If feral pigs are gold medalists in habitat destruction and disturbance, feral cats are right beside them on that podium.
To better understand and manage their impact, over 30 infrared and flash trap cameras have been deployed throughout Mt Lewis National Park to monitor cat activity and guide a control response plan.
The project is being overseen by Dr Edward Evans, GSNRM biodiversity officer, who acknowledges cats as a particularly complex threat.
‘I like cats, they’re cool animals, they’re amazing predators, but unfortunately they’re a huge problem for native species,’ Dr Evans said.
‘Many small to medium-sized native mammals have gone extinct either directly or in part due to cats.’
Statistics support these statements, with studies showing feral cats kill an estimated 1.5 billion native mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs each year, along with 1.1 billion invertebrates.
Within GSNRM’s eastern forests priority project areas, species such as the northern bettong are particularly vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation and predator management.