Effects on Nontarget Animal Populations of Wild Dog Trail-Baiting Campaigns With 1080 Poison

Abstract

Populations of birds and small mammals in a mountain forest area of New South Wales were not significantly affected by two trail-baiting campaigns involving 1080 poison that were carried out against wild dogs, Canis familiaris, during the winters of 1980 and 1981. Factors which probably minimized the effect on the non-target species were the sparse distribution of baits, the placement of the baits in habitats not favoured by small mammals, their initially rapid rate of removal by foxes, Vulpes vulpes, the dietary preferences of the non-target animals and the low risk they would face if they did consume a bait.