Experts are calling for better management programs for feral animals after a study revealed that foxes and cats are responsible for the death of 2.6 billion birds and mammals across the country. 

A national study with 16 universities and conservation agencies used over 50,000 fecal and stomach samples to investigate the damage of foxes and cats across the country each year.

The project’s senior scientist Professor John Woinarski said that the findings highlight a need for integrated management of the feral animals to better conserve Australian wildlife. 

“Since foxes and cats were introduced to Australia by Europeans, they have played a major role in the declines and extinctions of many native animals,” Professor Woinarski said. 

“To be effective, management programs need to be highly strategic as numbers of both of these predators can rebound quickly when management is not ongoing or is piecemeal across a landscape,” he said. 

While feral cats are controlled by shooting, trapping and predator-proof fencing, foxes and wild dogs are largely managed by seasonal baiting programs. 

Western Local Land Services Regional Pest Animal Coordinator Brooke Anderson said that while fox numbers are easier to control with dog baits, cats have been a bigger issue. 

“Cats are a hard one. They don’t readily take up a bait as much. Bait is strong enough to kill them but they much prefer live prey,” Ms Anderson said. 

She said that more work could be done in that space, especially in finding methods to kill the cats. Closer to towns and in more metro areas, none of the current baiting programs can be implemented regardless. 

This, as well as the damage that domestic cats can do, is presumably why the study found the highest toll by cats is around urban areas, where the number of animals killed per square kilometre per year is 5,670 by feral cats and 13,100 by pet cats. 

Some local councils counter the issue by placing ‘cat curfews’ on owners, meaning that the cat isn’t allowed to wander outside of the home during certain hours (such as nighttime), or in some councils, for 24 hours. 

There is no state or federal law restricting the movement of cats, however. 

On 30 March, Western Local Land Services will commence their aerial baiting program for the control of wild dogs, foxes and feral cats. While the program will largely affect properties west of the Western Plains, areas surrounding Enngonia may be involved.