- Poisons
- Traps
- Shooting
Poisons
German Lynx.
©Natuurfotografie.
Since 1996, the Western Australian Government has baited all its
National Parks and Forest Reserves with meat laced with the
toxic poison, 1080, in order to attempt to control these
introduced predators from killing the native wildlife.
Traps
There are two types of traps used for catching feral cats.
A leg-hold trap is used on true feral cats (cats that don’t rely
on humans or not found in urban areas). This type of trap has
rubber-jaws so it does not hurt the cat. The ideal areas to put
these traps are near territorial boundaries and the markers. The
perfect thing to draw the cat to the trap is a visual stimulus
such as some bird feathers on a stick above the trap.
A Treadle box trap is used on semi-feral cats.
Semi-feral cats are found in urban areas but are not
owned. A bait is placed in the wire box far enough
that it cannot be reached by clawing at it. When the
cat is inside the box and grabs the bait, the box door
closes and traps the cat inside. The bait is usually
fish or cat food meat.
Shooting
The hunting or shooting of feral cats generally takes place
during night as true feral cats are nocturnal. The green glow of
the cat’s eyes in dark helps the hunters see them more easily.
The feral cat’s eyes glow so they can see in the dark. Feral
cats also respond to a fox whistle.
In 1998 a massive Eradication Program of feral cats on
Macquarie
Island, south of Tasmania, began. By 2000 the Island was
declared cat free by the Tasmanian Government.
Immuno-
contraception.
©Team 00128,
ThinkQuest 2003Immunocontraception (fertility) is being investigated
for many feral animals, but if it is going to be
contagious, it won’t be a very practical method. Feral
cats are widely distributed throughout the country and
do not have much contact with humans or other cats.
They do not take to baits often and are not seasonal
breeders. Therefore
Immunocontraception is not a very
logical control method for the Feral Cat, unlike the
Fox or Rabbit.
