THE Western Shield autumn program has started feral cat baiting in parts of Mundaring, City of Swan and the Avon Valley with warnings for pet owners to keep their pets out of national parks and forests.
The 1080 poison baits being used are poisonous to humans and can be lethal to domestic cats and dogs, so owners are being advised against bringing their pets into baited areas and should remain vigilant to prevent pets from roaming into these regions.
All baited areas are clearly signposted with 1080 poison risk signage.
Areas currently being baited include City of Swan’s Twin Swamps Nature Reserve, Ellenbrook Nature Reserve and Walyunga National Park.
Large portions of Mundaring State Forest and Helena National Park are also sites of 1080 poison baits, as are swathes of the Avon Valley National Park and Julimar State Forest.
According to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Western Shield is WA’s largest conservation program and works to manage introduced predators for native species conservation.
DBCA said Western Shield aims to protect native species, primarily small and medium-sized mammals and some ground-nesting birds and reptiles, that are vulnerable to predation by foxes and feral cats.
Foxes and feral cats have been identified as a key cause of the extinction and decline of dozens of native animal species across Australia.
Suppression of fox and feral cat numbers is a crucial step in successfully reintroducing, recovering or maintaining native fauna populations in the wild.
Owners whose pets have ingested a bait are advised to take them to the vet immediately.
A first aid document on the DBCA website recommends taking preventative measures such as using a muzzle on dogs and keeping them away from dead or dying poisoned animals.
The document also warns owners to watch out for symptoms of poisoning such as frenzied behaviour displayed through running and howling, hypersensitivity to sound and light, failure to respond to owner, vomiting and uncontrollable urinating and defecating.
For more detailed information on specific baiting locations within the Perth Hills and City of Swan areas, you can refer to the DBCA’s Western Shield fox and feral cat baiting locations page.
