❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice examines the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) expenditure, evaluation, and effectiveness of 1080 poison for pest control, including its impact on native animals and comparison to alternative methods. The response provides detailed information on spending, monitoring programs, success rates, and justifications for using 1080.
AnsweredQoN 4320Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How much was spent on 1080 poison by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in 2010-2011?
(2) How much is scheduled to be spent by DEC in 2011-2012?
(3) What evaluation and monitoring is done by DEC of the 1080 poisoning program?
(4) What are the success rate figures on reduction of pests through the use of 1080 poisoning?
(5) What are the figures for secondary deaths of native animals from the use of 1080 poison?
(6) Are there studies on the successful use of 1080 poison over other methods of pest control?
(7) If yes to (6), please provide an outline.
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) What investigation has there been into the costs of other pest control methods?
(2) How much is scheduled to be spent by DEC in 2011-2012?
(3) What evaluation and monitoring is done by DEC of the 1080 poisoning program?
(4) What are the success rate figures on reduction of pests through the use of 1080 poisoning?
(5) What are the figures for secondary deaths of native animals from the use of 1080 poison?
(6) Are there studies on the successful use of 1080 poison over other methods of pest control?
(7) If yes to (6), please provide an outline.
(8) If no to (6), why not?
(9) What investigation has there been into the costs of other pest control methods?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
55 days
(1) Approximately $739 000 was spent on 1080 bait products in 2010-2011.
(2) Approximately $914 000.
(3) Most 1080 poisoning by DEC is to control foxes to protect populations of threatened and other fauna under the
Western Shield
Fauna Recovery Program. DEC also uses 1080 poison to control wild dogs, rabbits and pigs, and is working to further develop and implement feral cat control using 1080.
DEC monitors the fauna response to baiting, rather than the impacts on predator numbers.
Research by DEC scientists has investigated the efficacy of DEC baiting programs for fox as well as cat control. Results have shown that 1080 baiting is effective in reducing the abundance of foxes, and cats where targeted.
Rabbit control success is determined in the short term by monitoring bait consumption and fresh activity following baiting and in the longer term by the reduction of impacts and/or the recovery of vegetation and flora.
Where 1080 baiting of pigs is undertaken by DEC, impacts and activity, including bait consumption, are monitored pre and post baiting to determine success. Reduction in complaints from neighbouring landholders provides further evaluation of success.
The success of baiting operations for wild dog control is generally assessed by collating reports of stock losses or attacks before and after baiting is undertaken.
(4) A study conducted in the Carnarvon area in 1995 followed the fate of 45 radio-collared foxes through an aerial 1080 baiting campaign and found that more than half of these foxes died within the first three days and all foxes were dead after 44 days. To account for less than 100 per cent success and invasion by foxes from unbaited areas, DEC has adopted baiting frequencies for fox control ranging from monthly in isolated reserves to four times per year in extensive forest areas.
(5) In combination with captive trials and known data on 1080 susceptibility, field trials have been conducted to assess non-target bait uptake and to follow the fate of individual animals through a baiting operation. While some non-target native animals have shown signs of bait consumption, none have shown symptoms of poisoning or have died as a result.
It is not feasible to assess the number of deaths of native animals or target pest animals in operational baiting programs as carcasses are rarely found, however, no poisoning of native animals leading to observable symptoms or death due to operational 1080 baiting programs is known to have occurred.
(6-7) Yes. Other methods of control of vertebrate pests targeted by 1080 poisoning include fumigation, trapping, shooting and the use of a limited range of registered toxins. Due to the significantly higher tolerance to 1080 of native mammals in WA compared to that of introduced mammals, 1080 is the preferred option for fox, pig, wild dog and feral cat control. It has been demonstrated to achieve significant results in fauna recovery.
(8) Not applicable
(9) The cost of pest animal control in Australia has been considered for a range of target species by relevant State and Commonwealth agencies. The most current information rests with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Science and may be found in their publications, including the publication "Science for Decision Makers: Australia's Pest Animals: New approaches to old problems" (February 2006), and "Managing Vertebrae Pests: Foxes" (1995).
Compared to other methods of control, broadscale fox baiting as conducted under
Western Shield
is currently the most cost effective method of protecting wildlife from fox predation.
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(2) Approximately $914 000.
(3) Most 1080 poisoning by DEC is to control foxes to protect populations of threatened and other fauna under the
Western Shield
Fauna Recovery Program. DEC also uses 1080 poison to control wild dogs, rabbits and pigs, and is working to further develop and implement feral cat control using 1080.
DEC monitors the fauna response to baiting, rather than the impacts on predator numbers.
Research by DEC scientists has investigated the efficacy of DEC baiting programs for fox as well as cat control. Results have shown that 1080 baiting is effective in reducing the abundance of foxes, and cats where targeted.
Rabbit control success is determined in the short term by monitoring bait consumption and fresh activity following baiting and in the longer term by the reduction of impacts and/or the recovery of vegetation and flora.
Where 1080 baiting of pigs is undertaken by DEC, impacts and activity, including bait consumption, are monitored pre and post baiting to determine success. Reduction in complaints from neighbouring landholders provides further evaluation of success.
The success of baiting operations for wild dog control is generally assessed by collating reports of stock losses or attacks before and after baiting is undertaken.
(4) A study conducted in the Carnarvon area in 1995 followed the fate of 45 radio-collared foxes through an aerial 1080 baiting campaign and found that more than half of these foxes died within the first three days and all foxes were dead after 44 days. To account for less than 100 per cent success and invasion by foxes from unbaited areas, DEC has adopted baiting frequencies for fox control ranging from monthly in isolated reserves to four times per year in extensive forest areas.
(5) In combination with captive trials and known data on 1080 susceptibility, field trials have been conducted to assess non-target bait uptake and to follow the fate of individual animals through a baiting operation. While some non-target native animals have shown signs of bait consumption, none have shown symptoms of poisoning or have died as a result.
It is not feasible to assess the number of deaths of native animals or target pest animals in operational baiting programs as carcasses are rarely found, however, no poisoning of native animals leading to observable symptoms or death due to operational 1080 baiting programs is known to have occurred.
(6-7) Yes. Other methods of control of vertebrate pests targeted by 1080 poisoning include fumigation, trapping, shooting and the use of a limited range of registered toxins. Due to the significantly higher tolerance to 1080 of native mammals in WA compared to that of introduced mammals, 1080 is the preferred option for fox, pig, wild dog and feral cat control. It has been demonstrated to achieve significant results in fauna recovery.
(8) Not applicable
(9) The cost of pest animal control in Australia has been considered for a range of target species by relevant State and Commonwealth agencies. The most current information rests with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics and Science and may be found in their publications, including the publication "Science for Decision Makers: Australia's Pest Animals: New approaches to old problems" (February 2006), and "Managing Vertebrae Pests: Foxes" (1995).
Compared to other methods of control, broadscale fox baiting as conducted under
Western Shield
is currently the most cost effective method of protecting wildlife from fox predation.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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