Survey of 1080 users

In 2022, the Victorian government made an election commitment of $1.0 million over 2 years (2023 to 2025) to investigate alternatives to 1080 poison for pest animal management.

As a first step to deliver on this commitment, Agriculture Victoria engaged a market research company to design and conduct a survey of all authorised 1080 users.

The survey aimed for a current snapshot of how Victorian land managers are using 1080 and alternative methods to control foxes, rabbits, feral pigs or wild dogs, and their views on these uses.

How the survey was conducted

The survey was sent to all people who hold an agricultural chemical user permit that authorises the use of 1080 and PAPP or a vermin-endorsed commercial operator licence (licensed commercial pest animal controllers).

People were contacted by email, phone or postal mail with a request to complete the survey either online or on paper. The survey ran from 29 April to 2 June 2024.

The survey obtained a 32% return rate with responses from 1,789 out of the 5,595 people contacted. The very high response rate provides confidence in the results.

All survey responses were de-identified before the data was collated for analysis and provided to Agriculture Victoria.

Agriculture Victoria thanks all survey respondents for taking the time to share their valuable perspectives.

What the survey asked

Respondents had the option to provide information about themselves, the land they manage and the pest animal control they do.

For respondents who undertook control of rabbits, foxes, wild dogs or feral pigs, more detailed technical questions were asked about their control methods.

The survey then asked for respondents’ opinions on the effects of using 1080, and the implications if only alternative methods were available.

What the survey found

The survey generated a large quantity of data. While Agriculture Victoria is working through analysis of the information, here are some general findings:

• Respondents included owners and employees of commercial farms, hobby farmers, public land managers and pest controller/contractors.
• Most (86%) of respondents said they actively control pest animals on land that they manage and 3 in 5 survey respondents (60%) had used 1080 in the last 5 years.
• Of those who actively control pest animals (by any method), 88% do so to protect commercial interests and 74% to protect native flora/fauna.
• Among those who use 1080, the vast majority agree ‘it is essential to effectively control’ pest animals.
• 1080 is used most widely to control foxes, with 62% of those who control foxes having used 1080 in the last 5 years. 1080 was less used by people who control rabbits (33%) or feral pigs (23%).
• 1080 is mostly used in combination with other control methods such as shooting, trapping and alternative bait poisons, depending on the pest animal species being controlled.
• Among those who use 1080, the vast majority agree that populations of the pest animals they target would increase significantly or moderately if 1080 wasn’t available and alternative methods were used in its place.
• The majority (83%) of all permit holders disagree that the use of 1080 should be phased out.

Read the Agriculture Victora – 1080 use survey (PDF - 2.1 MB)

What happens next

Agriculture Victoria will continue to analyse the survey findings. A science-based literature review and analysis is now being undertaken to document information about the advantages and disadvantages of using available alternative methods to 1080.

Together, the findings of the survey and the review will inform assessments of how to optimise control techniques for a range of pest animal species and situations into the future.