❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on the use of 1080 poison for pest control, its potential impact on native species, and alternative pest control methods. The response defends the continued use of 1080 while acknowledging research into alternatives.
AnsweredQoN 1534Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What evidence exists to support the claim made in the February 2003 newsletter of the Walpole-Nornalup National Parks Association that ‘1080 has the disadvantage of being potentially lethal to native mammal populations when present at the levels required to be effective in cat baits’?
(2) What information is available about the claim made in the same newsletter that ‘the CSIRO may be on the verge of developing an alternative to 1080 poison’?
(3) For fox and rabbit control, does the Department of CALM recommend or support the use of alternative poisons to 1080 and, if yes, on what basis does it make these recommendations or offer such support?
(2) What information is available about the claim made in the same newsletter that ‘the CSIRO may be on the verge of developing an alternative to 1080 poison’?
(3) For fox and rabbit control, does the Department of CALM recommend or support the use of alternative poisons to 1080 and, if yes, on what basis does it make these recommendations or offer such support?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
25 June 2003
Responded by
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
22 days
Until this work is complete and the feral cat bait is registered, baiting programs are only being undertaken under controlled conditions at specific sites and under an experimental research permit. Toxic baiting is only permitted at these sites following approval being granted under the risk assessment guidelines of the State and Federal statutory regulations for the ‘Code of Practice on the Use and Management of 1080’. (2) I am advised that CSIRO are not on the verge of developing an alternative to 1080. However, research into vertebrate pest control continues on various fronts, including an investigation into a toxin known as FST (Felid Specific Toxin), a compound that exploits the unique blood physiology of cats. This has been a collaborative effort involving DCLM, the Victorian Departments of Primary Industries and Sustainability and Environment, the Commonwealth Government through Environment Australia and Landcare Research (New Zealand). If it can be demonstrated that FST is effective, humane, safe and presents little or no risk to non-target animals, then the opportunity will exist to use this toxin in circumstances where 1080 may pose a risk to non-target animals. (3) There are no satisfactory alternative toxins to 1080 currently available for the broad-scale control of foxes and feral cats. Because 1080 is a naturally occurring poison to which many species of Western Australian fauna have developed a high tolerance, DCLM supports the use of 1080 for fox and feral cat control until more effective, safer techniques are developed. Other non-specific poisons such as pindone have and continue to be used by some land owners to control rabbits.
(2) I am advised that CSIRO are not on the verge of developing an alternative to 1080. However, research into vertebrate pest control continues on various fronts, including an investigation into a toxin known as FST (Felid Specific Toxin), a compound that exploits the unique blood physiology of cats. This has been a collaborative effort involving DCLM, the Victorian Departments of Primary Industries and Sustainability and Environment, the Commonwealth Government through Environment Australia and Landcare Research (New Zealand). If it can be demonstrated that FST is effective, humane, safe and presents little or no risk to non-target animals, then the opportunity will exist to use this toxin in circumstances where 1080 may pose a risk to non-target animals. (3) There are no satisfactory alternative toxins to 1080 currently available for the broad-scale control of foxes and feral cats. Because 1080 is a naturally occurring poison to which many species of Western Australian fauna have developed a high tolerance, DCLM supports the use of 1080 for fox and feral cat control until more effective, safer techniques are developed. Other non-specific poisons such as pindone have and continue to be used by some land owners to control rabbits.
(3) There are no satisfactory alternative toxins to 1080 currently available for the broad-scale control of foxes and feral cats. Because 1080 is a naturally occurring poison to which many species of Western Australian fauna have developed a high tolerance, DCLM supports the use of 1080 for fox and feral cat control until more effective, safer techniques are developed. Other non-specific poisons such as pindone have and continue to be used by some land owners to control rabbits.
(2) I am advised that CSIRO are not on the verge of developing an alternative to 1080. However, research into vertebrate pest control continues on various fronts, including an investigation into a toxin known as FST (Felid Specific Toxin), a compound that exploits the unique blood physiology of cats. This has been a collaborative effort involving DCLM, the Victorian Departments of Primary Industries and Sustainability and Environment, the Commonwealth Government through Environment Australia and Landcare Research (New Zealand). If it can be demonstrated that FST is effective, humane, safe and presents little or no risk to non-target animals, then the opportunity will exist to use this toxin in circumstances where 1080 may pose a risk to non-target animals. (3) There are no satisfactory alternative toxins to 1080 currently available for the broad-scale control of foxes and feral cats. Because 1080 is a naturally occurring poison to which many species of Western Australian fauna have developed a high tolerance, DCLM supports the use of 1080 for fox and feral cat control until more effective, safer techniques are developed. Other non-specific poisons such as pindone have and continue to be used by some land owners to control rabbits.
(3) There are no satisfactory alternative toxins to 1080 currently available for the broad-scale control of foxes and feral cats. Because 1080 is a naturally occurring poison to which many species of Western Australian fauna have developed a high tolerance, DCLM supports the use of 1080 for fox and feral cat control until more effective, safer techniques are developed. Other non-specific poisons such as pindone have and continue to be used by some land owners to control rabbits.
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