Research

Research Project: Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) - Feral Cat Toxicant and Bait Delivery System

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) have conducted trials at Mt Rothwell as part of a project that seeks to develop a poison bait for management of feral cats.

Feral cats (Felis catus) are those cats that live completely independently of humans with respect to food, shelter and veterinary care. Feral cats are known to predate a wide range of Australian native wildlife, transmit diseases such as toxoplasmosis and compete with native wildlife for resources such as food or shelter.

The DSE project was undertaken at Mt Rothwell to collect data that will be used to make decisions about the hazard that the baits may present to native mammal species. Non-toxic baits utilised a dye to indicate animals that would have been ‘exposed’ to the toxicant had it been provided.

Mt Rothwell was pleased to support the development of a target-specific management tool for feral cat populations.

Click here for more information about the DSE feral cat bait development project.