Scavengers and detritivores of kangaroo harvest offcuts in arid Australia

Abstract

The role of the offcuts of harvested kangaroos as a food source for native and introduced scavengers and detritivores was examined in the Roxby Downs region of arid South Australia. Corvids were the prominent users of offcuts in January and eagles and foxes significant users in September. Meat ants and a suite of carrion-specialist beetles and maggots also assisted with the decomposition of kangaroo offcuts. Harvested kangaroo populations provided a more reliable and better utilised food resource for scavengers and detritivores than did kangaroos that died naturally of heat stress. Kangaroo harvesting probably supports elevated populations of foxes, corvids, wedge-tailed eagles and detritivores. Therefore, kangaroo harvesters have a responsibility to control foxes, particularly in regions where endangered mammals or lambs are present.