Feral Cat Baiting 2009

Feral cats predate a wide range of native bird, mammal and reptile species in Australia. Management of feral cat populations in Australia has previously been complicated by lack of a suitable technique that achieves broad area control.

A team of four DEC researchers stayed on Dirk Hartog Island from March until May 2009 to  start the next stage of testing of a new feral cat bait. The group did trap feral cats, collar them and monitor their behaviour before laying the new baits.

Poison baits were distributed across the norther section of Dirk Hartog Island during a feral cat control trial conducted by the DEC. 

This project had developed a bait that uses a new toxicant, called paraminopropiophenone - PAPP. This compound triggers a humane death in feral cats that consume the bait. Significant effort has been undertaken to ensure that feral cats are teh only species taht are affected by the baits. The current trial being undertaken at Dirk Hartog Island will use the naturally occurring 1080 toxin, and also the bait delivery capsule which will assis in developing the alternative PAPP bait.

The Victorian tests resulted in up to 90 per cent of feral cats in an area of French Island being wiped out by the baits and the Department is hoping for a similar outcome on Dirk Hartog Island.

What to do:

People are requested to not interfere with any of the baits or monitoring devices used during the trial. Children should be supervised at all times. 

For further information, contact Brett Fitzgerald at the DEC Denham office, Ph: 08 9948 1208