Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712:body:0:p33
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 104759–107499

trips each year. Felixer Grooming Traps are a target specific cat control method yet to be trialled in Tjakura habitat, but have the potential to provide ongoing cat control.

 As Tjakura burrows are often clustered within the landscape into fairly high density living (up to several hundred animals per square kilometre) even maintaining 5 square kilometres of prime Tjakura habitat free of predators, can protect a large number of skinks.

 Cat control options include baiting, shooting, traditional hunting, cage trapping, and leghold trapping.

 Baiting is not recommended because it will affect the dingo population, and in sandy spinifex country where Tjakura occur, dingoes can eat a lot of cats, and are an important animal to people.

 Traditional hunting of cats can be a very effective method of removing cats from key Tjakura areas, if the hunting is targeted and regular. Some cats become

 specialist hunters of Tjakura, learning where the burrows are, regularly travelling between them, and removing a disproportionate number of skinks from the area. An advantage of the Traditional hunting method is that the particular cats that are visiting Tjakura burrows can be targeted, tracked down and removed.

 Tracking down cats requires a high level of tracking skill and good fitness as it can take many hours to track down a cat. This technique is often more efficient in the summer months as cats have little stamina in hot weather.

 If tracking efforts do not result in the capture of a cat, rangers may choose to try trapping the cat, once they have a good understanding of its movement patterns.

 Cage traps are the simplest traps to use, as they do not require much training or experience. Cage traps are most effective in areas close to human habitation where cats are already familiar with human infrastructure and may be already accustomed to scavenging. In more remote areas cage trapping is rarely effective, except during periods of drought which has led to extreme food shortages.

 Kentucky Fried Chicken is a recommended bait for cage trapping, but other meats such as rabbit or kangaroo meat may also entice a cat into a trap. Unfortunately cage traps will also attract non-target species such as birds and goannas. While these animals can generally be released unharmed from a cage trap, it is very important that traps are checked daily, and heavy shade is provided over the traps. In hot summer conditions, cage traps should be closed during the day as animals such as goannas can overheat very quickly.

 If cats appear to be avoiding cage traps, soft-jaw leghold traps may be more suitable, as if set properly they are invisible to the cats (but note different states have different legislation related to