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Feral Predators in South-East Australia: Towards a 'Beyond the Fence

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Feral Predators in South-East Australia: Towards a 'Beyond the Fence Feral predators in south-east Australia: Towards a ‘beyond the fence’ strategy Project Summary Project 1.1.5 Checking the micro-chip in a sedated fox. Photo: F L’Hotellier, AWC Research in Brief Why is the How will the Reintroducing threatened mammals research needed? research help? into the broader landscape outside Predation by foxes and cats has The successful reintroduction of fenced reserves requires effective been identified as the primary cause regionally extinct mammal species control of feral predators and of the decline and/or extinction into predator-controlled landscapes knowledge of predator density. of many Australian mammal will depend on (i) having robust Most robust methods of density species. Currently, AWC manages a information on predator densities, estimation require the identification network of feral predator-free ‘safe and (ii) having a robust understanding of individual animals, possible for havens’ that are highly effective at of the impacts of control measures cats but not foxes. This project is conserving threatened mammals. on predator densities. developing new statistical methods In the longer term, AWC’s objective to generate robust estimates based is to develop strategies to enable This project will apply and develop on camera trap data. The models the reintroduction of threatened several methods to estimate predator use knowledge of space use mammals ‘outside the fence’, density based on camera trap data, derived from GPS collars to model into the broader landscape. including Spatial Presence-Absence encounter rates without the This is currently not possible in Models, Spatial Count Models, need for individual ID. most parts of southern Australia Spatial Mark-Resight Models and new methods that combine movement These estimates will be used to given the high densities of predators. Effective control of introduced data for a portion of the population assess the effectiveness of predator with encounter rates recorded by control measures (e.g., baiting and predators requires robust knowledge of predator densities and how remote cameras. These methods trapping) and control strategies are being compared to established (e.g., timing, frequency and extent). they respond to different management strategies. methods such as sand plots that have They will ultimately be used to been used routinely by conservation identify thresholds of predator managers to monitor predator activity. density that enable the safe release of threatened mammals. Fitting a GPS collar to a sedated fox in order to learn more about their spatial patterns of habitat use. Photo: F L’Hotellier, AWC A sedated cat is fitted with a GPS collar. Photo: F L’Hotellier, AWC Who is involved? This project is being led by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, who are collaborating with the University of Tasmania and the University of Melbourne. Where is the research happening? The research is being conducted at AWC’s Scotia Sanctuary in western NSW. When is the research happening? The project will run for five years While the project uses marked and (iii) how native wildlife respond from 2017 to 2021. individuals initially, it is envisaged that to changes in fox and/or cat density an operational density estimation in the short and medium term. model will not rely on individual Cameras both on and off roads with identification. This will be less costly different spatial arrangements will and more sustainable operationally. generate the data used to estimate The project will also investigate the densities of predators. These data response of small mammals and will also be degraded spatially, reptiles to predator control measures, post-collection, to determine given robustly estimated densities, by how robust the estimates are to integrating the research with AWC’s different camera arrangements. existing monitoring program. The initial research is being The project takes place at AWC’s conducted at AWC’s Scotia Sanctuary Scotia Wildlife Sanctuary in the mallee in western NSW. The landscape of south-west NSW, but the methods at Scotia is dominated by mallee will be relevant to reintroductions vegetation and research will be and the management of existing applicable elsewhere in the semi-arid threatened populations elsewhere. woodlands of southern Australia. The outcomes of this research will What research activities be extended to other biomes. are being undertaken? Insights from these analyses will be used to test estimation methods The research will monitor the Weighing a sedated feral cat. Photo: F L’Hotellier, AWC response of cats and foxes to fox at other sites in different biomes, control. We will obtain data on such as Newhaven Sanctuary in density and spatial patterns of habitat the Northern Territory. Annual Further Information use to determine (i) whether baiting fauna surveys in the study area will For more information please contact is effective in controlling foxes continue to measure the response the project leader: and cats), (ii) how cats respond of small mammals and reptiles David Roshier to changes in fox density; to predator control. [email protected] This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme..
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