Dying to be clean: pen trials of novel cat and fox control devices

Abstract

Predation by feral cats (Felis catus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are key threatening processes for many endangered wildlife species. Toxin delivery through compulsive oral grooming is a potential mechanism to supplement existing control techniques for feral cats and red foxes, particularly when high prey densities reduce the uptake of toxic food baits by cats. We investigated the efficacy of different grooming traps by applying a gel containing toxic para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) to the fur of feral cats and red foxes in experimental pens. Grooming behaviour and signs of poisoning in these animals were recorded by video. More cats interacted with “walk past” grooming traps triggered by sensor beams than with trap models that required the cat to enter a pipe or baited cage. After triggering a trap that had applied PAPP gel to their fur, 14 of 16 feral cats showed symptoms of anoxia, and 8 of these cats were dead by the following morning without exhibiting signs of distress. Seven of 12 foxes were observed to groom fur to which toxic gel had been applied and 3 of these ingested a lethal quantity of PAPP as a result. Our successful proof-of-concept trials support further development of grooming trap sensors and toxin delivery mechanisms to provide humane and targeted feral cat control, although this technique is unlikely to be as successful for fox control, given that foxes appear to not groom as fastidiously as cats.

Keywords:

• feline control
• Felis catus
• grooming trap
• lethal control
• PAPP
• red fox
• Vulpes vulpes
• wildlife management

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge and appreciate the financial support of Meat and Livestock Australia Limited that was granted to and administered by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC). Simon Humphrys and Paul Meek from IACRC both assisted with the management of this project. These trials were greatly assisted by support from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries for the use of the Frankston animal pens, and Malcolm Tukey and Paul Aylett from Connovation P/L for supplying the Baited Cage grooming trap prototype and assembling the Walk Past grooming traps to specifications provided by the authors. Connovation P/L also supplied the delivery mechanisms for the grooming traps. Paul Meek, Peter Bird and Dave Peacock provided useful comments on drafts of this manuscript.