Download Bandicoots and introduced predators

A number of species are known to
prey on bandicoots, including cats
Carnivores such as foxes and dogs are known to be
particularly susceptible to 1080. Baits can be
prepared that are lethal to foxes while relatively
safe to most wildlife species.
4. Broad scale fox control programs
It is recommended that before and during a fox
control program:
•
contact your local Animal and Plant Control
Board and adjacent land mangers,
•
identify the problem,
•
plan the baiting event,
•
notify neighbours and erect warning signs,
•
encourage participation from neighbours,
•
bury baits at least 500 m apart (4-6 baits / 100
ha),
•
record and replace taken baits,
•
pick up baits at the end of the program.
Fox control has been conducted on reserves by
government agencies and by private land holders
in conjunction with Animal and Plant Control
Boards.
Main points
•
Foxes, cats and dogs prey upon bandicoots.
•
Fox control outside of an integrated pest
control program may lead to an increase in
cats and rabbits.
•
Participate in and / or support broad scale,
integrated fox control programs with your
local Animal and Plant Control Board and
land managers.
3. Monitoring effectiveness
The effectiveness of a fox baiting program is often
monitored through the proportion of baits taken as
a representation fox numbers. However, foxes may
cache a number of baits from multiple sites.
Non-target species also excavate and consume
baits. Hence, bait take may not provide an accurate
estimation of program success.
A better approach to monitoring the effectiveness
of fox baiting programs is to focus on the change in
damage foxes cause. A suitable monitoring
program would investigate the change in
distribution and / or abundance of small mammals
within the area.
Heinsohn, G. 1966. Ecology and Reproduction of the
Tasmanian Bandicoots (Perameles gunnii and Isoodon
obesulus). Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 80: 1-95
Rees, M. & D. Paull. 2000. Distribution of the southern
brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in the Portland region
of south-western Victoria. Wildl. Res. 27: 539-545.
•
Incorporate monitoring into pest control
programs to assess the value of baiting
programs for native wildlife.
Read, J. & Z., Bowen. 2001. Population dynamics, diet and
aspects of the biology of feral cats and foxes in arid South
Australia. Wildl. Res. 28: 195-203.
•
Be a responsible cat and dog owner.
Friend G. 1978. A comparison of predator scat analysis with
conventional techniques in a mammal survey of contrasting
habitats in Gippsland, Victoria. Aust. Wildl. Res. 5: 75-83
Catling, P. & R., Burt. 1999. Establishment of predator and
critical weight range species monitoring procedures and
survey in the South-east forests. CSIRO Wildlife and
Ecology. Canberra.
Southern Brown Bandicoots are omnivores and
consume a wide variety of invertebrates and plant
material (eg spiders, mites, slaters, centipedes,
bugs, beetles, fleas, flies, moths and butterflies,
grasses, seeds, clover root nodules, blackberries,
moss and Gasteromycete and Zygomycete fungi).
Southern Brown Bandicoots are able to consume 2
or 3 baits containing 3 mg of 1080 poison. It is
recommended that fox baiting programs in the
Mount Lofty Ranges use a bait density of 4 to 6
baits per 100 hectares or one fox bait every 500 m.
Given the home range of a resident bandicoot is
generally between 1 and 6 hectares, it is unlikely
that more than one bait would ordinarily be
available to each bandicoot.
Lobert, B. 1990. Home range and activity period of the
Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in a Victorian
heathland. IN Bandicoots and Bilbies. Eds Seebeck, J.,
Brown, P., Wills, R. and C. Kemper. Surrey Beatty and Sons
Pty Ltd. Chipping Norton.
Peter Bird, Animal and Plant Control Commission, Personal
communication.
Quin, D. 1985. Observations on the diet of the Southern
Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia:
Peramelidae), in southern Tasmania. Aust. Mammal. 11: 1525
Responsible pet ownership
Cats are known to prey on bandicoots. Suitable
feral cat control may be required in areas known to
be occupied by Southern Brown Bandicoots. As
feral cat abundance may increase following the
control of foxes in an area, an integrated pest
control program should be adopted.
While feral and stray cats may cause most cat
related bandicoot deaths, native mammals are
threatened by predation from domestic cats. Dogs
have been reported to predate Southern Brown
Bandicoots.
The impact of cats and dogs on bandicoots can be
minimised by adopting responsible ownership of
cats and dogs as promoted by organisations
including the Dog and Cat Management Board,
RSPCA, Animal Welfare League, Councils and
NPWSA.
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Key recommendations for responsible pet
ownership include:
•
desex pets unless they are intended to be used
for breeding,
•
confine pets to the house or yard, particularly
at night,
•
remove, adopt or desex feral or stray cats
before they breed,
•
identify your pets so they can be returned to
you if they roam.
For more information about responsible pet
ownership, ring your local Council or visit:
www.dogsncats.asn.au
References
Copley, P., Read, V., Robinson, A., & C. Watts. 1990.
Preliminary studies of the Nuyts Archipelago Bandicoot
Isoodon obesulus nauticus on the Franklin Islands, South
Australia. IN Bandicoots and Bilbies. Eds Seebeck, J., Brown,
P., Wills, R. and C. Kemper. Surrey Beatty and Sons Pty Ltd.
Chipping Norton.
Fairbridge D., Fisher P., Busana F., Pontin K., Edwards A.,
Johnston M. & M. Shaw. 2000. Observations of the
behaviour of free living bush rat, Rattus fuscipes and
southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus at buried bait
stations. Aust. Mammal. 22: 125-127
McIlroy, J. 1983. The sensitivity of Australian animals to
1080 poison VI. Bandicoots. Aust. Wildl. Res. 10: 507-512.
Twigg L., King D. & R. Mead. 1990. Tolerance to
fluoroacetate of populations of Isoodon spp. and Macrotis
lagotis and its implications for fauna management. IN
Seebeck J., Brown P, Wallis R. and C. Kemper (eds)
Bandicoots and Bilbies. Surrey Beatty and Sons, NSW
Linton, V. 2001. Spotlight on foxes: A guide for all land
managers with an interest in fox control. Primary Industries
and Resources South Australia
.
Haby, N.. 2002. Draft Interim Southern Brown Bandicoot Recovery Plan for the Mount Lofty Rang es. Department for
Environment and Heritage
de Tores, P. 1999. Control and Ecology of the Red Fox in Western Australia – Prey Response to 1080 Baiting Over
Large Areas. Environment Australia.
Environment Australia 1999. Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats. Commonwealth of Australia,
Canberra, ACT
Deb Kelly, National Parks and Wildlife SA, Personal Communication.
Bandicoots and introduced predators
Southern Brown Bandicoots are the last remaining species of bandicoots and bilbies
naturally occurring in South Australia. Recently listed as a nationally endangered
species, the Southern Brown Bandicoot is under threat in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
Threats include predation of Southern Brown Bandicoots by introduced predators such
as Foxes and Cats.
Impact of predators on bandicoots
A number of species are known to prey on
Southern Brown Bandicoots including Owls, Tiger
Snakes, diurnal birds of prey, dogs, foxes and cats.
Key Contacts
National Parks and Wildlife SA
General Enquires Phone: 08 8204 9000
Nature Foundation SA Inc
General Enquires Phone: 1300 366 191
Mount Lofty Ranges Catchment Centre
Upper Level, Cnr Mann & Walker Streets
Mount Barker SA 5251
Ph: 08 8391 7500
Fax: 08 8391 7524
Fleurieu Animal and Plant Control Board
PO Box 781 Willunga SA 5172
Ph: 08 8556 4500
Fax: 08 8556 4499
Barossa Ranges Animal and Plant Control Board
PO Box 295 Angaston SA 5353
Ph: 08 8563 8444
Fax: 08 8563 8461
Mount Lofty Ranges Animal and Plant Control Board
1 Adelaide-Lobethal Road Lobethal SA 5241
Ph: 08 8389 6166 Fax: 08 8389 6155
Southern Brown Bandicoot
Artists: Alicia Haby and Belinda Cale
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Introduced foxes and cats are known to generally
rely on the introduced rabbit as their primary food
source. However, both foxes and cats switch to
consuming a variety of native wildlife, including
species of mammals, birds and reptiles, when
rabbit numbers become less abundant in an area.
Foxes and cats also have the ability to hunt
species, such as Southern Brown Bandicoots, in
areas where bandicoots are relatively uncommon.
Predation by foxes and cats has become one of the
processes threatening the survival of Southern
Brown Bandicoots.
1. Integrated pest control
Fox control needs to be part of an integrated pest
control program to be effective. Fox control and
monitoring programs interstate have found that the
removal of foxes from an area leads to a decline in
fox abundance and an increase in cat abundance. It
was also found that a) low understorey complexity
is related to a decline in diversity and abundance of
small and medium sized mammals, and b) that
disturbance is followed by an increase in exotic
species, including rabbits.
Foxes are widespread in the Mount Lofty Ranges
and only a well-designed ongoing program will
provide long-term benefits to native wildlife.
Programs should identify and assess the impact
foxes relative to other threatening processes and
ensure the program has the long term capacity to
address the threat.
Fox baiting programs are most effective when, a)
conducted at a broad scale, b) over a long time
frame, c) integrated with other pest control
programs, and d) conducted at least during spring,
summer and autumn when fox numbers are higher
than normal. It is also important to adopt suitable
monitoring programs, where possible, to identify
the value of baiting foxes for native wildlife.
To benefit native wildlife and the habitat that
supports them, fox control programs need be
established with rabbit control programs to prevent
an increase in rabbit numbers. Feral cat control and
increased awareness of responsible domestic cat
ownership is also important.
Fox control program design
3. Safe 1080 bait spacing
A number of factors need to be considered prior to
the establishment of an effective pest control
program.
Foxes are most effectively controlled using baits
containing the poison sodium fluoroacetate (1080).
Government
of South Australia