![]() ![]() Therefore, the suppression of feral cat populations is a critical component to the successful conservation of small to medium-sized native fauna. Predation by feral cats has been identified as one of the major obstacles to the successful reintroduction of extirpated native fauna. Predation by feral cats has been demonstrated to threaten the persistence of many native species, and causes billions of dollars damage to the natural and agricultural environment alongside disease transmission. We recommend that at least two methods of monitoring cats be implemented to prevent erroneous conclusions.įeral cats ( Felis catus), cats that live in the wild and can survive without human reliance or contact, are recognised as a key threatening process to native species in Australia and around the world. ![]() Track counts recorded significantly more feral cats than camera traps and were cheaper to implement. Post-baiting surveys then recorded 3.6 and 3.0 cats/100 km, respectively, which still equates to a 35% and 32% reduction in cat activity. Pre-baiting surveys for 20 suggested that the population of feral cats on Matuwa was very low, at 5.5 and 4.4 cats/100 km, respectively, which is well below our target threshold of 10 cats/100 km. ![]() Significantly fewer cats were captured in 2020 ( n = 8) compared to 2019 ( n = 126). Additionally, we report on the recovery of the feral cat population and the efficacy of subsequent Eradicat ® aerial baiting programs following 12 months of intensive feral cat control in 2019. We analysed the cost and the efficacy of monitoring the pre- and post-bait abundance of feral cats via camera-traps or track counts using four years of data from the Matuwa Indigenous Protected Area. Feral cats are difficult to manage and harder to monitor. ![]()
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