BioOne.org will be down briefly for maintenance on 17 December 2024 between 18:00-22:00 Pacific Time US. We apologize for any inconvenience.
How to translate text using browser tools
24 March 2021 The canid pest ejector challenge: controlling urban foxes while keeping domestic dogs safe
Margarita Gil-Fernández, Robert Harcourt, Alison Towerton, Thomas Newsome, Hayley A. Milner, Sanjana Sriram, Natalie Gray, Sergio Escobar-Lasso, Victor Hugo González-Cardoso, Alexandra Carthey
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Context. It is widely recognised that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are abundant within urban areas; however, it is difficult to apply lethal control measures using poison baits in cities because of concerns about the safety of domestic pets, particularly dogs (Canis familiaris).

Aims. We tested canid pest ejectors (CPEs) as a potential method of fox control by measuring visitation and activation behaviour of foxes and other wildlife while assessing non-target risk to domestic dogs.

Methods. We compared eight urban and eight peri-urban sites in Sydney, with half of the sites having restricted access for domestic dogs. We allocated five camera traps and ejectors per site. Through generalised linear mixed models, we compared the probability of ejector activation between foxes and dogs. We also assessed the relationship between dog visitation and distance to habitation and dog restrictions as measures of dog safety.

Key results. Both species of canids were equally likely to pull the ejector (P = 0.26). As expected, dog visitation was significantly lower in sites with dog restrictions (P < 0.001). However, it was not related to distance from habitation. Only two non-canid species were recorded pulling the ejector, suggesting high target-specificity for canids.

Conclusions. In sites with dog restrictions, the risk of dog casualties from CPEs is minimal. However, distance from habitation does not increase dog safety, at least within 250 m. The ejector is highly specific for canids.

Implications. We provide specific recommendations for the design of a potential fox control program using CPEs in urban and peri-urban areas. The ejector may be a safe method for fox control in cities when deployed at places without domestic dogs.

© CSIRO 2021
Margarita Gil-Fernández, Robert Harcourt, Alison Towerton, Thomas Newsome, Hayley A. Milner, Sanjana Sriram, Natalie Gray, Sergio Escobar-Lasso, Victor Hugo González-Cardoso, and Alexandra Carthey "The canid pest ejector challenge: controlling urban foxes while keeping domestic dogs safe," Wildlife Research 48(4), 314-322, (24 March 2021). https://doi.org/10.1071/WR20078
Received: 7 May 2020; Accepted: 4 October 2020; Published: 24 March 2021
KEYWORDS
invasive predator
lethal control
M-44 ejector
pest control
urban carnivore
urban ecology
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top