Andy-
Birds are more tolerant of 1080 than mammals, and among mammals, canids,
such as foxes are most susceptible to 1080. 1080 baits are prepared for
particular target animals. Thus a fox bait contains sufficient to kill a
fox but not enough to kill a bird, which is more tolerant. For larger
animals like dogs, more 1080 is required in each bait, but baits are
purposely made large so that birds such as raptors cannot physically consume
sufficient to poison. Risk is further reduced if baits are fixed with wire
or stakes, or buried. This is a common practice in some areas.
Because 1080 is not a rapid acting substance, animals that take baits often
move some distance before they expire. So in most 1080 baiting programmes
baited animals are not recovered (unless there is a concerted effort to find
them, which is generally impractical). 1080 is an organic substance
(originates in some native plants) that is metabolised when consumed. If an
animal has been poisoned by 1080, any 1080 that is not metabolised will
break down quite rapidly in the presence of moisture and naturally occuring
bacteria (these bacteria are found in soil). Thus, any poisoned animal will
not remain a hazard to other predators or scavengers. Poisoning is not
likely even a short time after a bait is consumed. For example, if a hunter
shot a 60 kg feral pig which was in the latent period following ingestion of
3 kg of 1080 bait(at a rate of 1152 mg 1080/kg), and based on the unlikely
assumption that half the ingested poison
has become evenly distributed through the carcass, the hunter would need to
eat 36.1 kg in one sitting before being at risk.
Correct use of bait has as much, or more to do with the correct preparation
and presentation of bait material as it does with the toxic properties of
1080.
There has been quite a lot written on the relative toxicity of 1080 to
different animal groups
and the potential risks to non-target species. Much of what is written
appears in Australian Wildlife Research. Two articles worth reading are:
McIlroy, J. C. 1986. The sensitivity of Australian animals to 1080 poison.
IX. Comparisons between the major groups of animals and the potential
danger
non-targets face from 1080-poisoning campaigns. Australian Wildlife
Research
{b13}:39-48.
McIlroy, J. C., and D. R. King. 1990. Appropriate amounts of 1080 poison
in
baits to control foxes,Vulpes vulpes. Australian Wildlife Research
{b17}:11-
13.
I have a large bibliography of scientific literature on the subject of 1080
and wildlife management. If anyone is interested, I am happy to provide a
list.
Scott O'Keeffe
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Andy Burton
Sent: Wednesday, 5 November 2003 2:35
To: Tony Crocker
Cc:
Subject: For the love of Luther
Birds are often unintended victims of the use of poisons as well as
being the intended victims of Foxes. Of course this debate has
something to do with birds.
I suspect that I line up on the pro 1080 side of the debate but I and
most others don't have the data to prove that it works long term.
When 1080 is used to kill Foxes what happens to the dead animals? Are
they left in the bush and if so does the poison remain in the corpse
to then kill any (bird) scavengers that feed on it? Does anyone know
the answer?
There is a potential impact on raptors here.
Andy
>Hello John, and others
>
>What has this got to do with birds?
>
--
Andy Burton's Bush Tours
52 Abingdon Rd,
Roseville,
NSW 2069
Australia
Ph 61 2 9416 2636
Mob 0408 937 531
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