ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL TOXICITY OF COMPOUND-1080 FROM LIVESTOCK PROTECTION COLLARS TO CANINES AND SCAVENGING BIRDS

The potential toxicity of Compound 1080 from livestock protection coll ars (LPCs) to canines and scavenger birds was studied. Dogs and magpie s were allowed to scavenge on lamb parts contaminated by 1080 solution (10 mg active ingredient/ml H2O) from LPCs. Toxic potential was ampli fied by confining test animals with lamb heads and necks tainted by up to 60 ml of solution. Two of five dogs died, but none of 25 magpies w ere affected. One of three dogs that survived ingested residue, 0 . 00 8 mg/kg, from lamb flesh. One of two dogs that died also ingested resi due, 0 . 002 mg/kg, from lamb flesh; the other ate contaminated wool. Dogs showed no muscle residue. Though exposure is unlikely, dogs eatin g contaminated wool probably would die, but those ingesting only flesh would not, because muscle residues are low; magpies appeared to be un affected by either type of exposure. Our high scavenger survival in se vere conditions was attributed to selective feeding on exposed flesh t hat contained low toxic residue. LPCs, when used as required to help m anage coyote predation, present small risk to canines and little or no risk to avian scavengers.