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Pre-Incursion Plan PIP 011 Small Mammalian Carnivores

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Pre-incursion Plan PIP 011 Small Mammalian Carnivores Pre-Incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores 2 Scope This plan is in place to guide prevention and eradication activities and the management of non-indigenous populations of Mongoose, Stoat, Ferret, Polecat, Meerkat and Weasel (Order Carnivora; Families Herpestidae and Mustelidae) mammals in the wild in Victoria. Version Document Status Date Author Reviewed by Approved for release 1.0 First Draft 25/07/13 Dana Price A.Kay and R. Melville 1.1 Second Draft 10/09/13 Dana Price M. Corry 1.2 Third Draft 01/02/14 Dana Price C. Gillies and A.Glen 1.3 Fourth and final 15/05/14 Dana Price A. Woolnough Visual Standard draft approved by ADP 2.0 New Final 16/5/2016 Ryan Melville D. Price New DEDJTR template and document revision Acknowledgement and special thanks to Al Glen (NZ Landcare Research) and Craig Gillies (Department of Conservation NZ) for reviewing this document and providing comments. Published by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Agriculture Victoria, May 2016 © The State of Victoria 2016. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Authorised by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. Front cover: Stoat. Photo: Image from Wikimedia Commons and reproduced with permission under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic License. ISBN 978-1-925532-45-6 (pdf/online) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. For more information about Agriculture Victoria go to www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores 3 Pre-incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores Order: Carnivora Families: Herpestidae and Mustelidae Pre-Incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores 4 Contents Pre-incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores ...................................................................... 6 Table 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 6 Table 2: Declaration Status in Victoria .................................................................................................... 6 Table 3: Delimitation survey options..................................................................................................... 7-8 Table 4: Species specific delimitation options ......................................................................................... 8 Table 5: Detection, control, monitoring and breeding calendar ............................................................... 9 Table 6: Transport of live specimens....................................................................................................... 9 Table 7: Brief description of eradication and containment options ..................................................... 9-12 Table 8: Species specific eradication and containment options ............................................................ 13 Table 9: Brief description of disease, parasite and infection risks ........................................................ 13 Table 10: Control specific WHS considerations .................................................................................... 14 Table 11: Animal related WHS considerations ...................................................................................... 15 Table 12: Identification requirements - take photo/video and e-mail to: ................................................ 15 Table 13: Euthanasia options ................................................................................................................ 15 Table 14: Sampling/Autopsy requirements ........................................................................................... 16 Table 15: Disposal options .................................................................................................................... 16 Table 16: Legislation, regulations and required permits........................................................................ 16 Table 17: General species and technical experts ................................................................................. 17 Table 18: List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................... 17 Table 19: Glossary ................................................................................................................................. 18 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 19 1. Herpestidae Family ............................................................................................................................ 19 2. Mustelidae Family .............................................................................................................................. 21 References and Further Reading .......................................................................................................... 25 Photographic References………………………………………………………………………………………………....25 Accessibility If you would like to receive this information/publication in an accessible format (such as large print or audio) please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, or email [email protected]. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores 5 Table 1: Introduction The animals of the families Herpestidae and Mustelidae are comprised of solely carnivorous mammals. There are 59 species of animal in the Mustelidae family which includes otters, badgers, weasels, ferrets, martens , minks and polecats. This group of small mammals are generally solitary, mainly nocturnal and active throughout the year. Polecats (the wild form of the domesticated ferret) and stoats utilise large home ranges and are highly mobile, although they may use only a small part of their home range at any one time. These traits, along with their cryptic and nocturnal behaviours make detection of these species difficult, particularly when they are in very low densities. It is these same traits that also present challenges to successful eradication. These species are polyestrous (the females go on heat several times a year), and are therefore highly fecund. Females mature at an early age (2-3 months), producing litters of between 3 and 14 young several times a year. At least 10 different species in the Mustelidae family have established populations beyond their natural distribution. The Herpestidae family has 34 different species which includes meerkats and mongooses, of which three have been known to establish invasive populations. These species are commonly terrestrial, diurnal and form strong group bonds and behaviours. Early maturation and high fecundity, along with behavioural traits such as being highly mobile, utilising large home ranges, living underground and being dietary generalists aid in the success of these species as invaders. Many species within these two families have established invasive populations outside their native range. The significant threat these species pose is perhaps best illustrated through the impacts and distribution that they have in New Zealand. The introduction of stoats, ferrets and weasels for the control of rabbits and hares in New Zealand has had devastating impacts on native bird populations throughout the country. Within a 20 year period in the late 1800’s, frequent releases of ferrets (polecats), stoats and weasels saw them spread not only throughout farmland where rabbit populations were high, but also into districts far from any release sites and into places where rabbits where yet to spread (King, 2005). Table 2: Declaration Status in Victoria All members of the Families Herpestidae and Mustelidae are declared as prohibited pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection (CaLP) Act 1994, with the exception of the Meerkat (Suricata suricatta), Oriental Small-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinereus) and European Badger (Meles meles) which are declared as controlled pest animals. The European Polecat / Ferret (Mustela putorius) is not declared under CaLP. The Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC) lists the considered species (as per Appendix 1) as either having a Moderate, Serious or Extreme establishment threat. See Appendix 1 for details. Pre-Incursion Plan PIP011 Small Mammalian Carnivores 6 Table 3: Delimitation survey options Method Description Time suggested to determine presence at site 1. Active searching This method is used to seek out evidence of Variable, method used in conjunction with presence such as scats (see King et. al. (1994) for other delimitation methods. Signs such as comparative mustelid scat diagrams), footprints, scats and footprints are difficult for humans to burrows or signs of a kill (such as tooth marks in an locate, it may be worthwhile to concentrate egg). Areas of suitable habitat are searched during search effort on areas frequented by prey
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