Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220:reg:2:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017C00220
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 4/20)
Character Range: 36874–39808

requires additional research and development.
There is additional information on baiting for feral cats in the background document and Department of the Environment website.
It should be noted that with all of the toxic baits it will be necessary for land managers to determine the risk to valued, non-target fauna at a particular site based on guidance from bait manufacturers. As with any feral animal control tool or program, it is not possible to reduce all the risks to zero, and land managers must consider this in designing their baiting programs.  Specifically, dingoes may be at risk if multiple toxic baits intended for feral cats are consumed.
As with Eradicat® baits, governments will be required to restrict access to toxic baits and areas of application in order to maximise target specificity of baiting programs for feral cats, similar to other introduced predator control programs. Bait suppliers will also need to ensure that users understand the suitable environmental conditions for putting out baits so that they are effective.
Action 1.1 seeks to ensure that toxic baits are registered and available for feral cat control across all of Australia. It should be emphasised that baiting is not the complete answer to feral cat control but rather is another promising tool which can be applied in a broad-scale manner.

Action 1.2 Develop and register other cat control tools, including devices exploiting cat grooming habits
Action 1.2 recognises that scientists have been investigating a number of devices for cat control utilising particular traits of cats such as their fastidiousness for grooming. The designs of these devices are able to distinguish non-target species. These tools may be particularly useful in some locations where cat activity in the landscape is restricted; for example along animal trails through thick vegetation or alongside watercourses, or where non-target species are vulnerable to other control techniques (Moseby et al. 2011). Another potential techniques being investigated is using encapsulated toxin implanted in threatened species or collars on the threatened species containing a toxin to kill any feral cat or other predator that may specialise in predating upon that threatened species. As with Action 1.1, this action focuses on getting these tools to land managers for use within cat control programs. Although not an explicit action, ongoing improvements to the design and operation of existing management options for feral cats are also important. Exclosure fence designs are an example where refinements continue to be made for different situations.

Action 1.3 Continue research into understanding interactions between feral cats and other predators: (i) in different landscapes; and (ii) any potential beneficial/perverse outcomes if other predator populations are modified
Feral cats have natural enemies or competitors in the other mammalian predators – the European