Sensitivity to sodium fluoroacetate (1080) of native animals from north-western Australia

Abstract

The sensitivity to sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) of 9 species of native animals from north-western Australia was assessed using the increasing dose procedure to determine the Approximate Lethal Dose for each species. Granivorous birds from this region (e.g. ducks, corellas) were generally more sensitive to 1080 than their counterparts from southern Australia, and would be theoretically at risk from primary poisoning during 1080 grainbased baiting programs. However, the tolerance to 1080 of birds of prey from these areas is sufficient that these species face little risk of secondary poisoning during pest-control programs aimed at rodents or rabbits. The risk of primary poisoning to raptors from meat baits containing 6 mg 1080 per bait or less also appears to be low. The coexistence of brown falcons and barn owls with fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation over parts of their range has probably contributed to their development of tolerance to fluoroacetate.