Case Study 3

A continued 1080 baiting program was conducted to control wild dog and fox populations within Liddell Operations landholdings. Pig traps were also set up and used to control feral pigs reportedly abundant in the area. This program followed on from vertebrate pest works conducted throughout 2010.

Bait consumption was evidently high throughout HLM’s broad scale wild dog and fox control program, it was noted across the majority of baited sites that there was an increase in bait consumption by targeted species. It is hypothesised that the warmer favourable climatic conditions and breeding season for target animals has impacted on bait consumption and animal activity.

Baits were supplied by the Mid Coast LHPA enabling supply of fresh meat baits injected with the 1080 poison, again these baits exhibited a higher consumption rate, reflective of bait attractiveness to targets.

In the program one bait was recorded to be consumed by a feral pig which isn’t an unusual trend, as pigs are seen to be omnivorous and 1080 baits have been used to control feral pigs in some programs, however trapping is a more highly viable option.

Feral pigs (Susscrofa) have a significant impact on the environment and agricultural production and are a potential reservoir and vector of exotic diseases. (DPI –Trapping of Feral PigsOperating Plan 2004)

As similar to the pig trapping undertaken in the Spring 2010 control program, 4 Pig Traps were set up in attempts to capture feral pigs still remnant in the area. These traps were installed with oats and molasses to attract the pigs to the trapping locations and familiarise the pigs with access to freely available food. The traps were initially tied open with oats and attractants presented to entice the targets into the traps. Once with a few free feeds of oats, the traps were set with the trap only accessible through a one way swinging door. With intention to reach the food, entrance through the door via pushing inwards on the traps perimeter observes entrance but no escape with the door entrance a one way unless pulled open from the inside. This technique is used widely and effectively to capture feral pigs. (DPI –Trapping of Feral PigsOperating Plan 2004)

Traps were initially set up on the 9/2/2011 with free feeds to entice targets to the trap locations and familiarise traps as a food source. Traps were then set on the 10/2/2011. Locked open on weekends and again set on the 15/11/2010-22/2/2011. In this trapping period 6 pigs were caught in the traps and illustrated evidence of visiting and consuming lures.

In comparison to the  2010 program, this program was successful  in trapping target species, this may have been influenced by favourable weather conditions, food sources and breeding impacts.

Comparison of Pig Trapping Results over consecutive seasons.

Hunter Land Management recommended our client, Liddell Coal:

• Continue to undertake 1080 baiting on a quarterly basis to ensure long term periods do not pass between baiting programs allowing animals to move into the area to re-establish and re-infest.
• Schedule another 1080 baiting program in Autumn 2011 and assess the level of bait take and decipher target areas of high activity.
• Install motion cameras and undertake sandpad monitoring to calculate and record species movement paths and densities of target animals in the area, enabling further concentration/movement of baits and traps to these specific areas.
• Utilise Soft-Jaw Leg-Hold Trapping in bait disturbed areas (LDL 9) and in high activity areas to ensure control of Wild Dogs and bait shy foxes; also concentrating more 1080 bait stations in these areas would encourage higher bait success.
• Continue the Vertebrate Pest Control Program in conjunction with surrounding landholders Vertebrate Pest Control Programs to ensure strategic baiting of the whole area. This continuation in control will see not only broad scale methods of control but continual suppression on target vertebrate pests, but limit re-infestations and increases in population abundances.
• Undertake twice annually sandpad monitoring to calculate species densities in the area as well as analysing the effectiveness of the control program.
• Continue the trapping of feral pigs still evident in the area. Continual control and trapping along with variations in Feed options and attractants will result in control of the feral pigs. Ensuring that trapping continues will suppress population expansion and eventual diminishment of the feral pig population at Liddell Coal. Possibly increasing the trapping period from 2 weeks to 3-4weeks may increase chances of and times prone to trap the target species.
• Undertake an open range shoot to target all vertebrate pests on site. Particularly pigs, wild dogs, foxes, rabbits and hares.