Draft Feral Cat and Pig Management Plans released

• Draft Feral Cat and Pig Management Plans released

The Department of the Environment has released two draft Threat Abatement Plans (TAPs) for public comment:

• Draft: Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats (click here)
  

• Draft revised: Threat Abatement Plan for Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs (click here)

The two Threat Abatement Plans (TAPs) provide an overarching framework to drive research, management and other actions necessary to reduce the impact of listed key threatening processes on native species and ecological communities.

Adopted under Section 271 of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Plans are reviewed every five years. 

Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats

Feral cats Felis catus are a significant threat to Australia’s native fauna with 139 threatened and near threatened species at risk. Small mammals are particularly at risk with 74 species threatened by feral cats, representing over half of all species threatened. Species with a body mass of around 200 grams are most at risk, although animals up to 3 kilograms and larger are known to be predated upon.

The Draft TAP identifies some cutting edge research into feral cat control. 

Previously, control options were limited to shooting and trapping, both labour and resource intensive and effective only in small areas. However, two new baits have been incorporated, which promise to provide a third option of feral cat control and one to assist in control over large areas. The baits are:

• The Eradicat® bait: This is directly injected with the poison 1080 and is laid in areas where cats are known to be present, such as at the end of a rodent irruption event. Eradicat® has been approved for use in Western Australia

• Curiosity® bait: This contains a toxin encapsulated within a hard plastic pellet. It has the potential to be used in areas where non-target species would be at risk from Eradicat®

Threat Abatement Plan for Predation, Habitat Degradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs

The TAP for feral pigs Sus scrofa has been revised since first release in 2005 and reviewed in 2011. Feral pigs are opportunistic omnivores and consume a wide variety of animal and plant material. They modify their environments through rooting for fungi and underground tubers, wallowing in wetlands, spread weed seeds on their fur and via faeces and transmission of plant pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi, which cause plant dieback.
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The Revised TAP has a number of key objectives to control feral pig populations throughout Australia. 

• Encouraging integration of pig management into multi-scale land management activities
• Furthering research  into feral pig impacts
• Raising awareness among stakeholders and build capacity for feral pig management
• Improving public awareness
• Recording and monitoring feral pig control programs to evaluate their effectiveness

Open for Comment

You can provide your comments on the draft TAP's by visiting the Department of the Environment website to provide your comments on:

• The TAP for feral cats - open for public comment until 8 July 2015
• The TAP for feral pigs - open until 24 July 2015

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Contact us for Pest Management Services

Ecology and Heritage Partners have completed over 100 Pest Animal Management Plans (PAMPs). We ensure our PAMPs reflect the objectives and actions of your project and what is outlined in the approved TAPs, and reference current research findings to promote integrated pest management strategies.

For further information, assistance or advice please contact one of our specialist consultants on (03) 9377 0100 or enquire@ehpartners.com.au