Synopsis
The Wild Deserts project has established a 100 km2 ‘wild-training zone’ in which feral cat densities need to be tightly controlled. To do this we need to understand the density at which control measures need to be implemented across the area. This project will fit GPS collars to feral cats and examine how often each cat would interact with a grid of control measures (cameras, Felixer grooming traps, cage traps) and potential enhancements (lures, barrier fences, clearings) across the area to determine optimum placement of control methods.
Aims
This project aims to:
- Determine space use of feral cats within the wild training zone at Wild Deserts.
- Determine the optimum methods for monitoring and managing feral cats.
Student benefits
During this project, you’ll have the chance to:
- Work on optimising feral cat control using novel technology.
- Work closely with the team from the Wild Deserts restoration project.
- Contribute to the knowledge of managing predator thresholds for reintroduction.
- Learn radiotelemetry, camera trapping, track surveys, trapping and other field monitoring and survey techniques.
Supervisors: Dr Reece Pedler, Dr John Read, Dr Katherine Moseby, Dr Rebecca West, Prof Richard Kingsford