News
19 February, 2025
1080 baiting a lifeline for native animals
Australia has some of the most unique wildlife and biodiversity in the world, but feral cats, foxes and dogs have already snuff ed out 32 native animal species and are helping to drive over 200 more to extinction.
Together with the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, the National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator, Gillian Basnett, is sounding the alarm as misinformation surrounding sodium fluoroacetate (commonly known as 1080) undermines its critical place as a lifeline for native species.
Fluoroacetate-bearing plants naturally occur, have an even higher natural tolerance to 1080.
As a result, only tiny
“Effective 1080 baiting is the ‘thin green line’ that protects many of our threatened and other native species from extinction,” Ms Basnett said.
“The facts around 1080 are clear: native animals have a higher tolerance to this toxin than introduced predators.
Native species that live in the southwest of WA, where more amounts of the toxin are needed for effective feral cat and fox baits. If native animals such as eagles, goannas, brush-tailed possums or quolls ingest a bait, they will not receive a lethal dose.
For context, in eastern Australia, a wedge-tailed eagle would need to ingest at least 10 fox baits to be lethal, spotted-tailed quoll more than three fox baits, sand goannas more than 70, southern brown bandicoots between two fox baits and five.
Effective baiting programs are conducted in a targeted manner by highly trained and licenced people, with restrictions to reduce risk.
Research projects and targeted predator 1080 baiting control programs have demonstrated its advantages, with native wildlife not only surviving but thriving as the bait reduces predation pressure.
It is also safe for the environment as bacteria and fungi found in water and soil break it down rapidly into harmless compounds.
For some critically endangered species, even one or two feral cats or foxes can wipe them out. The low risk of an individual native animal consuming a lethal dose of 1080 is far outweighed by effectively controlling these predators.
