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The control of feral cats in
semi-arid Australia
– the influence of secondary prey on cat dynamics
This project builds on recent research to
control feral cats at the Heirisson Prong reintroduction site at Shark Bay (see pdf below). Most control techniques for feral cats
rely heavily on periods of food shortage to facilitate uptake of
baits.  This study looks at the relative dynamics of rabbits
(as primary prey for feral cats) and reintroduced native mammal species in
response to rainfall to establish whether their dynamics track each other
(and lagged rainfall). If the
dynamics of these two groups are asynchronous this may require a
substantial re-think and re-evaluation of the possibility of reintroduction
of native mammals to open systems with feral cats (as opposed to islands or
large fenced areas where cats are eliminated before reintroductions take
place).
Client: Useless Loop Community Biosphere Project Group, Inc.
funded via Lotterywest.
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