GROUND-PLACED BAITS FOR THE CONTROL OF WILD DOGS - EVALUATION OF A REPLACEMENT-BAITING STRATEGY IN NORTH-EASTERN NEW-SOUTH-WALES

Abundance indices for wild dogs (Canis familiaris) were calculated fro m their visitation to stations containing non-toxic baits before and a fter a replacement-baiting programme. The programme, where 1080-impreg nated baits removed by target animals were replaced each day, achieved a mean reduction of 76.1% in the index of wild dog abundance. The rep lacement-baiting strategy removed all resident animals that would acce pt baits and the probable reductions in the populations of wild dogs w ere greater than the reductions reported in previous studies. The indi ces of the abundance of sympatric red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were also reduced (90.8%) by the replacement-baiting programme. Minimum numbers of wild dogs and foxes using roads and tracks in the study area were e stimated by index-manipulation-index methodology. The risk of this rep lacement-baiting programme to populations of non-target animals was in substantial. The effects of the manipulation of canid populations on t he management of populations of non-target animals are discussed.