How does 1080 compare to alternatives?
As yet there are no alternative broad-scale methods for effectively and efficiently reducing the numbers and impact of vertebrate pests across Australia. Some of the possible additional options considered are discussed below.
Immunosterility
Fertility control of pest species is an attractive option as it focuses on decreasing birth rate rather than increasing death rate as do lethal control options. The possibility of developing target-specific, naturally disseminated, anti-fertility, genetically-modified agents has been considered for rabbits, house mice, foxes, and introduced (New Zealand) brushtail possums. However, despite a conservatively estimated $80AUD million research effort spanning three Cooperative Research Centres over approximately 15 years, the technical challenges have proven too great with current technology, and disseminating or bait delivered fertility control could not be practically developed for any pest species.
Strychnine
Strychnine is not target-specific as most animals are equally highly sensitive to this toxin. Strychnine also has a high environmental persistence. Strychnine is not registered for use in predator baits in Western Australia, but it can be used on trap-jaws to help ensure a humane death when trapping wild dogs. It is also used on grain to control emus because of their high tolerance to 1080 (Table 2).
Shooting, trapping, fumigation and warren destruction
These are all viable techniques when pest control needs to be undertaken at a localised level, although they too can have potential risks associated with their use (e.g. fumigation can kill native animals, warren ripping may destroy native vegetation). Because of the associated cost, and/or the logistics involved, these methods are generally impractical and unsuitable for broad-acre pest control programs.