At Wildside Sanctuary we are committed to re-dressing the ecological imbalance created by the impact of introduced feral predators, such as the fox, into the Australian landscape. Since white settlement, the European red fox and feral cats have had a devastating impact on our native birds and animals, wiping out many species, and severely depleting others to a few remnant population islands. Fox numbers were able to rapidly escalate and spread across the continent with the release of rabbits by early settlers, a disaster for both farmers and our wildlife. Combined with loss of natural habitat, many of our native wildlife now face an extinction crisis. Sadly, there is no “silver bullet” to easily fix this cascade of problems.
On autumn nights, feral predators such as juvenile foxes are often easy to spot. Slinking across paddocks and gardens, or cast off the side of the highway as roadkill. Motor impacts aside, this introduced species is flexible, opportunistic, and thriving in urban Sydney. Landowners near national parks will soon be receiving letters from the government
about fox baiting activities. Every year I attach our notice to the fridge, filled with conflict as I weigh up the fox-driven destruction of local wildlife against the stark animal welfare issues of using 1080 baits.
Foxes and rabbits were introduced in the 1870s for sport hunting and declared a pest species just 30 years later. The current population sits at a stubborn 1.7 million, and they are found across 80% of the mainland. Foxes and feral cats in particular have been key drivers in wiping out 34 native mammal species made extinct since European settlement, with a hundred more currently listed as threatened. The carnage continues with over half a billion reptiles, birds and mammals estimated to be eaten by foxes each year, in addition to the heavy losses sheep farmers incur with killed lambs. Total eradication is not currently realistic, but we must minimize their impact. Is 1080 the best approach in the varied landscape of the Hawkesbury? Developed in Australia, 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) is a potent toxin derived from “poison pea” plants of the Gastrolobium genus, mostly found in WA. Odourless and tasteless, it was tested as a potential rodenticide in the 1930s. Our native marsupials, reptiles and birds are naturally resistant to this toxin; quokkas famously can gorge on 1080 baits with no ill effects. However, native species in Eastern Australia are likely to have less natural resistance, with species like Quolls believed to be more susceptible.
As the chosen method in WA, studies have shown that targeted baiting programs can lead to a 95% reduction in feral predators numbers. Feral cats are less inclined to eat meat baits and are instead targeted with the ingenious Australian designed Felixor traps. These use a clever camera algorithm to detect cats and squirt the poison onto their coats. The cat then ingests the dose when grooming, and there is virtually zero chance of non-target casualties.
Most agree that poisons are a necessary evil, but having made the decision to kill an animal we have a duty to ensure that the process is humane, and in line with
national welfare codes. Unfortunately, death by 1080 is neither quick nor without suffering. The time to death ranges from 2.5 to 80 hours depending on the species, and feral pigs suffer the longest. Prior to death, carnivores poisoned by 1080 alternate from states of extreme hyperactivity, vocalizing and uncoordinated
movement, to lethargy, recumbency, tremors, convulsions, and respiratory distress. A trawl though Youtube will offer up countless videos on 1080. It’s confronting viewing. There is no antidote for people or animals accidentally poisoned by it. The distress of dog owners helplessly watching as their beloved pets writhe in front of them is heartbreaking. There are more humane alternatives, but no silver bullet. PAPP (para- aminopropriophenone) has a completely different mode of action as the affected animal experiences gradual oxygen depletion, usually becoming lethargic, before falling asleep and dying from lack of oxygen to the brain and heart. The process takes one or two hours. The poison also has an antidote, so accidental intake can be reversed if the animal receives treatment in time. However, a range of native fauna are susceptible to PAPP including lace monitors, southern brown bandicoots and spotted-tailed quolls. While ideal for strategic ground baiting programs, it can’t be used for large scale aerial baiting which is cheaper, more practical, and the preferred vehicle for distributing 1080. It is not registered for use in the greater Sydney area due to potential impacts on non-target wildlife and pets.
Different environments invite varied approaches which may also prevent bait wariness from target species. Alternative control options include predator-proof
fencing, shooting, cage traps, padded foot traps, and guardian animals for livestock. Even so, controlling pest animals for conservation purposes is difficult. A significant reduction in predators is needed to make a real difference for local species, and eradicating feral predators like foxes can then lead to population booms in other problematic species, like feral cats. Even identifying the impact of feral predators is challenging. Longterm wildlife surveys provide essential data and monitoring private and public lands is only possible with collective action.
Feral Predator-proof fenced sanctuaries are currently the best option for many smaller endangered species to have a natural existence, protected from predation. Fences are very expensive to build, require daily maintenance and the animals housed there require professional management for optimal genetic diversity and population numbers. However, these sanctuaries will provide the seeding populations for future re-wilding projects when our endangered species can be safely released into the landscape. We are working with a range of conservation groups to give nature the best chance of recovering from the current extinction crisis. Our vision is for a landscape teeming with abundance and diversity, with the balance of native predators and prey species re-established, thriving at large in the wild, as they did prior to European settlement.
