The role of non-toxic cereal prefeed and postfeed (dyed and undyed) in the development and maintenance of 1080 cereal bait shyness in captive possums

Abstract

Previous research trials with captive possums in pens, and in the field, have shown that a long-lasting aversion to 1080 cereal bait can be induced in this species (Hickling 1994; Morgan et al. 1996). Research investigating methods of combating this aversion has branched into two main directions. The first involved an investigation into the effectiveness of alternative toxicants as a means of eradicating 1080 shy possums. The second has been an investigation to identify which components of 1080 cereal bait are involved in maintaining the aversion. It is this second research direction that is the focus of this report. The objectives of this report is to determine the influence of non-toxic cereal prefeed (dyed & undyed) on the number of possum developing 1080 cereal bait shyness, and to determine the effectiveness of non-toxic cereal postfeeding (dyed & undyed) as a means of combating 1080 cereal bait shyness once it has been induced.