Integrated livestock predation management

Managing livestock predation in eastern Victoria

The Victorian government advocates an integrated approach to managing livestock predation incorporating a combination of appropriate control techniques for the target area across tenures.

Collaboration with all land managers and community, and continuous improvement through review and evaluation of control programs are also important for success.

Control programs should be strategic and focussed where livestock predation is greatest.

A successful program requires a strategic and proactive approach where all land managers, the community and the Government work together to protect livestock from the impacts of  predation.

Report predation incidents

Report predation incidents to your local DEECA officer

Table 1: Contact details of DEECA officers across Victoria

Points to remember

• Take precautions to ensure your control program doesn't affect non target species.
• If control may result in any disturbance of native vegetation, culturally significant areas or waterways, you should contact the responsible department authority, cultural heritage and Catchment Management Authority prior to works being conducted.
• Any use of traps must comply with the requirements of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019. Trapping has several animal welfare implications and anyone considering trapping should read important further information on Humane Vertebrate Pest Control.

If using chemicals to control all applicable requirements of the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992 and Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Regulations 2017 must be met.

Users of 1080 or PAPP must be authorised by holding an Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP) endorsed for 1080 and PAPP use or another form of authorisation under the Act. Users of 1080 and PAPP must adhere to the Directions for Use of PAPP and 1080 pest animal bait products in Victoria and the chemical label, and keep records of use in accordance with the regulations Chemical use record sheets, ACUP application forms. Further information regarding agricultural chemical use can be found in chemicals.

Planning your program

Planning can maximise the effectiveness of livestock predation management while minimising unwanted effects on domestic animals and non-target wildlife. Consider the locality in which the animals are living as this will determine what action is appropriate. The following steps will help in planning.

Work together

Livestock predation management is rarely effective if carried out in isolation.

A group of landholders tackling the whole problem in a simultaneous and coordinated manner will be more successful than isolated individuals tackling only part of the problem. Control programs are most effective when conducted as part of a co-ordinated landholder group or district wide basis to maximise long-term control.

Livestock predators don't respect any boundaries so the managers of all land tenures need to participate to develop and implement a successful ongoing control program.

Conduct monitoring

Automated remote ('trail') cameras are a useful tool to determine the presence, identity, number and activity patterns of suspected livestock predators. Images from such cameras help to confirm the presence of particular predators, allowing the manager to determine appropriate actions.

Set up remote cameras at sites such as at water points, holes in fences, carcasses or game trails where you suspect livestock predation activity.

Information from monitoring can be used to determine baiting rates (in accordance with label instructions), the number of traps required and the suitability of trap or bait sites.

Ongoing monitoring at known livestock predation activity sites can help to detect and manage predators before they become a problem. For example, predators may visit carcasses before they kill stock, if you can detect their presence you will have a better chance of minimising impacts.

Information from remote cameras can be used to help reduce off-target damage for bait and trap sites by providing information on what other species may visit a site, allowing the manager to adjust control measures accordingly. Off-target damage can also be reduced by limiting baiting periods to times when predators are known to be active at a particular site.

Bait type

1080 baits registered for use in Victoria may be shelf stable manufactured baits or fresh meat baits. Shelf stable baits can be stored for longer and have a greater maximum period for placement and are easier to use than fresh meat baits. Both shelf stable and fresh meat baits effectively control livestock predation.

PAPP baits registered for use in Victoria are only available as shelf stable manufactured baits.

Bait rate

Use local knowledge and the results of monitoring to determine the optimal baiting rate in your area. When determining baiting rates, always refer to the product label and Directions for use of PAPP and 1080 bait products in Victoria.

When to bait

If you have limited resources the most effective time to bait to manage livestock predation is during autumn to coincide with the mating season when predators are actively travelling to seek mates and during spring when juveniles can be targeted more easily.

Where to bait

Baits distributed throughout the property in locations of known predator movement will provide optimum opportunity for baits to be taken.

Areas favourable to predator movement include:

• vehicle tracks
• fence and creek lines
• gullies and ridges
• contour banks
• vegetation borders
• watering points
• carcasses.

Baits must be buried as per Directions for use of PAPP and 1080 to reduce the likelihood of off target damage.

A person must be authorised to use 1080 or PAPP or be directly supervised by an appropriately authorised person.

Be aware: the larger the area baited, the greater the protection and the longer it takes for predators to reach the core area you wish to protect.

Canid pest ejectors

Canid pest ejectors (CPEs) are a relatively new tool for managing foxes and large canids in Australia and they can essentially be used in the same way that you would use traditional baits.

CPEs are a mechanical device designed to deliver a measured dose 1080 or PAPP directly into the mouth of large canids and foxes. The device is activated when a large canid or fox pulls firmly (with a force greater than 1.6 kg) in an upward motion on the lure head. This triggers a spring-loaded mechanism that drives a piston into the poison filled capsule, which propels its (powder or liquid) contents directly into the mouth of the animal.

Advantages of CPEs:

• Poison capsules are sealed and protected from the weather, meaning the toxin remains viable until the CPE is activated by a target animal.
• The device is driven into the ground with only the lure head protruding, so it cannot be easily moved or cached by target or non-target species.
• The device can only be activated by an upward pull force greater than 1.6 kg, which is difficult for many smaller non-target species to achieve (confirmed via extensive field research).
• The CPEs can be used many times as long as they are well maintained.
• A variety of lure heads can be used to optimise the attractiveness of the CPEs to target animals.

Limitations of CPEs:

• Lure heads deteriorate over time so they must be replaced periodically to ensure they remain attractive.
• CPEs are a risk to domestic dogs as they can also achieve the required pull force required to activate the device. This requires that working or pet dogs be prevented from roaming in areas where CPEs are active, so that they do not encounter and potentially trigger a CPE.
• 1080 and PAPP capsules can be purchased for use on large canids in Victoria, but users must have appropriate accreditation such as an agricultural chemical users permit (ACUP) with a 1080 and PAPP endorsement. It is also important to be familiar with all label directions and the Directions for use of PAPP and 1080.

Trapping

Trapping to manage livestock predation is labour intensive and requires a higher skill level to successfully trap highly intelligent predators. The use of traps must comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA) and its regulations. Trapping has several animal welfare implications and anyone considering trapping should read Humane Vertebrate Pest Control.

Trapping can form an important part of an integrated control program especially when used in combination with other control measures.

Shooting

While shooting is the most target-specific form of livestock predation control, hunting does not provide long-term, broad-scale control due to the difficulty of undertaking it at a large scale in an ongoing manner. Shooting is labour-intensive and requires a high skill level. Shooting has a role removing a 'problem' animal from an area and in supporting other control techniques in an integrated management approach.

The use of firearms to manage livestock predation must conform to relevant firearm legislation and be integrated with other control methods.

Exclusion fencing

Many farmers believe that electric exclusion fencing, if well built and well maintained, provides an effective 'first line of defence' against predation of livestock.

Livestock protection can be further enhanced if electric exclusion fencing is backed up by lethal control methods such as trapping, poisoning and shooting. An even higher level of protection can be achieved if adjoining landholders work together to build and maintain contiguous community electric exclusion fences. For further information, read Exclusion fencing – a practical guide for woolgrowers

Property hygiene

Carcasses of stock, pest animals, deer and native animals should be buried or burnt to prevent large predators feeding on them. The presence of carcasses may attract large predators onto your property and provide a plentiful food source allowing populations to increase and remain in your area.

Animal husbandry

Small lambing paddocks should be used to allow easier monitoring of the flock and reduce the chances of young lambs or kids being left unattended a long way from their mothers. Lambing paddocks sited close to the house are also easier to check frequently.

Shed lambing can be a practical means of preventing livestock predation on small flocks of valuable animals. Primary producers can reduce the impacts of predation on lambing by coordinating lambing times with their neighbours ensuring that vulnerable lambs are exposed for the shortest possible time frame within a given area.

Guardian animals

Some producers have successfully used trained guard dogs (Anatolian shepherds, Maremma sheep dogs) to protect their flocks from livestock predation. For further information, read Best Practice Manual for the use of Livestock Guardian Dogs

More information

• Invasive animal classifications
• Leghold traps
• About the Prevention of cruelty to animals