Multi-species control by aerial baiting: A realistic goal?

Abstract

Two advantages could be gained by developing multi-species control by aerial baiting. It should assist pest managers to achieve sustainable resource management by improving the efficiency of operations; and it should reduce the likelihood of unwanted ecological side-effects (such as preyswitching) that sometimes follow when pest species are controlled individually. The technology to achieve efficient multi-species control is already well advanced, aided particularly by the refinement of aerial control of possums and by the development of baits for individual species. More effort will, however, be required to develop predictive models for planning the integration of multi-species control with conventional single-species control, and for predicting the ecological effects of such intervention. © 1993 The Royal Society of New Zealand.