DOCSLIB.ORG

National Cat Management Strategy Group (Ncmsg) Report 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
National Cat Management Strategy Group (Ncmsg) Report 2020 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report 2020 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report August 2020 Page 1 of 197 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report 2020 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 5 Key recommendations of the NCMSG for effective and humane cat management: ........ 6 The National Cat Management Strategy Group ........................................................... 11 Purpose of the National Cat Management Strategy Group ........................................... 11 Strategic vision of the National Cat Management Strategy Group ................................ 12 Strategic goals and outcomes ..................................................................................... 12 National Cat Management Stakeholders ...................................................................................... 15 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 15 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 16 2. Human approaches to cat management should protect cat welfare ......................... 17 2.1. The value of cats ............................................................................................. 17 2.2. Responsible domestic cat ownership ............................................................... 20 2.2.1. Reducing cat surrender and abandonment .................................................................. 21 2.2.2. The benefits of cat ownership ...................................................................................... 23 2.2.3. Using humane management practices to control all cats. ........................................... 24 3. The need to manage cats in urban, rural, and wild environments ............................. 25 3.1. The impact of domestic cats on human communities ....................................... 25 3.1.1. Zoonotic disease ........................................................................................................... 25 3.1.2. Nuisance behaviours ..................................................................................................... 27 3.2. The impact of all cats on pastoral industries ..................................................... 29 3.3. The impact of cats on biodiversity ................................................................... 32 3.3.1. Identifying and protecting sensitive wildlife areas from all cats .................................. 34 3.3.2. Public education on the negative impacts of cats on biodiversity ............................... 35 4. Approaches to effective and humane cat management ............................................ 37 4.1. Managing feral cats ......................................................................................... 39 4.1.1. Techniques used to control feral cats ........................................................................... 40 4.2. Managing stray cats ........................................................................................ 43 4.2.1. Limiting flow of cats into the stray cat population ....................................................... 43 Page 2 of 197 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report 2020 4.2.2. Reducing the number of stray cats ............................................................................... 44 4.2.3. Education programmes and support for stray cat carers ............................................. 58 4.3. Managing companion (owned) cats ................................................................. 59 4.3.1. Responsible cat ownership ........................................................................................... 59 4.3.2. Cat containment............................................................................................................ 60 4.3.3. Identification ................................................................................................................. 62 4.3.4. Registration ................................................................................................................... 66 4.3.5. Mandatory desexing ..................................................................................................... 67 5. Humane and effective framework for cat management in New Zealand ................... 75 5.1. Current framework .......................................................................................... 75 5.2. Improving the legislative and regulatory approach ........................................... 76 5.2.1. National Cat Act ............................................................................................................ 76 5.2.2. Bylaw Alignment with National Legislation .................................................................. 77 5.3. Improving the educative approach................................................................... 78 5.3.1. Increasing responsible cat ownership ........................................................................... 78 5.3.2. Public engagement on stray and feral cat management .............................................. 80 Lethal control as a strategy........................................................................................................... 81 6. Ensuring cat management strategies are effective and humane ............................... 82 6.1. Monitoring and Evaluation of cat management ................................................ 82 6.1.1. Using ethical principles of animal management to guide action .................................. 83 6.1.2. Using adaptive frameworks to manage cats ................................................................. 84 6.2. Collecting and managing data on cat management activities ............................ 86 7. Collaboration between government, NGOs, and the community .............................. 88 7.1. New Zealand Government ............................................................................... 88 7.1.1. Governmental agencies involved in cat management.................................................. 88 7.1.2. Legal reform .................................................................................................................. 89 7.1.3. Developing and sharing resources ................................................................................ 89 7.2. Local government ............................................................................................ 89 7.3. Organisations and professionals with an interest in cat management ............... 90 7.3.1. Conservation groups ..................................................................................................... 90 7.3.2. Animal welfare organisations ....................................................................................... 90 7.3.3. Veterinarians ................................................................................................................. 91 7.3.4. Cat breeders .................................................................................................................. 91 Page 3 of 197 New Zealand National Cat Management Strategy Group Report 2020 7.3.5. Pet retailers and manufacturers ................................................................................... 91 7.4. Individuals with an interest in cat management ............................................... 92 7.4.1. Cat owners .................................................................................................................... 92 7.4.2. Stray cat carers .............................................................................................................. 92 7.4.3. People who neither own nor provide care for cats ...................................................... 93 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 94 9. References .............................................................................................................. 95 Appendix 1: Existing legislative, regulatory and educative framework relating to cat management in New Zealand ....................................................................................... 134 The Animal Welfare Act 1999 (current as at 7 October 2019) ..................................... 134 Animal Welfare (Companion Cats) Code of Welfare 2018 .......................................... 149 Minimum Standards: Animal Welfare (Companion Cats) Code of Welfare ............................... 149 Other legislation applying to cat management .......................................................... 153 Resource Management Act 1991 ................................................................................................ 153 Biosecurity Act 1993 ................................................................................................................... 154 Conservation Act 1987 ................................................................................................................ 155 Wildlife Act 1953 ......................................................................................................................... 156 National Parks Act 1980 .............................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • American Journal of Veterinary Research
    American Journal of Veterinary Research Index for Volume 71 No. 1 – 12 January – December 2010 Published by AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 1931 N MEACHAM RD, SUITE 100, SCHAUMBURG, IL 60173-4360 Index to News A American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) AAHA Nutritional Assessment Guidelines for Dogs and Cats MSU veterinary college ends nonsurvival surgeries, 497 Nutritional assessment guidelines, consortium introduced, 1262 American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Abandonment AVMA board, HOD convene during leadership conference, 260 Corwin promotes conservation with pageant of ‘amazing creatures,’ 1115 AVMA seeks input on model practice act, 1403 American Association of Veterinary Immunologists (AAVI) CRWAD recognizes research, researchers, 258 Abbreviations FDA targets medication errors resulting from unclear abbreviations, 857 American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) Abuse Organizations to promote veterinary research careers, 708 AVMA seeks input on model practice act, 1403 American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists (AAVP) Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians (AVST) CRWAD recognizes research, researchers, 258 NAVTA announces new surgical technician specialty, 391 American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Accreditation Stakeholders weigh in on competencies needed by veterinary grads, 388 Dates announced for NAVMEC, 131 USDA to restructure accreditation program, require renewal, 131 American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) Education council schedules site
    [Show full text]
  • Microsporum Canis Genesig Standard
    Primerdesign TM Ltd Microsporum canis PQ-loop repeat protein gene genesig® Standard Kit 150 tests For general laboratory and research use only Quantification of Microsporum canis genomes. 1 genesig Standard kit handbook HB10.04.10 Published Date: 09/11/2018 Introduction to Microsporum canis Microsporum canis is a zoophilic dermatophyte which is responsible for dermatophytosis in dogs and cats. They cause superficial infections of the scalp (tinea capitis) in humans and ringworm in cats and dogs. They belong to the family Arthrodermataceae and are most commonly found in humid and warm climates. They have numerous multi-celled macroconidia which are typically spindle-shaped with 5-15 cells, verrucose, thick-walled, often having a terminal knob and 35-110 by 12-25 µm. In addition, they produce septate hyphae and microconidia and the Microsporum canis genome is estimated at 23 Mb. The fungus is transmitted from animals to humans when handling infected animals or by contact with arthrospores contaminating the environment. Spores are very resistant and can live up to two years infecting animals and humans. They will attach to the skin and germinate producing hyphae, which will then grow in the dead, superficial layers of the skin, hair or nails. They secrete a 31.5 kDa keratinolytic subtilisin-like protease as well as three other subtilisin- like proteases (SUBs), SUB1, SUB2 and SUB3, which cause damage to the skin and hair follicle. Keratinolytic protease also provides the fungus nutrients by degrading keratin structures into easily absorbable metabolites. Infection leads to a hypersensitive reaction of the skin. The skin becomes inflamed causing the fungus to move away from the site to normal, uninfected skin.
    [Show full text]
  • Dirofilaria Immitis in Cats: Diagnosis and Management*
    CE Article #2 Dirofilaria immitis in Cats: Diagnosis and Management * C. Thomas Nelson, DVM a Animal Medical Centers of Northeast Alabama Anniston, Alabama ABSTRACT: Imaging and laboratory studies can help with the diagnosis of heartworm disease in cats, but no test is definitive. Furthermore, even when the diagnosis can be reliably established, therapy directed at the heartworms does little to help the cat. Rather, management is directed at alleviating clinical signs, with an emphasis on prevention for all. iagnosis is the most challenging part of tions are often single sex. When microfilariae feline heartworm disease because are produced, they are only present for 1 or 2 Dno single test can reliably detect heart - months, at which time the cat’s immune sys - worms at all stages. Veterinarians must be will- tem eliminates them and suppresses further ing to conduct multiple and even repeat tests embryogenesis. 1 (Table 1 and Figure 1 ) to obtain a diagnosis and to correctly interpret and apply the results .b Radiology The most common radiographic finding in DIAGNOSIS feline heartworm disease is an enlargement of Microfilariae the right caudal lobar artery (see Figure 2 in the Filtration tests for microfilariae are virtually companion article beginning on page 382 ). This useless in cats because cats are only transiently is best seen on a ventrodorsal view. A bron - microfilaremic, if at all. To be microfilaremic, a chointerstitial pulmonary pattern (Figure 2) cat must have both a mature male and a may also be noted, but this finding is not mature female worm, and because cats typi - unique to feline heartworm disease.
    [Show full text]
  • Control and Eradication of Feral Cats: Field Trials of a New Toxin
    Murphy, E.C.; L. Shapiro, S. Hix, D. MacMorran, and C. T. Eason. Control and eradication of feral cats: field trials of a new toxin Control and eradication of feral cats: field trials of a new toxin E. C. Murphy1,2, L. Shapiro3, S. Hix3, D. MacMorran3, and C. T. Eason3,4 1Research & Development Group, Department of Conservation, Christchurch, New Zealand. <[email protected]>. 2Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. 3Connovation Ltd., 36B Sir William Ave, East Tamaki, Manukau 2013, New Zealand. 4Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, PO Box 94, Lincoln, Canterbury 7647, New Zealand. Abstract Feral cats (Felis catus) have caused the decline and extinction of threatened species on islands worldwide. The eradication or long-term control of cats is therefore an essential part of restoring native communities on these islands. In most situations, a combination of lethal techniques is required to remove feral cats, including trapping, hunting and poisoning. Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) is being developed as a new, humane poison for feral cats. Mammalian carnivore species appear more susceptible to PAPP than birds, so it potentially has higher target selectivity than other available toxins. A proprietary formulation of PAPP (PredaSTOP) developed by Connovation NZ Ltd. has been shown to kill cats humanely when delivered in a meat bait in pen trials. Two field trials of the formulation were undertaken with radio-collared cats. Toxic baiting was carried out by placing meat baits containing 80 mg PAPP in bait stations. Five of eight radio-collared cats in the South Island study and 13 of 16 radio-collared cats in the North Island study were poisoned.
    [Show full text]
  • Cat's Origins What Was the Earliest Ancestor of the Cat Called?
    CAT UNIT TWO Chapter One: Cat’s Origins What was the earliest ancestor of the cat called? ---Myacis (My-a-kiss) How long ago did the myacis inhabit the earth? ---forty to fifty million years Describe ___ characteristics of the myacis. ---size of lynx ---long slender body ---long tail ---short legs ---retractable claws How did the Dinictis differ from the Myacis? ---higher intelligence ---greater agility How long did it take for the Dinictis to evolve from the Myacis? ---ten million years What do we call the creature that evolved from the myacis? ---Dinictis In what part of the world did cats originate? ---Africa How long ago were cats domesticated? ---four thousand years ago Where were cats first domesticated? ---Ancient Egypt Why were cats worshipped in Ancient Egypt? ---They controlled the rodents. Give ___ facts about Bast. ---goddess ---cats were worshipped as Bast ---represented love ---represented fertility ---represented life-giving rays of the sun ---body of woman, head of cat 11 CAT UNIT TWO Chapter One Continued: Cat’s Origins What did Egyptian owners of cats do when their cat died? ---shaved their eyebrows ---embalmed the cat ---had a ceremonial funeral ---buried the cat in a special ceremony List ___ ways that today's cats are the same as ancient cats. ---same size ---same shape ---keen hunting instincts ---self-reliance ---same purring sounds ---same aloofness ---same affection Chapter Two: Cat Breeds How many breeds of cats are there? ---over forty Where and when was the first cat show held? ---England, 1871 Where and when was the first cat show held in the U.S.? ---Madison Square Garden, New York, 1895 When was the first cat registry established in the U.S.? ---1909 What is a purebred (or pedigreed) cat? ---intentionally bred for certain desired qualities and usually eligible for exhibition in a show ring Name criteria used to judge a household pet.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Domestic Cat (Felis Catus) on Wildlife Welfare and Conservation: a Literature Review
    The impact of domestic cat (Felis catus) on wildlife welfare and conservation: a literature review. With a situation summary from Israel. Submitted to: Prof. Yoram Yom-Tov By: Inbal Brickner February 2003. Acknowledgments A word of thanks to the people who took the time to answer questions and provide important information: Dr. Moshe Himovich, head of the Veterinarian Services in the Field, Dr. Zvi Galin, chief veterinarian of the Tel Aviv municipality, Dr. Andrea Yaffe, chief veterinarian of Ramat Hasharon municipality, Dr. Tommy Sade, chief veterinarian of Jerusalem municipality, Dr. Roni King, chief veterinarian of Nature Reserve and National Park Authority (NRNPA). Dr. Simon Nemtzuv, NRNPA researcher, Oad Hatzoffe, NRNPA researcher, Amizur Boldo NRNPA ranger, Avi David, En Gedi reserve manager and Michael Blecher, En Gedi reserve biologist. Special thanks to Prof. Yoram Yom Tov for his advice, help and support. Table of Content Introduction................................................................................... 1 How many cats are there? .............................................................. 2 Domestic cats as predators ............................................................. 4 Domestic Cats Impact on Wildlife and Their Choice of Prey............ 6 Domestic Cats' Predation in the Old World and in the New World .................... 7 Domestic Cats’ predation in Australia and New Zealand .................................... 10 More Factors that Influence Predation by Domestic Cats. .................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations Third Edition | 2018 a CODE of PRACTICE for CANADIAN KENNEL OPERATIONS
    A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations Third edition | 2018 A CODE OF PRACTICE FOR CANADIAN KENNEL OPERATIONS Acknowledgements The third edition of this Code took seven years to complete. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) expresses sincere appreciation to Amy Morris of the BC SPCA for her research, coordination, and drafting support, Dr. Sherlyn Spooner and Dr. Colleen Marion for their signifcant contributions to the Code’s development, and Dr. Warren Skippon and Dr. Shane Renwick for their leadership. The CVMA also wishes to express gratitude to the small animal subcommittee members who provided drafting, feedback, and guidance over the seven-year period: Dr. Patricia Turner, Dr. Carol Morgan, Dr. Alice Crook, Dr. Tim Zaharchuk, Dr. Jim Berry, Dr. Michelle Lem, Ms. Barb Cartwright, Dr. Michelle Groleau, Dr. Tim Arthur, Ms. Christine Archer, Dr. Chris Bell, Dr. Doug Whiteside, Dr. Michael Cockram, Dr. Patricia Alderson, Dr. Trevor Lawson, Dr. Gilly Griffn, and Dr. Marilyn Keaney. The CVMA thanks the following organizations and their representatives who were consulted to review the Code and provide comments before publication: provincial veterinary associations and regulatory licensing bodies, Canadian veterinary colleges, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, the National Companion Animal Coalition, and the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada. © 2018 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. This document or any portion thereof may be quoted or reproduced with proper attribution to the author ‘Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’. Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Third Edition | 2018 i A CODE OF PRACTICE FOR CANADIAN KENNEL OPERATIONS Preface Since the release of the Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations second edition in 2007, both our society and science have advanced with respect to the humane treatment of dogs.
    [Show full text]
  • Feral and Free Ranging Domestic Cats
    No. 306 THE WILDLIFER Page 57 FERAL AND FREE-RANGING DOMESTIC CATS Position Statement Free and free-ranging domestic cats are exotic species to North America. Exotic species are recognized as one of the most widespread and serious threats to the integrity of native wildlife populations and natural ecosystems. Exotic species present special challenges for wildlife managers because their negative impacts are poorly understood by the general public, many exotic species have become such an accepted component of the envirom- nent that many people regard them as "natural," some exotic species have advocacy groups that promote their continued presence, and few policies and laws deal directly with their control. Perhaps no issue has captured more of the challenges for contemporary wildlife management than the impacts of feral or free-ranging human companion or domestic animals. The domestic cat is the companion animal that recently has attracted the most attention for its impact on wildlife species. Domestic cats originated from an ancestral wild species, the European and African wild cat (Felis silvestris). The domestic cat (Felis catus) is now considered a separate species. The estimated numbers of pet cats in urban and rural regions of the United States have grown from 30 million in 1970 to nearly 65 million in 2000. Reliable estimates of the present total cat population are not available. Nationwide, approximately 30% of households have cats. In rural areas, approximately 60% of households have cats. The impact of domestic cats on wildlife is difficult to quantify. However, a growing body of literature strongly suggests that domestic cats are a significant factor in the mortality of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
    [Show full text]
  • Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat
    UPTEC X 12 012 Examensarbete 30 hp Juni 2012 Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Carolin Johansson Molecular Biotechnology Programme Uppsala University School of Engineering UPTEC X 12 012 Date of issue 2012-06 Author Carolin Johansson Title (English) Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Title (Swedish) Abstract This study presents mitochondrial genome sequences from 22 Egyptian house cats with the aim of resolving the uncertain origin of the contemporary world-wide population of Domestic cats. Together with data from earlier studies it has been possible to confirm some of the previously suggested haplotype identifications and phylogeny of the Domestic cat lineage. Moreover, by applying a molecular clock, it is proposed that the Domestic cat lineage has experienced several expansions representing domestication and/or breeding in pre-historical and historical times, seemingly in concordance with theories of a domestication origin in the Neolithic Middle East and in Pharaonic Egypt. In addition, the present study also demonstrates the possibility of retrieving long polynucleotide sequences from hair shafts and a time-efficient way to amplify a complete feline mitochondrial genome. Keywords Feline domestication, cat in ancient Egypt, mitochondrial genome, Felis silvestris libyca Supervisors Anders Götherström Uppsala University Scientific reviewer Jan Storå Stockholm University Project name Sponsors Language Security English Classification ISSN 1401-2138 Supplementary bibliographical information Pages 123 Biology Education Centre Biomedical Center Husargatan 3 Uppsala Box 592 S-75124 Uppsala Tel +46 (0)18 4710000 Fax +46 (0)18 471 4687 Origin of the Egyptian Domestic Cat Carolin Johansson Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning Det är inte sedan tidigare känt exakt hur, när och var tamkatten domesticerades.
    [Show full text]
  • Home Range Size, Habitat Utilisation and Movement Patterns of Suburban and Farm Cats Felis Catus
    ECOGRAPHY 20: 271-280. Copenhagen 1997 Home range size, habitat utilisation and movement patterns of suburban and farm cats Felis catus David G. Barratt Bdrratt, D G 1997 Home range size, habitat utilisation and movement patterns of suburban and farm cats Felts caius - Ecography 20 271-280 The movements of 10 house cats (4 desexed females, 5 desexed males and 1 intact male) living on the edge of a suburb adjoining grassland and forest/woodland habitat, and a neighbounng colony of seven farm cats, were examined using radio-telemetry over nine months Nocturnal home range areas of the suburban cats vaned between 0 02 and 27 93 ha (mean 7 89 ha), and were larger than diumal home range areas (range 0 02 to 17 19 ha - mean 2 73 ha) Nocturnal home range areas of cats from the farm cat colony vaned between 1 38 and 4 46 ha (mean 2 54 ha), and were also larger than diumal home range areas (range 0 77 to 3 70 ha - mean 1 70 ha) Home ranges of cats in the farm cat colony overlapped extensively, as did those of cats living at the same suburban residence There was no overlap of home ranges of female cats from different residences, and little overlap between males and females from different residences Four of the suburban house cats moved between 390 m and 900 m into habitat adjoining the suburb Polygons descnbing the home ranges of these animals were strongly spatially biased away from the suburban environment, though the cats spent the majonty of their time within the bounds of the suburb Movements further than 100-200 m beyond the suburb edge were
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Geophilic Dermatophytes Species in the Soils of Iran; the Significant Preponderance of Nannizzia Fulva
    Journal of Fungi Article Diversity of Geophilic Dermatophytes Species in the Soils of Iran; The Significant Preponderance of Nannizzia fulva Simin Taghipour 1, Mahdi Abastabar 2, Fahimeh Piri 3, Elham Aboualigalehdari 4, Mohammad Reza Jabbari 2, Hossein Zarrinfar 5 , Sadegh Nouripour-Sisakht 6, Rasoul Mohammadi 7, Bahram Ahmadi 8, Saham Ansari 9, Farzad Katiraee 10 , Farhad Niknejad 11 , Mojtaba Didehdar 12, Mehdi Nazeri 13, Koichi Makimura 14 and Ali Rezaei-Matehkolaei 3,4,* 1 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord 88157-13471, Iran; [email protected] 2 Invasive Fungi Research Center, Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 48157-33971, Iran; [email protected] (M.A.); [email protected] (M.R.J.) 3 Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz 61357-15794, Iran; [email protected] 4 Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz 61357-15794, Iran; [email protected] 5 Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 91766-99199, Iran; [email protected] 6 Medicinal Plants Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj 75919-94799, Iran; [email protected] Citation: Taghipour, S.; Abastabar, M.; 7 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Piri, F.; Aboualigalehdari, E.; Jabbari, Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-73461, Iran; M.R.; Zarrinfar, H.; Nouripour-Sisakht, [email protected] 8 S.; Mohammadi, R.; Ahmadi, B.; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedical, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr 75187-59577, Iran; [email protected] Ansari, S.; et al.
    [Show full text]
  • First Results of Feral Cats (Felis Catus) Monitored with GPS Collars in New Zealand
    288 AvailableNew on-lineZealand at: Journal http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/ of Ecology, Vol. 34, No. 3, 2010 First results of feral cats (Felis catus) monitored with GPS collars in New Zealand Mariano R. Recio1,2*, Renaud Mathieu3, Richard Maloney4 and Philip J. Seddon2 1SERF (Spatial Ecology Research Facility), School of Surveying, PO Box 56, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand 2Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 3CSIR-NRE (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Earth Observation Research Group), Pretoria, SouthAfrica 4Department of Conservation, Christchurch, New Zealand *Author for correspondence: (Email: [email protected]) Published on-line: 21 April 2010 Abstract: The presence of feral cats (Felis catus) in the braided river valleys of New Zealand poses a threat to native species such as the critically endangered black stilt (Himantopus novaezelandiae). Trapping remains the most common method to control introduced predators, but trap placement criteria have not been fully informed by advances in the understanding of the spatial ecology of the pest species. We assessed the suitability of Global Positioning System (GPS) tags to study the spatial behaviour of feral cats in New Zealand braided rivers. We tagged and tracked five individual adults, one female and four males. Tracking periods varied from 3 to 18 days at a fix rate of one location every 15 min. This rate was considered an adequate trade-off between battery limitations and the opportunity to approximate the continuous displacement path of a cat for a representative number of days. Individual home range size estimates (100% Minimum Convex Polygon, MCP) varied from 178 to 2486 ha.
    [Show full text]