Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally, with insular fauna often most sever... more Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally, with insular fauna often most severely affected. Here, we assess spatial variation in the number of terrestrial vertebrates (excluding amphibians) killed by two mammalian mesopredators introduced to Australia, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). We aim to identify prey groups that suffer especially high rates of predation, and regions where losses to foxes and/or cats are most substantial.
Commercial and recreational harvesting of pigs is often encouraged by pest managers because it is... more Commercial and recreational harvesting of pigs is often encouraged by pest managers because it is essentially a ‘free’ reduction in pest density. However, the reduction in numbers may provide minimal damage mitigation and may be inappropriately allocated in space and time. Additionally, more effective control (e.g. baiting) may not occur because of the incorrect perception that harvesting is effective or because pigs are valued for recreational use.
Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control using traditional management approa... more Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control using traditional management approaches such as baiting, reportedly due to their preference for hunting live prey. Many factors, however, can potentially influence the success of feral cat baiting programs. As baiting efficacy is rarely measured, the factors contributing to low baiting success are often assumed, but poorly understood. We used a combination of camera traps and cat-borne GPS collars to measure the efficacy of two feral cat baiting programs at Taunton National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland. We trialled a fresh meat bait (the Queensland 'Curiosity 1080 Cat Bait', ~125 g fresh kangaroo meat, 6 mg 1080) during winter 2016, and a chipolata-style meat bait (Eradicat®, ~20g kangaroo mince, chicken fat and flavour enhancers, 4.5 mg 1080) during winter 2017. Track-based ground baiting using Curiosity baits was ineffective, with only 11% of collared cats killed and no observed reduction in populatio...
Effective monitoring is key for effective wildlife management. Aerial surveys are a proven method... more Effective monitoring is key for effective wildlife management. Aerial surveys are a proven method for monitoring medium/large-sized mammals (e.g. macropods, feral pigs) in Australia's rangelands. However, conventional aircraft are noisy, expensive, and considered an occupational safety risk for biologists. UAS (unmanned aerial systems, or drones) may offer potential safety and efficiency gains, but need to be assessed against the current best-practice techniques. We tested the ability of a long-range, fixed-wing drone (300m agl, 65-93 km h-1 , thermal and colour imaging) to survey macropod populations and validated the results against those from conventional helicopter surveys (61m agl, 93 km h-1 , human observers). Four, 80-km long transects at Roma in southwestern Queensland were surveyed and the outputs analysed using line-transect distance sampling methods. The drone was able to survey over half (56%) of the 320 km transects, and over 448 km of survey flights in total. Howev...
Feral cat (Felis catus) populations are notoriously difficult to control. While coordinated 1080 ... more Feral cat (Felis catus) populations are notoriously difficult to control. While coordinated 1080 baiting programs are the most cost-effective option for the broad scale reduction of wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes), the use of 1080 baits to specifically target feral cats is currently restricted and largely untested in eastern Australian environs. We performed a feral cat baiting trial in Taunton National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland to (1) test the efficacy of the Queensland ‘Curiosity 1080 Cat Bait’, and (2) measure the uptake of baits by target and non-target species. Over 14 days, 54% of 50 individually monitored baits were removed by non-target species, with 46% removed in the first 4 days. Most baits were taken by birds, with corvids removing more than half of all baits taken. Cameras used to monitor baits did not detect any feral cats consuming or removing baits, although several cats were detected interacting wit...
Significant advances have been made using the biophysical sciences to improve our knowledge of fe... more Significant advances have been made using the biophysical sciences to improve our knowledge of feral pig (Susscrofa) ecology and management. Limited implementation of such knowledge by land managers remains a major barrier to achieving landscape scale control. While this situation creates a suite of interrelated problems, it presents the opportunity to test whether blending ecological research with community engagement approaches can improve the effectiveness of on ground management practices. This study integrates human dimension research with biophysical research on feral pig ecology to create more effective management and extension tools. There is significant value in bridging the gap between research and extension to encourage greater participation in feral pig control. I am implementing an innovative approach that aims to improve the participation of the community in coordinated feral pig management at a landscape scale—using applied science to achieve community-led action. In ...
Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control effectively using traditional manag... more Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control effectively using traditional management approaches. Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) reintroductions have been proposed as a novel approach to the broadscale control of invasive mesopredators such as feral cats and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). However, the ability of dingoes to suppress feral cats and protect species threatened by cat predation remains unresolved. We used camera traps to investigate the spatial and temporal activity of sympatric dingoes and feral cats in Taunton National Park, home to the only significant remnant wild population of the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). Feral cats and dingoes exhibited marked overlap in spatial and temporal activity across the park, indicating coexistence between these predators at this site. There was no evidence of dingoes excluding cats from any areas, with cat activity higher in areas where dingoes were active. Time and distance between individual predato...
Wild dog impacts are increasingly being felt by agricultural producers and residents of towns and... more Wild dog impacts are increasingly being felt by agricultural producers and residents of towns and suburbs throughout the more populated areas of eastern Australia. Wild dogs in these areas can have substantial impacts on residential communities, fragmented conservation estates and a number of primary industries including grazing, dairy and intensive livestock industries. In various forums, local governments throughout Australia have consistently identified the need to improve our understanding of wild dog ecology and develop control tools and strategies for managing peri-urban wild dogs. State and local governments need this information to assist in planning and coordinating control activities and develop extension materials. Peri-urban wild dog management is often contentious and difficult to implement given the presence of a variety of stakeholders with wide-ranging and often conflicting ideologies. This conflict is compounded by a general lack of understanding about wild dog ecol...
Feral cats (Felis catus) threaten many native species through predation, competition and the spre... more Feral cats (Felis catus) threaten many native species through predation, competition and the spread of disease (Department of Environment 2015). Managing feral cats and their impacts, however, is difficult. Effective monitoring and management strategies require a sound knowledge of how feral cats utilise their environment, although key aspects of habitat use will often vary in different environs. We fitted GPS collars to 9 feral cats (5 male, 4 female) at Taunton National Park in central Queensland to investigate how they utilise their environment. We calculated home ranges for each cat using 12 hourly fixes from May to July 2016. Habitat utilisation within each home range was assessed to identify if cats showed preference for particular vegetation type or landscape features. On average, home ranges of males were around three times larger than those of females, with spatial overlap evident, both between and within sexes. While the larger home range of males is consistent with other ...
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are a significant agricultural and environmental pest across Australia. T... more Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are a significant agricultural and environmental pest across Australia. The main method of feral pig control is poisoning with (1080) baits. Pigs are omnivores and have a diverse diet which includes carrion, insects, grains, bulbs, fruits, and plant material. Availability and familiarity play an important role in determining pig diet preferences, and diet varies according to location and season. The most common bait material to target feral pigs is either grain or meat but, in the wet tropics areas of north Queensland, meat and grain have limited uptake and are thus unsuitable. The bait materials of choice, due to both availability and pig preference, are local fruits. To date, there has been a relative paucity of data available on the efficacy and non-target impacts of the use of 1080 in fruit and vegetables as feral pig baits. Over a four month period, bait visitation and uptake by various species for both poisoned and un-poisoned banana and mango baits, an...
In Australia, wild dogs (Canis familiaris) are common in peri-urban environments, live within a c... more In Australia, wild dogs (Canis familiaris) are common in peri-urban environments, live within a close distance to houses, and visit household backyards and other public high-use areas such as school grounds and parklands. Wild dogs are known to harbour parasites and their presence within these environments has human-health implications. Bacterial pathogens may also affect human health, but the prevalence and diversity of such pathogens in wild dogs remains poorly studied. We examined the presence bacterial pathogens in peri-urban wild dogs to further understand the potential risks to human health. We collected faecal, whole blood, serum and nasal samples from wild dogs captured during council management programs within northeast New South Wales and southeast Queensland. Microbiological, molecular, and serological methods were used to detect and identify targeted pathogens. The results of this study indicate that carriage of bacterial pathogens by peri-urban wild dogs is less prevale...
ContextInvasive species are a major cause of biodiversity loss across much of the world, and a ke... more ContextInvasive species are a major cause of biodiversity loss across much of the world, and a key threat to Australia’s diverse reptile fauna. There has been no previous comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of the introduced European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, on Australian reptiles. AimsWe seek to provide an inventory of all Australian reptile species known to be consumed by the fox, and identify characteristics of squamate species associated with such predation. We also compare these tallies and characteristics with reptile species known to be consumed by the domestic cat, Felis catus, to examine whether predation by these two introduced species is compounded (i.e. affecting much the same set of species) or complementary (affecting different groups of species). Methods We collated records of Australian reptiles consumed by foxes in Australia, with most records deriving from fox dietary studies (tallying >35000 samples). We modelled presence or absence of fox predation r...
Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally, with insular fauna often most sever... more Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally, with insular fauna often most severely affected. Here, we assess spatial variation in the number of terrestrial vertebrates (excluding amphibians) killed by two mammalian mesopredators introduced to Australia, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). We aim to identify prey groups that suffer especially high rates of predation, and regions where losses to foxes and/or cats are most substantial.
Commercial and recreational harvesting of pigs is often encouraged by pest managers because it is... more Commercial and recreational harvesting of pigs is often encouraged by pest managers because it is essentially a ‘free’ reduction in pest density. However, the reduction in numbers may provide minimal damage mitigation and may be inappropriately allocated in space and time. Additionally, more effective control (e.g. baiting) may not occur because of the incorrect perception that harvesting is effective or because pigs are valued for recreational use.
Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control using traditional management approa... more Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control using traditional management approaches such as baiting, reportedly due to their preference for hunting live prey. Many factors, however, can potentially influence the success of feral cat baiting programs. As baiting efficacy is rarely measured, the factors contributing to low baiting success are often assumed, but poorly understood. We used a combination of camera traps and cat-borne GPS collars to measure the efficacy of two feral cat baiting programs at Taunton National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland. We trialled a fresh meat bait (the Queensland 'Curiosity 1080 Cat Bait', ~125 g fresh kangaroo meat, 6 mg 1080) during winter 2016, and a chipolata-style meat bait (Eradicat®, ~20g kangaroo mince, chicken fat and flavour enhancers, 4.5 mg 1080) during winter 2017. Track-based ground baiting using Curiosity baits was ineffective, with only 11% of collared cats killed and no observed reduction in populatio...
Effective monitoring is key for effective wildlife management. Aerial surveys are a proven method... more Effective monitoring is key for effective wildlife management. Aerial surveys are a proven method for monitoring medium/large-sized mammals (e.g. macropods, feral pigs) in Australia's rangelands. However, conventional aircraft are noisy, expensive, and considered an occupational safety risk for biologists. UAS (unmanned aerial systems, or drones) may offer potential safety and efficiency gains, but need to be assessed against the current best-practice techniques. We tested the ability of a long-range, fixed-wing drone (300m agl, 65-93 km h-1 , thermal and colour imaging) to survey macropod populations and validated the results against those from conventional helicopter surveys (61m agl, 93 km h-1 , human observers). Four, 80-km long transects at Roma in southwestern Queensland were surveyed and the outputs analysed using line-transect distance sampling methods. The drone was able to survey over half (56%) of the 320 km transects, and over 448 km of survey flights in total. Howev...
Feral cat (Felis catus) populations are notoriously difficult to control. While coordinated 1080 ... more Feral cat (Felis catus) populations are notoriously difficult to control. While coordinated 1080 baiting programs are the most cost-effective option for the broad scale reduction of wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes), the use of 1080 baits to specifically target feral cats is currently restricted and largely untested in eastern Australian environs. We performed a feral cat baiting trial in Taunton National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland to (1) test the efficacy of the Queensland ‘Curiosity 1080 Cat Bait’, and (2) measure the uptake of baits by target and non-target species. Over 14 days, 54% of 50 individually monitored baits were removed by non-target species, with 46% removed in the first 4 days. Most baits were taken by birds, with corvids removing more than half of all baits taken. Cameras used to monitor baits did not detect any feral cats consuming or removing baits, although several cats were detected interacting wit...
Significant advances have been made using the biophysical sciences to improve our knowledge of fe... more Significant advances have been made using the biophysical sciences to improve our knowledge of feral pig (Susscrofa) ecology and management. Limited implementation of such knowledge by land managers remains a major barrier to achieving landscape scale control. While this situation creates a suite of interrelated problems, it presents the opportunity to test whether blending ecological research with community engagement approaches can improve the effectiveness of on ground management practices. This study integrates human dimension research with biophysical research on feral pig ecology to create more effective management and extension tools. There is significant value in bridging the gap between research and extension to encourage greater participation in feral pig control. I am implementing an innovative approach that aims to improve the participation of the community in coordinated feral pig management at a landscape scale—using applied science to achieve community-led action. In ...
Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control effectively using traditional manag... more Feral cats (Felis catus) are notoriously difficult to control effectively using traditional management approaches. Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) reintroductions have been proposed as a novel approach to the broadscale control of invasive mesopredators such as feral cats and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). However, the ability of dingoes to suppress feral cats and protect species threatened by cat predation remains unresolved. We used camera traps to investigate the spatial and temporal activity of sympatric dingoes and feral cats in Taunton National Park, home to the only significant remnant wild population of the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata). Feral cats and dingoes exhibited marked overlap in spatial and temporal activity across the park, indicating coexistence between these predators at this site. There was no evidence of dingoes excluding cats from any areas, with cat activity higher in areas where dingoes were active. Time and distance between individual predato...
Wild dog impacts are increasingly being felt by agricultural producers and residents of towns and... more Wild dog impacts are increasingly being felt by agricultural producers and residents of towns and suburbs throughout the more populated areas of eastern Australia. Wild dogs in these areas can have substantial impacts on residential communities, fragmented conservation estates and a number of primary industries including grazing, dairy and intensive livestock industries. In various forums, local governments throughout Australia have consistently identified the need to improve our understanding of wild dog ecology and develop control tools and strategies for managing peri-urban wild dogs. State and local governments need this information to assist in planning and coordinating control activities and develop extension materials. Peri-urban wild dog management is often contentious and difficult to implement given the presence of a variety of stakeholders with wide-ranging and often conflicting ideologies. This conflict is compounded by a general lack of understanding about wild dog ecol...
Feral cats (Felis catus) threaten many native species through predation, competition and the spre... more Feral cats (Felis catus) threaten many native species through predation, competition and the spread of disease (Department of Environment 2015). Managing feral cats and their impacts, however, is difficult. Effective monitoring and management strategies require a sound knowledge of how feral cats utilise their environment, although key aspects of habitat use will often vary in different environs. We fitted GPS collars to 9 feral cats (5 male, 4 female) at Taunton National Park in central Queensland to investigate how they utilise their environment. We calculated home ranges for each cat using 12 hourly fixes from May to July 2016. Habitat utilisation within each home range was assessed to identify if cats showed preference for particular vegetation type or landscape features. On average, home ranges of males were around three times larger than those of females, with spatial overlap evident, both between and within sexes. While the larger home range of males is consistent with other ...
Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are a significant agricultural and environmental pest across Australia. T... more Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are a significant agricultural and environmental pest across Australia. The main method of feral pig control is poisoning with (1080) baits. Pigs are omnivores and have a diverse diet which includes carrion, insects, grains, bulbs, fruits, and plant material. Availability and familiarity play an important role in determining pig diet preferences, and diet varies according to location and season. The most common bait material to target feral pigs is either grain or meat but, in the wet tropics areas of north Queensland, meat and grain have limited uptake and are thus unsuitable. The bait materials of choice, due to both availability and pig preference, are local fruits. To date, there has been a relative paucity of data available on the efficacy and non-target impacts of the use of 1080 in fruit and vegetables as feral pig baits. Over a four month period, bait visitation and uptake by various species for both poisoned and un-poisoned banana and mango baits, an...
In Australia, wild dogs (Canis familiaris) are common in peri-urban environments, live within a c... more In Australia, wild dogs (Canis familiaris) are common in peri-urban environments, live within a close distance to houses, and visit household backyards and other public high-use areas such as school grounds and parklands. Wild dogs are known to harbour parasites and their presence within these environments has human-health implications. Bacterial pathogens may also affect human health, but the prevalence and diversity of such pathogens in wild dogs remains poorly studied. We examined the presence bacterial pathogens in peri-urban wild dogs to further understand the potential risks to human health. We collected faecal, whole blood, serum and nasal samples from wild dogs captured during council management programs within northeast New South Wales and southeast Queensland. Microbiological, molecular, and serological methods were used to detect and identify targeted pathogens. The results of this study indicate that carriage of bacterial pathogens by peri-urban wild dogs is less prevale...
ContextInvasive species are a major cause of biodiversity loss across much of the world, and a ke... more ContextInvasive species are a major cause of biodiversity loss across much of the world, and a key threat to Australia’s diverse reptile fauna. There has been no previous comprehensive analysis of the potential impact of the introduced European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, on Australian reptiles. AimsWe seek to provide an inventory of all Australian reptile species known to be consumed by the fox, and identify characteristics of squamate species associated with such predation. We also compare these tallies and characteristics with reptile species known to be consumed by the domestic cat, Felis catus, to examine whether predation by these two introduced species is compounded (i.e. affecting much the same set of species) or complementary (affecting different groups of species). Methods We collated records of Australian reptiles consumed by foxes in Australia, with most records deriving from fox dietary studies (tallying >35000 samples). We modelled presence or absence of fox predation r...
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