Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747:reg:4:p50
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01747
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 4 (pt 50/80)
Character Range: 176915–181295

cats.
3.4                                                                                                                    Investigate prevalence and impacts of cat-borne disease-causing pathogens in cats and native wildlife, and options for responses.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Medium  Medium          Researchers                                                                     Starting in the period 2024-2029
3.5                                                                                                                    Undertake fundamental research on cat ecology to inform the design and implementation of existing feral cat control options such as toxin-baiting and grooming traps, shooting and trapping; and to inform the potential use of novel control options such as genetic technology (informs Objective 4).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        High    High            Researchers                                                                     Starting in the period 2024-2029
                                                                                                                            * Describe, across a range of habitats, the feral cat's mating system, population demographics, dispersal behaviour and spacing patterns, recruitment, and prey-switching, including after cat removal (i.e. re-invasion).
                                                                                                                            * Describe interactions of cats with other predators (dingoes, Tasmanian devils, quolls), especially the mechanisms that affect the ability of cats to coexist with native predators, and thus whether there is scope to develop cat-deterrents (e.g. olfactory, auditory) that are useful in some situations.

     8.4 Objective 4. Refine existing tools and their use, and develop new tools, for directly controlling feral cats

     Rationale

Over the durations of the previous feral cat threat abatement plans, there has been substantial progress in developing and refining the use of options to directly control feral cats. Objective 4 seeks to further direct and hone their application. In addition, this objective includes actions to continue the development of novel control options for feral cats based mainly on synthetic biology that may become available for use beyond the life of this plan.

Existing (and potential future) feral cat control options may be used across objectives, and indeed field trials described here will usually take place as part of the on-ground action listed under one or more other objectives. Although cat exclusion (using fencing) is the focus of Objective 6, removing all cats from within fenced areas or from islands may require the use of one or more of the control options detailed here in Objective 4. Indirect methods of reducing feral cats or their impacts, including by manipulating ecological interactions (e.g. reducing densities of introduced prey species) are covered in Objective 8. Ensuring that feral cat control tools are accessible to all managers is addressed in Objective 2.

Further information about each feral cat control option is given in section 6 of the background document. Here, we brief information on each option that provides context for the actions under this objective. In all the management options listed here, consideration should be given to relevant factors including humaneness, social licence, cost-effectiveness, impacts on non-target species, location and the magnitude, extent and duration of potential benefits. It should also be noted that the extent to which the tools listed here are permitted for use to control feral cats on all