Baiting for feral cats
Eradicat baits containing 1080 can be used to control of feral cat populations on large properties in South Australia and reduce their impacts on agricultural production and native species.
Careful planning and application of your baiting program will maximise its effects and minimise impacts on non-target animals.
A risk assessment will guide the location and timing of your baiting program.
When to bait feral cats
Baiting with Eradicat can occur once a year at a site, at any time, but is best in autumn to winter, or following bushfires, when adults may have fewer food sources available.
Using Eradicat baits on your property
Your property should have at least one square kilometre of area to bait with Eradicat for feral cats, or larger if there is a residential dwelling on it. The baiting area must also be at least one kilometre from any dwelling on a neighbouring property.
How to order baits
Availability of Eradicat will be rolled out over the next year.
Contact your Landscape South Australia (LSA) Board for information on progress of the roll out, the suitability of your property for the baits, and how to get, store and use Eradicat baits on your property.
You must complete a risk assessment to guide the location and timing of your baiting program.
Landholders and managers must sign an ‘Approval to Possess 1080 and PAPP Bait’ form when they collect baits.
If you cannot collect baits in person, or if you are not the person who will conduct the baiting on your property, you must nominate an agent and fill out an approval for nominated agent to collect form. The agent must bring this completed form with them to collect the baits.
Laying baits
Always follow the directions for use and bait label for the baiting product and read the safety data sheet (from the supplier) when using baits.
Directions for use can be found at Eradicat for feral cat control.
Eradicat label 65272/141062 information can be found at Eradicat label.
Eradicat meat baits for feral cats must be laid within a day of being thawed from a frozen state. Baits can only be laid on a defined given area once annually; use a maximum of 50 baits per square kilometre.
Ground-baited Eradicat baits must be placed at least:
- 20 meters from permanent or flowing water bodies,
- 5 meters inside property boundaries,
- 5 meters from the edge of formed public roadways,
- 150 meters from a residential dwelling that is on the property being baited,
- 1 kilometre from a residential dwelling that is not on the property being baited as prescribed in the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995
Notify your neighbours before using poison baits
You must notify all neighbours at least 72 hours before any poison bait is laid on a property. This includes neighbours separated by a road. To notify your neighbours, use the baiting feral cats neighbour notification letter template.
All notifications must be recorded on a neighbour notification record sheet and kept for 2 years.
Display a sign
When you bait, you must place baiting signs on:
- all property entry points
- fences that border public roads
The signs inform people that it is not safe for domestic animals and livestock.
Signs are provided by your landscape board.
Disposing of untaken baits
You should pick up baits after 1 week if they are not taken by a feral cat.
Untaken baits and baits degraded by rain must be disposed of by either:
- deep burial (below 0.5 metres)
- incineration
Regardless of rainfall and timelines, always assume 1080 baits are lethal to your dogs and other animals.