Feral cats kill native species in South Australia

Feral cats are responsible for the death of many native wildlife in South Australia. In a study published in Australian Mammalogy, researchers used DNA to uncover if cat (Felis catus) predation was the cause of death for native animal species. This method was easier than tracking native animals and determining the cause of death from carcass remains, bite marks on collars, or taking a carcass back to a lab to perform a necropsy. “Because we’re working in really remote areas, it is difficult to access vets for necropsy,” said Katherine Moseby, a co-author of the study. “So taking a DNA swab of the dead animal was a really good way to identify if predation was the cause of death. And then we decided to compare the DNA outcomes with evidence in the field to determine if the latter was a reliable method of determining cause of death.” The team found the observation methods were not the best indicators of predation by feral cats. They also found that in two sites where a total of 389 animals—brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii), greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) and bettongs—were translocated, cats killed 74.

Read the study in Australian Mammalogy.