PAPP baits: New wild dog control options for producers

Livestock producers battling wild dogs and foxes now have access to new baits to help protect their businesses from losses caused by feral predators.

The PAPP baits, commercially available as Dogabait and Foxecute®, are currently only available for use in NSW, SA and Victoria. They are subject to the same controls as 1080 baits under restricted S7 classification.

MLA is a partner in the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre which developed the new baits in collaboration with Animal Control Technologies Australia Pty Ltd and Australian Wool Innovation.

PAPP, short for para-aminopropiophenone, is the active ingredient in the baits and causes targeted, quick death to foxes and wild dogs.

The baits are designed to complement existing control techniques, such as 1080 baits and trapping, in integrated management plans.  

Estimates of the impacts on the Australian economy from production losses due to livestock predation, disease transmission in livestock and the costs associated with wild dog control range up to $60 million annually.

However, industry sources estimate the economic impact to be much greater, perhaps in the hundreds of millions of dollars per annum.

MLA’s Sustainable Feedbase Resources Program Manager, Cameron Allan, said while the PAPP baits would not replace 1080 baits, they would enable a more comprehensive regional management approach to wild dog and fox management.

“PAPP is available in addition to 1080, and is designed to allow poison baiting in places where 1080 use is less desirable, or for land managers who would prefer not to use 1080,” Mr Allan said.

“Baits containing 1080 are expected to remain the most common approach for broad-scale canid control, and PAPP baits will enable more comprehensive regional control by ‘filling the gaps’ in areas where 1080 may not be used.”

Mr Allan said PAPP is also highly toxic to all domestic and working dogs, depending on the dose ingested, and the distribution of PAPP baits requires careful consideration of potential risks to pets, working dogs and other non-target animals.

“There is an antidote for PAPP – the chemical methylene blue – which can reverse the effects of PAPP poisoning if given within 30 to 90 minutes from the time of ingestion. However, methylene blue can only be purchased and administered by a veterinarian,” Mr Allan said.

For more information about PAPP baits and to view a new online video about the baits, visit: www.pestsmart.org.au/PAPP

Product booklets are available for download from: http://www.animalcontrol.com.au/dogabait1.htm and http://www.animalcontrol.com.au/foxecute1.htm