Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220:reg:2:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 7/20)
Character Range: 44838–47848

that are developed
Robust monitoring of feral cats can be difficult because of their dispersed spread and occurrence at low densities. In some circumstances it is necessary to use lures to attract cats into monitoring locations and control locations (e.g. traps). Although a range of visual, olfactory and auditory lures have been developed to attract feral cats; all lures are only partially successful. Action 1.6 identifies the development and assessment of other lures so that land managers get better results with their monitoring or control.

Action 1.7 Research into other control and monitoring technologies and enhancing available technology
Action 1.7 identifies the need for ongoing research into new control and monitoring tools. Included in the new control tools is support for the development or provision of humane killing methods, particularly for small community groups where the current options (e.g. shooting, lethal injection administered by a vet) are not available or are too expensive/inhumane.
There are two elements to the monitoring tools. Firstly, there is a need for simple, low cost and low effort monitoring tools for small community groups with few resources. These monitoring tools should be accompanied by education to ensure the community groups can use them effectively. These monitoring tools should be accompanied by education to ensure the community groups can use them effectively. Secondly, there is a need to develop or enhance cost-effective monitoring technologies for feral cats more broadly and, where possible, collate the results. Further to this, a greater understanding of the links between feral cat numbers and impacts will allow land managers to know the appropriate level of control required. Unfortunately, there may be instances where the majority of the impact is caused by one or two individuals that have specialized in a particular prey item (e.g. the threatened species).
Action 1.8 Re-investigate diseases and other potential biocontrol agents, biotechnology and immunocontraceptive options for cats, and commence research on promising options. Undertake social research on promising options to gauge community support
Biological control agents such as cat-specific diseases have been reviewed in the past (e.g. Moodie 1995). However, with new techniques, a greater capacity to gather international information, and the possibility of other emergent diseases, it is appropriate to undertake a new review to search for biological control, and immunocontraceptive options.
In addition, the field of biotechnology has platform technologies that may be applicable to feral cat sterilization.  Outlined in the background document is information about the emerging technology of RNA-guided gene drives.  While this technology is still only in its infancy for applications in vertebrate pest species there is potential for population suppression through guiding changes to particular genes that alter the sex bias of new animals or sensitize a species to a