Download Response of Northern Quolls to Feral Cat Baiting in the Pilbara

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 !