1080 Summary information

Authors

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia
Department of Health, Western Australia

Publication Date

5-2002

Series Number

Miscellaneous Publication 11/2002

Publisher

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia

City

Perth

ISSN

1326-4168

Abstract

Fluoroacetate, the active ingredient of 1080, occurs naturally in toxic plants in Australia, South Africa, and South America. Manufactured I080 underpins most vertebrate pest control programs in Australia and New Zealand. Fluoroacetate occurs naturally in about 40 plant species in Australia with most of these plants restricted to the south-west of WA.

I080 was introduced to rabbit control programs in the early 1950s and therefore has a long history of proven effectiveness and safety in Australia. There have been few repo1ted problems associated with human safety, environmental persistence, bioaccumulation or impact on populations of non-target species.

In particular, I080 baits are a critical component of integrated pest management programs for rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, and feral pigs in agricultural, forestry and conservation areas of Western Australia.

For example, the broad-scale control of foxes using I080 meat baits was introduced into management programs of the conservation estate in Western Australia in 1994 with the Western Shield program commencing in April 1996. Baiting activities in conjunction with recovery plans for the Woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi), Southern brown bandicoot or Quenda (/soodon obesulus fusciventer) and the Tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) have so greatly improved the conservation status of these species that they have been removed from the State and Commonwealth endangered species lists. One of the significant contributing factors to the decision to de-list these species was the increase in the number and size of populations in mainland WA, principally in areas subject to government funded fox control programs which utilise 1080 baits. Moreover, I080 is still an important component of management programs for reducing the impact of European rabbits on agricultural production and conservation in WA, having been used for this purpose since the early I 950's.

Number of Pages

22

Keywords

1080 (sodium fluoroacetate); Foxes; Rabbits; Feral animals; Pests; Pest control program; Toxicity; Pest management

Disciplines

Agricultural Education | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Biochemistry | Biosecurity | Botany | Environmental Chemistry | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Population Biology | Toxicology

Recommended Citation

Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia, and Department of Health, Western Australia. (2002), 1080 Summary information. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Perth. Report Miscellaneous Publication 11/2002.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bs_researchrpts/21

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