bait

As a major threat to New Zealand’s biodiversity, feral cats (Felis catus) are the subject of planned eradications on a number of offshore islands, including Rakiura Stewart Island. We used camera traps to estimate population density of feral cats on the north-east coast of Rakiura, and to investigate their movement behaviour and detection probability. We also used camera footage to compare the consumption of two types of non-toxic sausage baits (chicken and rabbit) with a view to future use of toxic baits.

Controlling rodents near municipal areas requires bait that must be housed in purpose-built bait stations to prevent interference from curious people, companion animals, and non-target species. Bait station design is important, but so are the baits themselves.