Start of spring baiting program under 'Western Shield' project

13/9/96

Environment Minister Peter Foss today announced the start of the spring baiting program under Western Shield, the State Government's biggest wildlife conservation project.

Mr Foss said the program would see almost five million hectares of land managed by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) baited over a three-month period to control introduced predators like foxes and feral cats.

Aerial baiting would begin on September 23 and end in late November.

It would cover the South Coast from Esperance through to Walpole, Mundaring through to Collie, Collie through to Walpole and Kalbarri through to Exmouth.

The aircraft would use satellite navigation systems which enabled baits to be accurately dropped at pre-determined sites.

Unbaited buffer zones would be left around towns, recreation sites and private properties.

Mr Foss said the start of the spring baiting program coincided with detection of the rabbit calicivirus disease (RCD) in the Stirling Ranges, which provided a two-fold predator control program in the State's South-West region.

"The combination of CALM's baiting program and the calicivirus disease will play a major role in protecting our native animal species," he said.

"It will help ensure the conservation of Western Australia's biological diversity and the recovery of 24 species of animals including the bilby, quokka, numbat and ring-tailed possum."

It is important that people contact their local district CALM office during the baiting season before taking their pet animals into baited areas.

The bait is a dried meat containing a poison that naturally occurs in native pea flower bushes such as the York Road poison bush and Bullock poison bush.

Native animals have developed a natural tolerance to the poison but it is lethal in small doses to introduced predators like foxes and feral cats.

The baits are attractive and harmful to dogs. It is vitally important that people are aware of the baited areas. All baited areas will be signposted and advertised in regional and community newspapers.

Media contact: Peter Harris (09) 321 2222 or 0411 554 728 CALM: Project Manager Roger Armstrong (097) 254 300