush-turkeys, superb lyrebirds, small mammals, wild dogs and a red fox. Spotted-tailed quolls were significantly less likely to remove baits buried under the ground surface than baits buried in raised mounds of soil. By means of remote photography, individual quolls were identified removing 3–4 baits in one night from bait stations 400 m apart. The results of this study show that spotted-tailed quolls and other non-target species may face substantial risk of consuming baits intended for wild dogs and foxes. However, the risk of poisoning spotted-tailed quolls may be significantly reduced by appropriate planning. Recommendations are made to increase the target-specificity of baiting programmes in areas with populations of spotted-tailed quolls.
38
Gentle, M. N., G. R. Saunders, and C. R. Dickman. "Persistence of sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) in fox baits and implications for fox management in south-eastern Australia." Wildlife Research 34, no. 4 (2007): 325. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr06163.
Full textAbstract:
The persistence of 1080 in two commonly used fox baits, Foxoff® and chicken wingettes, was assessed under different climatic and rainfall conditions in central-western New South Wales. The rate of 1080 degradation did not change significantly between the Central Tablelands and the relatively hotter and drier environment of the Western Slopes. Loss of 1080 from wingettes was independent of the rainfall and climate conditions, with wingettes remaining lethal to foxes for, on average, 0.9 weeks. Foxoff® baits remained lethal for longer than wingettes under all tested conditions, although their rate of degradation increased generally with increasing rainfall. As a result, areas baited with Foxoff® will require longer withholding periods for working dogs than those baited with wingettes, especially during dry periods. Wingettes may have advantages for use in sensitive areas where long-term hazards from toxic baits are undesirable. We found significant variations in 1080 concentration in freshly prepared baits that may result in efficacy, non-target and regulatory concerns for baiting campaigns. As a result, the superior quality control and shelf-stability of manufactured Foxoff® may be important criteria for favouring its use over freshly prepared bait types. However, use strategies for any bait type must ensure that foxes consume lethal doses of 1080 to avoid potential problems such as the development of learned aversion to baits or pesticide resistance.
39
Marks, CA, M. Nijk, F. Gigliotti, F. Busana, and RV Short. "Preliminary Field Assessment of a Cabergoline Baiting Campaign for Reproductive Control of the Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)." Wildlife Research 23, no. 2 (1996): 161. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9960161.
Full textAbstract:
The use of poison baiting in Australia to control foxes is impractical in urban areas and some wildlife reserves because of hazards to non-target animals. More acceptable methods of fox control in such environments are needed. Cabergoline is a dopamine agonist that has previously been demonstrated to have an abortifacient effect in cats (Felis catus) and dogs (Canis familiaris). The prolactin-inhibiting action of cabergoline may also result in cessation of lactation. Cabergoline has been shown to be completely palatable to foxes and is easily incorporated into a non-poisonous bait. The ability of bait-delivered cabergoline to effect the birth of viable fox cubs was tested in urban Melbourne and rural Bendigo, Victoria. A sample of 51 natal dens were chosen for this study on the basis that they had been active for 3 consecutive years (1991-93). 30 treatment dens were randomly selected and each treated once during August and again during September 1994 with 8 non-poisonous Foxoff baits containing 170 micro g of cabergoline and 200 mg of tetracycline to act as a biomarker. The remaining 21 dens were used as controls. Baits were randomly placed by burial within a 50-m radius of the den. Activity of all dens was assessed until December 1994 for direct/indirect signs of fox cubs. Bait uptake was >88% overall for the treatment dens. The resulting incidence of cubs was significantly lower in the treatment dens than in the controls. The potential for cabergoline to be used in urban areas and island populations as an adjunct to conventional control methods is discussed.
40
Sharp, Andy, Melinda Norton, Chris Havelberg, Wendy Cliff, and Adam Marks. "Population recovery of the yellow-footed rock-wallaby following fox control in New South Wales and South Australia." Wildlife Research 41, no. 7 (2014): 560. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14151.
Full textAbstract:
Context Introduced herbivores and carnivores have significantly altered ecosystems across Australia and have been implicated in the decline and extinction of many species, particularly in the arid and semiarid zones. The experimental confirmation of agents of decline is a fundamental step in threatened species management, allowing for an efficient allocation of resources and effective species recovery. Aims Following unsuccessful attempts to increase the abundance of yellow-footed rock-wallaby populations through concerted goat control across the southern extent of their range, the primary aim of our study was to determine whether fox predation was limiting the recovery of wallaby populations. Methods Intensive fox-control programs (1080 baiting) were initiated around wallaby subpopulations in New South Wales and South Australia. Wallaby numbers were monitored for a three-year period before and after the initiation of fox control, and ANCOVA used to examine for differences between the subpopulation’s rate of increase (r). Observational data were used to determine the demographic effects of fox predation on wallaby colonies in New South Wales. Key results Wallaby subpopulations that were treated with fox control increased significantly, while experimental control subpopulations remained at consistently low levels. Juvenile and subadult wallabies were apparent within the treated New South Wales subpopulation, but almost absent from the control subpopulation, suggesting that fox predation focussed primarily on these age classes. Conclusions Fox predation is a major limiting factor for southern wallaby populations and fox control should be the primary management action to achieve species recovery. Implications Although a significant limiting factor, the regulatory effect of fox predation was not assessed and, as such, it cannot be confirmed as being the causal factor responsible for the historic declines in wallaby abundance. The determination of whether fox predation acts in a limiting or regulatory fashion requires further experimentation, but its resolution will have significant implications for the strategic allocation of conservation resources.
41
König, Andreas, Christof Janko, Bence Barla-Szabo, Diana Fahrenhold, Claudius Heibl, Eva Perret, and Stefanie Wermuth. "Habitat model for baiting foxes in suburban areas to counteract Echinococcus multilocularis." Wildlife Research 39, no. 6 (2012): 488. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr11077.
Full textAbstract:
Context Foxes are carriers of many zoonoses, such as the fox tapeworm. Treating foxes with medication of edible bait is often the only way of protecting people. Whereas bait can be distributed very effectively by aeroplane in rural areas, in settled areas it must be distributed by hand. In doing so it is important to get as close as possible to the foxes. Aims In suburban areas it is important to ensure that it is mainly foxes that take the bait and that they do so within a short time. In order to achieve this, a habitat model was developed for the baiting of foxes in suburban areas. Methods In Grünwald, a suburb of Munich, 12 foxes were radio-collared and observed to see which gardens they visited more frequently or for longer periods. At the same time, the community area was divided up by a grid. At each point on the grid, two gardens were selected: one garden known to be visited by foxes, and a control garden in which no fox had been observed. In this way the structure of average gardens in the community could be compared with those used by foxes. On this basis a model of garden use by foxes was developed and checked by a program of phototrapping in a separate area. Key results Using sources of food, bushes and garden houses as variables, a habitat model was developed with the categories ‘unsuitable’, ‘less suitable’ and ‘very suitable’ for foxes. This correlated closely with the appearance of foxes in gardens (P < 0.001). Conclusion The model helps to identify gardens preferred by foxes. Implications This study shows us how to reach foxes in suburban environments quickly with bait containing medication and so contributes to improving public health. The method described, of checking a model in an area not used in the development of the model, can also be seen as a contribution towards the universalisation of models.
42
Eaton, Taryn, Patricia Billette, and Jennifer Vonk. "Are there Metacognitivists in the Fox Hole? A Preliminary Test of Information Seeking in an Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)." Behavioral Sciences 10, no. 5 (April 26, 2020): 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/bs10050081.
Full textAbstract:
Over the last two decades, evidence has accrued that at least some nonhuman animals possess metacognitive abilities. However, of the carnivores, only domestic dogs have been tested. Although rarely represented in the psychological literature, foxes are good candidates for metacognition given that they cache their food. Two experiments assessed metacognition in one male arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) for the first time. An information-seeking paradigm was used, in which the subject had the opportunity to discover which compartment was baited before making a choice by looking through a transparent window in the apparatus. In the first experiment, choice accuracy during seen trials was equal to choice accuracy on unseen trials. Importantly, there was no significant difference between the subject’s looking behavior on seen versus unseen trials. In the second experiment, with chance probabilities reduced, the subject’s choice accuracy on both seen and unseen trials was below chance. The subject did not exhibit looking behavior in any of the trials. Latencies to choose were not influenced by whether he witnessed baiting. Although we did not obtain evidence of metacognition in our tests of a single subject, we maintain that foxes may be good candidates for further tests using similar methodologies to those introduced here.
43
van Polanen Petel, A. Marjolein, Clive A. Marks, and David G. Morgan. "Bait palatability influences the caching behaviour of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes)." Wildlife Research 28, no. 4 (2001): 395. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr00046.
Full textAbstract:
In a free-choice experiment conducted in a series of pen trials, the influence of food preference on caching behaviour by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated for three unpoisoned bait types: deep-fried beef liver (DFL), dried deep-fried beef liver (DDFL) and a commercial bait (Foxoff®). Although some variation in individual preferences for the DDFL and Foxoff was observed, all of the foxes in the pen trials preferred the DFL (P < 0.01) and all cached it least often (P < 0.01). Field trials then compared the uptake, consumption and incidence of caching for the most preferred (DFL) and least preferred (Foxoff) bait types. Radio-transmitters were inserted into unpoisoned Foxoff and DFL baits and a free choice of either was provided at bait stations at three independent sites. A clock module recorded the precise time that each bait was taken from the bait station. The fate of each bait (it could either be eaten, cached or remain in situ) was recorded daily and baits were replaced for five consecutive nights. There was no difference in the rate of uptake for the two baits (P > 0.05) and, despite some variation between the sites, DFL was the most often eaten (P < 0.001) and Foxoff the most often cached (P < 0.001). These data strongly suggest that a highly palatable bait will increase the likelihood of rapid consumption of baits and reduce the incidence of caching. This is likely to increase the cost-effectiveness of baiting and limit the potential for nontarget impacts due to the movement of baits. The high degree of concordance between the results of the pen and field trials suggests that pen trials can assist in the development of more effective bait types. However, conclusions about the relative efficacy of bait types drawn from the results of baiting programs that measure only bait uptake are unlikely to be reliable.
44
Towerton, Alison L., Rodney P. Kavanagh, Trent D. Penman, and Christopher R. Dickman. "Recording fox baiting effort across the landscape using geographic information systems: Facilitating more effective management." Ecological Management & Restoration 14, no. 1 (December 27, 2012): 54–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/emr.12026.
Full text
45
SCHWARZENBACH, G. A., D. HEGGLIN, C. STIEGER, P. DEPLAZES, and P. I. WARD. "An experimental field approach to parasitism and immune defence in voles." Parasitology 129, no. 1 (June 10, 2004): 93–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182004005141.
Full textAbstract:
The fox tapewormEchinococcus multilocularisis typically perpetuated in a cycle with red foxes as definitive hosts and various rodent species as intermediate hosts. In this study, foxes were baited with a highly efficient drug against cestodes (praziquantel) in 5 blocks of 1 km2. Voles,Arvicola terrestris, the most abundant intermediate host species, were trapped in the 5 baited blocks and in 5 non-baited control blocks. Baiting the foxes reduced the prevalence ofE. multilocularisin fox faecal samples in the baited blocks, but voles trapped in the two blocks did not differ in their infection rates. However, voles from the baited blocks had significantly smaller spleen masses and were more likely to be infested with mites than those from the control blocks, possibly reflecting different immunological activities. Our study suggests that the environmental contamination withE. multiloculariseggs, and perhaps those of other tapeworms, influences the immune system of the intermediate host speciesA. terrestrisin the wild.
46
OLSSON, MATS, ERIK WAPSTRA, GERRY SWAN, ERN SNAITH, RON CLARKE, and THOMAS MADSEN. "Effects of long-term fox baiting on species composition and abundance in an Australian lizard community." Austral Ecology 30, no. 8 (December 2005): 899–905. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01534.x.
Full text
47
McLean, Stuart, Susan Brandon, and Roger Kirkwood. "Stability of cabergoline in fox baits in laboratory and field conditions." Wildlife Research 34, no. 3 (2007): 239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr06094.
Full textAbstract:
Cabergoline is a potent inhibitor of prolactin release and a potential fertility control agent for foxes. To understand how cabergoline could behave in baits deployed for fox control, we conducted laboratory and field trials to investigate the stability of cabergoline when (1) in solution, (2) injected into a bait (deep-fried liver and Foxoff®) and (3) exposed to a range of environmental conditions, including burial. Cabergoline, dissolved in a 1% acetic acid solution, and its carboxylic acid hydrolysis product can be assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. When stored at 4°C and at room temperature, cabergoline in solution was stable for up to 36 days. When stored under cool (≤15°C), dry conditions, cabergoline (800 µg) in commercial Foxoff® and deep-fried ox-liver baits was stable for 28 and 7 days, respectively; stability was reduced by increases in temperature (tested up to 40°C) and humidity. Recovery of cabergoline from buried baits exposed to a range of field conditions decreased rapidly in the first week, but after 56 days remained detectable at levels of 6–22% of the injected amounts. This study has important implications for baiting campaigns that use cabergoline for fox control.
48
Scarman, L. J., S. P. Brown, F. J. F. Farrugia, E. N. Marker, and M. Lane. "Target Specificity of Foxoff Baits at Belair National Park." Australian Mammalogy 20, no. 3 (1998): 431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am98431.
Full textAbstract:
Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) pose a significant threat to small native mammals in Australia (Saunders et al. 1995) and may restrict the recovery of some populations of native mammals and birds (Norman, Cullen and Dann 1992; Augee, Smith and Rose 1996; Priddel and Wheeler 1996; Seebeck and Booth 1996; Smith and Quin 1996). In the Adelaide area V. vulpes are wide- spread in the hills. They are often reported near houses and are a nuisance because of their predation on backyard poultry. Within Belair National Park, an area of 840 ha located in the Adelaide hills about 8 km from the City Centre, foxes are a potential danger to small native mammals, such as the Southern Brown Bandicoot (lsoodon obesulus).There is a small population of I. obesulus in Belair National Park, (Regel et al. 1996) of which 62 individuals from an area of about 30 ha were recently marked with microchips. A fox baiting program with Foxoff® in autumn 1996 in Belair National Park saw the uptake of 97 poisoned baits, with two fox carcasses located.
49
Allsop, Sinéad E., Shannon J. Dundas, Peter J. Adams, Tracey L. Kreplins, Philip W. Bateman, and Patricia A. Fleming. "Reduced efficacy of baiting programs for invasive species: some mechanisms and management implications." Pacific Conservation Biology 23, no. 3 (2017): 240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc17006.
Full textAbstract:
‘Bait-resistance’ is defined as progressive decreases in bait efficacy in controlled pest species populations. Understanding the mechanisms by which bait-resistance can develop is important for the sustainable control of pests worldwide, for both wildlife conservation programs and agricultural production. Bait-resistance is influenced by both behavioural (innate and learned bait-avoidance behaviour) and physiological aspects of the target pest species (its natural diet, its body mass, the mode of action of the toxin, and the animal’s ability to biochemically break down the toxin). In this review, we summarise the scientific literature, discuss factors that can lead to innate and learned aversion to baits, as well as physiological tolerance. We address the question of whether bait avoidance or tolerance to 1080 could develop in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), an introduced predator of significant economic and environmental importance in Australia. Sublethal poisoning has been identified as the primary cause of both bait avoidance and increased toxin-tolerance, and so, finally, we provide examples of how management actions can minimise the risk of sublethal baits in pest species populations.
50
Carter, Andrew, Gary W. Luck, and Simon P. McDonald. "Fox-baiting in agricultural landscapes in south-eastern Australia: a case-study appraisal and suggestions for improvement." Ecological Management & Restoration 12, no. 3 (November 29, 2011): 214–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2011.00604.x.
Full text