1080 is not a 'broad spectrum' poison. It is most toxic to exotic mammals,
such as foxes, cats , dogs. Lizards have a very high tolerance to 1080. The
only way to kill a lizard with a 1080 dog bait would be to drop the bait on
the lizard's head. 1080 does not persist in the 'food chain', and breaks
down quite rapidly in the presence of moisture. Native mammals have evolved
a higher tolerance of 1080 than exotic species. It is thought that this is
because 1080 is present in a number of Australian native plants.
Used correctly (mixed at the right concentration, and placed in the correct
size bait, presented appropriately), 1080 is unlikely to cause non-target
deaths in native animals. And as several other contributors to the list
have pointed out, 1080 is a very valuable tool in controlling a number of
exotic mammals that have devastating effects on native wildlife.
Of great concern to me is the hysteria that many conservation-minded people
are creating by taking extreme positions without knowing the facts about
substances like 1080. Beware! All the hysteria over the use of a
relatively safe chemical is pushing agriculturalists and others back into
using strychnine, since it is more readily available. Unfortunately,
strychnine kills just about anything. There are also plenty of private
stockpiles of dangerous substances that are no longer registered for use
that some landholders might use if 1080 becomes too difficult to obtain, or
its use unacceptable in the community.
Its ironic that some of us who have the interests of wildlife at heart may
actually be causing more harm by being vocal when we don't have all the
facts.
We should be supporting the continued safe and responsible use of 1080 as
our best tool in reducing the impacts of foxes, cats, dogs, pigs, etc, and
of course we should always be looking for newer more effective approaches to
managing these exotic species.
Scott O'Keeffe
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Brian Fleming
Sent: Wednesday, 29 October 2003 5:48
To: Leanne Wheaton
Cc:
Subject: curlews and foxes
Leanne Wheaton wrote:
>
> I support David Geering?s comments re the hysteria regarding 1080.
>
>
>
> 1080 is our greatest weapon against foxes.
>
>
>
> Without its current impact on the fox population, all our ground
> dwelling birds, some reptiles, tortoises etc would be extinct in a
> matter of years.
>
>
>
> Yes it may have been used without due care in the past, but that is a
> reason for better education, and not the banning of the substance.
>
>
>
> There are approx 2.5 million foxes in Victoria. The fox bounty
> removed 170000, most of them juveniles. All will be repopulated in
> this current breeding season.
>
>
>
> A fox needs 350g of food a night to survive, only 20% comes from
> lambs/chooks etc.
>
>
>
> At 280g per night x 365 days per years this is 102kg of wildlife
> consumed per individual fox per year.. That?s the entire curlew
> population in Victoria eaten by one fox.
>
>
>
> So it doesn?t take much to work out the total weight of wildlife
> consumed by fox population in one state.
>
>
>
> So don?t create unnecessary hysteria. 1080 is our best weapon, let?s
> encourage its proper use.
>
>
>
> Leanne Wheaton
>
----------------------
I am fully in support of fox control - or even extermination on this
continent and its islands - and have no quarrel with the careful and
skilled use of 1080.
But I remember the comment by a farmer's wife near Mt.Arapiles circa
1951.
"We've got an absolutely wonderful new rabbit poison called 1080. The
great thing is that it kills all the hawks and eagles and foxes and wild
dogs as well!"
In those days every country road in the Western District and Wimmera had
long strings of crucified Wedgetails strung up along the fences. It
showed what a good farmer you were.
Thank heavens attitudes have changed somewhat.
Anthea Fleming
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