An Assessment of the Potential Target Specificity of 1080 Predator Baiting in Western-Australia

Abstract

The potential hazard of 1080 baiting for predators to 14 species of non-target mammals in the pastoral areas of Western Australia and a further six from Western Australia's Fitzgerald River National Park, was assessed by comparing projected doses of 1080 (based on consumption of non-toxic bait by captive animals in the absence of alternative food) with the approximate lethal dose of 1080 for each species. These figures suggested that individuals from 12 species were potentially at risk from crackle baits, while only individuals from Dasyurus hallucatus, Ningaui spp., Sminthopsis crassicaudata, Planigale maculata, one population of Leggadina forresti and one population of Sminthopsis ooldea were potentially endangered by meat baits. Tests using the native mammals Zyzomys argurus and Pseudomys hermannsbergensis and laboratory mice (Mus musculus) and laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) showed that individuals of all species reduced their consumption of toxic bait relative to non-toxic bait, although this did not prevent three of five rats and one of three P. hermannsbergensis from being killed.