Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Response of Northern Quolls to Feral Cat Baiting in the Pilbara, Western Australia Volunteer “Quoll-out” ! G’day all ! I’m currently looking for keen volunteers to assist on a number of field trips for my PhD project in the Pilbara investigating the ecological responses of Northern Quolls to a largescale feral predator baiting program being undertaken at Yarraloola Station. Project details: To investigate the effectiveness of baiting for feral cat control and the responses of quolls I will be using camera traps to monitor populations of each species over the duration of the baiting program (2016-2018). Later this year cage trapping for quolls will also take place. Subsequent years’ (2017-2018) survey methods will include; cat trapping, GPS telemetry studies (of cats and quolls), dietary analysis, stress hormone analysis and behavioural ecology experiments to investigate perceived predation pressures. Project background: Feral cats are one of the most serious threats to Australia’s wildlife having already been implicated in numerous extinctions and being responsible for as many as 60 000 000 deaths per day. Therefore there is an urgent need to find the most effective means of controlling feral cats on a landscape scale. As part of a Threatened Species Offset Plan in the western Pilbara a large-scale feral predator baiting program is being undertaken to benefit the Northern Quoll in its last stronghold on mainland Australia. - Each trip will require 1 volunteer - Trips range from~ 1 week to 2-3 weeks (trapping). - Need to be physically fit (walking up steep rock slopes carrying traps) and able to work in remote areas, under challenging conditions (gets hot!). - Accommodation will be camping with occasional nights in a mining camp in nearby Pannawonica. - Food, camping equipment and travel expenses from Perth-Karratha provided. - Experience in ecological field work highly preferred (especially trapping and radio telemetry). Experience with quolls, feral cats or small mammals a big bonus. - Will have to undertake induction courses Please email expressions of interests detailing for mining lease OHS requirements. Costs any prior experience to [email protected] covered but valid Senior First Aid, 4WD or contact me on 0401307543 if you would like training an advantage. some more information about the project. First trip planned for 23rd-31st of May. Cheers !