Control of ferrets using 1080 and PAPP in baits and a resetting toxin delivery device

Abstract

Ferrets (Mustela furo) are widespread in pastoral habitats and are considered a vertebrate pest because they prey on native birds. Also, ferrets are carriers of bovine tuberculosis (TB, Mycobacterium bovis), and TBfree New Zealand currently controls ferrets by labour-intensive and costly trapping. A Lincoln University research programme, 'Pest Control for the 21st Century', funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment seeks to advance more humane and effective tools for vertebrate pest control. As a vital part of this programme the new toxin para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) is being developed for multiple vertebrate pests. With our partners (Connovation Ltd), we have developed a self-resetting delivery device, the Spitfire, which sprays 800 mg of toxic paste onto a pest’s belly. Both PAPP and 1080 have been trialed in a Spitfire for ferrets. Ferrets were found to groom the paste from their bellies and consume a lethal dose. We have also trialed encapsulated PAPP delivered in minced beef to ferrets. Encapsulation prevented vomiting, allowing a lethal concentration of PAPP to be absorbed across the gut. We achieved mortality in 14/15 (93%) ferrets in laboratory trials and field trials are planned. The goal of this research is to provide information on the effectiveness of these new tools to enable registration, and to add to the toolbox of control methods currently used for ferret control.