Australia sets traps to poison invasive feral cats.

Western Australian authorities announced a five-year plan on June 27 to eradicate feral cats and protect native species by using traps sprayed with toxic gel.

Feral cats and scavengers in Australia. Photo: iStock/Getty

Australia's solution is the Felixer trap, a device that sprays a toxic gel containing sodium fluoroacetate. Cats then lick the gel off their bodies and become poisoned. The Western Australian government plans to lease 16 Felixer traps from Thylation and place them in areas where endangered native species live.

The Felixer trap is solar-powered and uses lasers and cameras to distinguish whether a passing animal is a feral cat. The device will only spray the toxic gel if the animal has the shape and gait of a cat. The trap works best in areas with high cat traffic, such as fences.

"In thousands of tests, the device has accurately distinguished feral cats from native animals," said Reece Whitby, head of the Western Australian Environment Agency.

According to the Western Australian Feral Cat Control Organisation, Felixer traps are useful in areas where bait or guns are unsuitable. However, these traps are expensive and not suitable for large-scale use.

The five-year strategy to eradicate feral cats will also include baiting in appropriate locations, potentially using up to 880,000 baits annually, as well as increasing funding for communities to help eliminate feral cats.

Feral cats are an invasive species in Australia, introduced by European colonists in the 18th century and thriving there. They are responsible for the deaths of millions of native animals. It is estimated that feral cats kill 3 million mammals, 1 million birds, and 1.7 million reptiles in Australia every day. Feral cats have also caused the extinction of 28 species in Australia and are considered a major threat to over 100 others.

Thu Thao (According to Newsweek )

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