Ground-Placed Baits for the Control of Wild Dogs: Evaluation of a Replacement-Baiting Strategy in North-Eastern New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 729 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJS Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Abundance Indices ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Minimum Numbers ◽  
Wild Dogs

Abundance indices for wild dogs (Canis familiaris familiaris and C. familiaris dingo) were calculated from their visitation to stations containing non-toxic baits before and after a replacement-baiting programme (conducted in January-February 1993). The programme, where 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate)-impregnated baits removed by target animals were replaced each day, achieved a mean reduction of 76.1% in the index of dog abundance. The replacement-baiting strategy removed all resident animals that would accept baits and the probable reductions in the populations of dogs were greater than the reductions reported in previous studies. The indices of the abundance of sympatric red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were also reduced (90.8%) by the replacement-baiting programme. Minimum numbers of dogs and foxes using roads and tracks in the study area were estimated by index-manipulation-index methodology. The risk of this replacement-baiting programme to populations of non-target animals was insubstantial. The effects of the manipulation of canid populations on the management of populations of non-target animals are discussed.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of 1080 Poisoning of Red Foxes Using Visitation to Non-Toxic Baits as an Index of Fox Abundance.

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Thompson ◽  
PJS Fleming
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Reliable Estimate ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Index Method ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Abundance Indices ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Fox Control

Visits of foxes to non-toxic baits were used to derive fox abundance indices at 4 sites in north-eastern New South Wales. A 1080 (sodium fluoracetate) poisoning campaign resulted in a mean population reduction of 69.5% (s.d. = 4.9). Fox densities before baiting, calculated using the index-removal-index method, ranged from 4.55 to 7.16 foxes km-2. Visitation to non-toxic baits is recommended as a reliable estimate of relative density. This study investigated the efficacy of 1080 baiting as a technique for the control of foxes in tableland environments. The implications of the estimated fox densities and population reductions on fox control in agricultural areas and in the context of rabies are discussed.

Indices for Measuring the Efficacy of Aerial Baiting for Wild Dog Control in North-Eastern New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 665 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJS Fleming ◽  
JA Thompson ◽  
HI Nicol
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
The Other ◽  
Treatment Site ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Wild Dog ◽  
Wild Dogs

The efficacy of aerial baiting with 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) for the control of wild dogs (Canis familiaris familiaris and C. familiaris dingo) in the temperate rangelands of north-eastern New South Wales was studied. In each year from 1991 to 1993, 2 indices of the abundance of dogs, one a raw count of sets of footprints per km of transect (SF) and the other an ln-transformed frequency corrected for sightability of signs (CI), were used to quantify the changes in abundance caused by aerial baiting. Abundance of dogs at a nil-treatment site was estimated concurrently. The SF index found the 1991 baiting to be efficacious. Both measures of abundance showed baiting to be efficacious in 1992 and 1993. Reductions of 66.3-84.5% in the abundance of dogs at the treatment site were found for the CI measure. The SF measure displayed abundance changes of 76.1-91.1%. The indices of abundance measured prior to the annual baiting in 1992 and 1993 were similar, indicating that populations returned to their initial abundance within 1 year.

Diets of sympatric red foxes Vulpes vulpes and wild dogs Canis lupus in the Northern Rivers Region, New South Wales.

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Glen ◽  
A. R. Fay ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Northern Rivers ◽  
Wallabia Bicolor ◽  
Wild Dogs ◽  
Swamp Wallaby

In the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales the diets of sympatric foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and dogs (Canis lupus) were determined from analysis of oportunitically collected scats. Mammalian prey dominated the diet of both species but foxes had a more diverse diet than dogs. The red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis) had the highest occurrence in both predators. the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus) was the second most common prey of the fox but did not occur in dog scats. Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) was more common in dog scats than fox scats.

Studies of the Ground-dwelling Mammals of Eucalypt Forests in North-eastern New South Wales: the Species, their Abundance and Distribution

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Widespread Distribution ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Eucalypt Forests ◽  
Abundance And Distribution

The distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the major vegetation alliances in the eucalypt forests within an area of c. 24000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales were examined. Data for 33 species of mammal from 21 areas containing 30 vegetation alliances were collected. Four notable aspects of the data were the absence or low abundance of the introduced fox (Vulpes vulpes), the widespread distribution and abundance of the cat (Felis catus), the diversity and abundance of medium-sized native mammals and the diversity of small mammals. Although differences occurred between areas and alliances, there was no significant difference in the number of native and introduced species. The ground-dwelling mammals present in the eucalypt forests of north-eastern New South Wales were more diverse and in greater abundance than those found in forests of south-eastern New South Wales. However, some species, such as the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), appear to be in urgent need of protection and management if they are to persist.

Diet of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in South-west New South Wales, with relevance to lamb predation.

1993 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
IW Lugton
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
South West ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Preferred Foods ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The diets of 212 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the far south-west of New South Wales were determined between 1985 and 1989 and compared with other Australian studies. Mammalian remains, at an overall occurrence of 99.1%, formed the basis of the diet during the autumn and winter months. The most frequently occurring mammals were rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (34.9%), sheep (Ovis aries) (30.7%) and macropods (Macropus spp.) (20.3%). Insects occurred in 31.1% of stomachs and formed a substantial proportion of the diet. Fresh newborn lamb was identified in only 3.8% of all stomachs, but evidence of lamb consumption was 10 times greater (35.2%) from foxes collected near lambing flocks. Other studies around lambing flocks have also shown a high occurrence of fresh lamb in fox stomachs and there is circumstantial evidence that predation of lambs by foxes can be common. It was concluded that lamb predation is likely to be severe where the fox population density is high, where older foxes predominate, and where alternative preferred foods are scarce. More research is required to confirm these observations.

Uptake of Baits by Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes): Implications for Rabies Contingency Planning in Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. S. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Rural Environment ◽  
Contingency Planning ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Bait Station ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
The Mean

Baits containing the bait marker iophenoxic acid were used to quantify bait uptake by red foxes in a rural environment in north-eastern New South Wales. Baits were distributed at a mean density of 4·4 baits km-2. Serum iodine levels were analysed from a sample of 29 foxes shot on two baited sites and a nil-treatment site. The mean percentage of foxes with elevated seral iodine, indicating the consumption of at least one bait, was 58·3%. This rate of bait uptake would not consistently deliver reductions in fox densities or immunisation levels considered necessary for the control of rabies enzootics in Europe and North America. The minimum number known to be alive (MNA) method overestimated population reduction and underestimated abundance. Indirect estimators of population abundance, such as bait-station indices, are of more use in rabies contingency planning and modelling. This is because they are more reliable, are likely to overestimate abundance, and are more precautionary. Shooting of foxes at night was an inefficient method of reducing fox populations.

Temporal, spatial and individual variation in the diet of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. L. Molsher ◽  
E. J. Gifford ◽  
J. C. McIlroy
Keyword(s):  
Individual Variation ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Ovis Aries ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Moon Phases ◽  
Temporal Synchrony ◽  
South Wales

This study describes temporal, spatial and individual variation in the diet of 255 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) collected from agricultural land in central New South Wales from July 1994 to November 1996. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), sheep (Ovis aries), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) and invertebrates were the most important food items overall. Significant seasonal variations, and sex and age differences between foxes occurred in the consumption of some food types. Some temporal synchrony was also evident, with different individuals often eating similar foods on the same night. This may have been related to moonlight. On full moon nights, foxes ate rabbits and small mammals significantly less often than during other moon phases. The management implications of variation in diet are discussed.

Trapping efficiency for foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central New SouthWales: age and sex biases and the effects of reduced fox abundance

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Kay ◽  
Edward Gifford ◽  
Rob Perry ◽  
Remy van de Ven
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Trapping Efficiency ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Drought Period ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sex Biases ◽  
Age And Sex

A total of 276 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was captured over 40 597 trap-nights during 1994–96 at three separate sites in central New South Wales, resulting in an overall trapping efficiency of one fox per 147 trap-nights. Trapping using multiple trap sets placed at carcases was 3.2 times more efficient than trapping using single trap sets. During 1994–95, when two of the sites suffered a severe drought, fox abundance declined to less than 0.2 foxes km–1 of spotlight transect; trapping efficiency at those sites also declined, to an average of one fox per 315 trap-nights. Mean trapping efficiency for non-drought periods was one fox per 135 trap-nights, 2.3 times more efficient than during the drought period. In 1995 and 1996, 353 foxes were shot in areas adjacent to each site. This gave the opportunity to compare sex and age biases between the trapped and shot samples: the ratio of males to females was significantly higher in the trapped sample than in the shot sample, and there was also a significantly higher ratio of adults to juveniles in the trapped sample than in the shot sample.

The Cost of Aerial Baiting for Wild Dog Management in North-Eastern New South Wales.

1991 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Thompson ◽  
PJS Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Average Cost ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Regional Control ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Wild Dog ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Wild Dogs

Aerial baitjng for the management of wild dogs in north-eastern New South Wales is carried out in nine Rural Lands Protection Board districts covering coastal and tablelands environments. A survey of participants in the 1988 aerial baiting programme costed the total operation at $106,152. Labour ($36,418) and helicopter hiring charges ($35,693) accounted for over 70 per cent of the costs borne by local and regional control authorities. A total of 24,285 kg of meat (approx. 105,500 baits) valued at $21,018 was used. The average cost of the programme was $4.21 per kg of bait used. Total baiting costs can be accurately predicted from bait quantity. The cost, to individual producers, of aerial baiting for wild dogs, when compared with expected livestock losses without this form of management, suggests that aerial baiting is cost-beneficial.

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