POISON

The use of chemical compounds will, and should, always be controvercial. Most poisons kill sentient animals inhumnely and should not be considered for use on vertebrate animals. However some poisons Kill as humanely as any other lethal method and can often be applied in ways not possible with the other methods. This is very significant in the light of the facts about the learning ability of the animals. As many acceptable control options as possible need to be used to effectively stop damage. The most effective weapon against abuse is to furnish the affected parties with the ability to stop damage in acceptable ways.

The toxic collar being an example. This is the only method yet devised that has the potential to be 100% selective in killing only damage causing individual predators. The Coyote Getter, when used with pheromonal lure is another indispensible tool to be used in selectively alleviating predator damage. The prerequisite is proper training to empower the livestock owner to use the equipment effectively.

Three poison ejecting devices: L to R - M44 piston ejecor; Humane coyote getter; Foxbuster (SA model)	A coyote getter set next a footpath. Note that there is very littel disturance

Poisoned carcasses has been popular in the past and this caused an untold amount of damage to our natural heritage. This abuse has been whittled down to small Single Lethal Dose Baits (SLDBs) that are still in common use the world over. SLDBs has little application in damage control. It has been used mainly in population suppression efforts, but when dealing with the intelligent animals that we encounter in ADC, it proves not to be effective. It mostly targets the wrong sector of the population and animals in any particular area learns to avoid the baits. The fundamental problem with SLDBs in ADC is that it is bait and that damage causing individuals are the least prone to take bait.

Lures to get SLDBs more selective have been suggested. All the really selective lures that has been dicovered has pheromonal properties and is not perceived as food by the animal. They may even pick up the bait in their mouth and carry it for a distance, but then drops it. To get poisoned the animal has to swallow the bait! This is where the coyote getter comes into its own with a pheromonal bait. When the animal picks it up it sends a deadly dose of cyanide down the the animals trought.

The chemical used as poison has to be screened and selected with great care. There are thousands of poisons on the market - by definition all to kill. Some show selectivity between taxonomic groups of animals but this could not yet be fully utilized in the vertebrate ADC field of operation. When distributing poison in our environment extreme responsibily is a prerequisite. Enivironmentally damaging poisons have been promoted by wellknown and respected conservation NGOs, by not properly investigating the substance.

Agricultural poisons may only be used as prescribed on the label. When eelworm or stemborer poisons are used to kill predators it is illegal. There is quite a stiff fine or even jail time for a person when caught.

If you really insist on using a SLD bait, onl a small pellet may be used. Poison is inserted ino a cut.	Placing a bait in the open is very unselective. Especially rare rapors suffer. This practice is illegal.

Selectivity almost always is dependant on intimate knowledge of the target animal (even individual) as well as the non-target animals present, and thereby use of the best equipment for the situation, but most importantly the exact placement of the equipment. This is as true of SLDBs as it is of leghold traps or capture cages.

A bait that was not taken, een tough the jackal visited	A bait that was tested but then dicarded

When a bait is placed, it has to be hidden from sight, like this one being buried in loose sand	In case no loose sand is available the bait must be hidden under vegetation (grass clump or leaf litter)

The tipcal body posture of an animal that died from strychnine poisoning. This is an exectionally bad poison that cause severe suffering.	Baitshung on fencelines is an invitation to birds and even humans and can lead to serious consequences.

A modern day toxicological solution. Feratox cyanide pellets from New Zeeland. Not yet available in South Africa	A poison collar that did its job