Community Coordinated
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
Sunshine Coast Council in partnership with your local community will be conducting a 1080
feral animal baiting program for a period of up to 30 days. The program commencement
date will be provided separately on the notification leaflet to comply with legislative
timeframes. Notification will occur within 72 hours prior to any baiting. This program is in
response to feral animal impacts in your area and the legal obligations of landholders to
control these Declared Class 2 Pests (declared under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock
Route Management) Act 2002).
Residents from your local area have formed a Local Area Coordinating Group and will partner
council in laying 1080 baits on their properties to control feral animals. 1080 baiting is one of the
control methods being used to reduce feral animal numbers.
To undertake the program both council and the baiting participants are required to meet strict
requirements set by Queensland Health, Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and
Forestry (DAFF) and Biosecurity Queensland.
The property you occupy is located within the notification zone. The purpose of this information
pack is to provide you with important information about the program that will increase the safety
and success of the baiting. Council requires you to complete the following tasks as part of the
program:
 Read the information pack to better understand the program
 Advise all occupiers and visitors to your property about the program prior to and during the
baiting date
 Read the Notification zone checklist and comply with the requests
If you have read the information and have questions about the program please contact your Local
Area Coordinator or a council Pest and Vector Control Officer by using the contact information on
the notification leaflet.
This information pack contains the following:
1 Key terms used in this information
2 Notification zone checklist
3 Guidelines for 1080 Sunshine Coast Coordinated Program
4
Procedures for a 1080 Baiting Program near Settled Areas
Key terms used in this information pack
Local Area Coordinator’s (LAC) are responsible for:
 being the primary point of contact between baiting participants, land occupiers and government
agency representatives in the local area where baiting is occurring

maintaining all required forms, registers and documents
Pest and Vector Control Officer (PVCO) is a Sunshine Coast Council Officer responsible for pest
management authorised by Queensland Health to prepare 1080 solutions.
Baiting participants partake in the program and are responsible for laying and collecting the baits
on their approved property, gaining consent within their local area and completing necessary
documentation. A baiting participant must fulfil the guidelines and procedures prior to joining a
baiting program.
Land occupiers are people living within the local area. A program can only occur where a
minimum of 80% of consent has been gained from occupiers located within 1 km of the baiting
points. Occupiers within 2 km of the baiting points are provided with written notification prior to
baiting commencement.
Local Area is the vicinity surrounding the baiting area.
Local Area Coordinating Group (LACG) is the body established from land occupiers or interested
parties for the Local Area. LACG is responsible for:
 identifying bait locations based on the guidelines and feral animal movement patterns

determining the land occupiers that need to be approached for their consent

what areas need to be notified prior to the baiting

making any further decisions about the Local Area Group in conjunction with the LAC, PVCO
and baiting participants.
Notification zone is the area located within 2 km of where the baits are placed and all properties
falling within this zone require notification a minimum of 72 hours prior to any baiting program
commencing.
Feral animal includes wild dogs, feral cats, foxes and feral pigs.
Further information
Further information can be obtained by contacting your Local Area Coordinator, Sunshine Coast
Council or Biosecurity Queensland.
Current as at February 2013
V1 08/02/13
2
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
Notification zone checklist
Please complete the following checklist prior to and throughout the program:

Notify all other occupiers and/or visitors to your property of the baiting program.

To minimise the risk of your domestic animals taking bait restrain all domestic animals
(including cats and dogs) and working dogs belonging to the occupiers and/or visitors.

Immediately notify the Local Area Coordinator listed on the separate notification leaflet of any
incident which includes:
1. Suspected or actual non-target poisoning of wildlife with a 1080 bait
2. Suspected or actual non-target poisoning of a domestic animal, working animal or livestock
with a 1080 bait

Fill out the Feral Animal Incident or Sightings Report provided with the notification leaflet if you
see, hear or have an incident with feral animals and forward the report to the Sunshine Coast
Council when completed.
This information is important as it allows the community and council to cooperatively plan
feral animal management programs for the future.
Distance restrictions and notification requirements for 1080 baiting of
properties close to settled areas
2 km
No
consent
needed
1 km
500 m
Must
notify by
writing
Baiting
Station
Consent
in writing
station
required for
baiting
Notification
Zone
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
3
Guidelines for 1080 Sunshine Coast Coordinated Program
Background
Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a highly toxic product registered with the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority approved for use as a pesticide by Queensland Health. The use of
1080 is efficient as a relatively species specific control method and has been used throughout
Australia since the early 1960’s.
What is 1080?
In natural form 1080 is a white, odourless powdery substance similar in appearance to flour or
talcum powder that is virtually tasteless with a slight vinegar type aroma and is colourless when
dissolved in water.
All stocks of 1080 are coloured with a blue-black dye as a safety marker. It is water-soluble and it
does not cause a build-up of toxic residues in soil, water or plants and can only be broken down
naturally by water, soil, bacteria and fungi.
Sodium fluoroacetate occurs naturally in over 30 species of Australian plants some common
examples are:

Acacia georginae (Gidgee)

Gastrolobium (Heart Leaf Poison Bush)

Oxylobium (Box Poison Bush)
These plants have been known to cause poisoning of domestic livestock.
Using 1080 in Settled Areas
The guidelines in this information pack apply only to rural lands close to settled areas.
Settled areas are defined as:
 areas closer than 5km from a township

where houses are within 2km of an area where baits could be laid

on properties of less than 40ha
On properties that are outside settled areas, standard guidelines for the use of 1080 will apply.
Safety Information
The strict regulatory control of 1080 is set down in the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996
administered by Queensland Health.
1080 can only be supplied and used by DAFF, Biosecurity Queensland and Local Government
officers for the purpose of controlling declared pest animals and cannot be sold directly to the
public. Only the abovementioned officers that have undertaken practical and written examinations
and received approval from Queensland Health are authorised to prepare 1080 solutions. All 1080
operators are required to be re-trained every two years.
4
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
Regulations and guidelines
The baiting program will:

Only be undertaken in a manner regarded as industry best practice and approved by
DAFF and Sunshine Coast Council in a coordinated manner and at periods when long-term
results are optimised. Generally this will include the breeding season (April/May), dispersion
adolescence (September /October) and when a demonstrated need is identified and approved
by council. Other methods of feral animal control are also required at key times to gain the most
effective result.

Provide notification of the baiting date at least 72 hours to every property that falls
within 2kms of the bait site. The LAC will keep a register to record; who was notified, when
and how.

Make sure warning signs are placed at all points of entry to all baiting properties and all
adjoining public thoroughfares. This must be done even if the adjoining property is carrying
out baiting. Signs must be in place a minimum of one month and maximum of three months.

Ensure all bait locations are marked and numbered on a provided map. Each baiting
participant will keep a record of; if baits were taken and date bait was taken.

Guarantee leaseholders of Forestry land wishing to participate in a baiting program give
Regional Forestry authorities 7 days notice prior to laying baits.
The baits:

are not to be used for any purpose other than for the destruction of feral animals.

must be placed on the specified land only and not within; 500m of any habitation (excluding the
participants), 1km of a public amenity or 3km of a town area unless otherwise approved.

are not to be laid within 1km of any habitation (excluding the participants) without obtaining at
least 80% local area agreement (using the Approval to Bait or the Absentee Owner Approval to
Bait form).

are not to be laid within 5m of a fenced property boundary without approval.

are not to be laid within 50m of a centre line of a declared road.

are not to be laid within 20m of a permanent or flowing water body.

size must be a minimum of 250g (for dogs at 6mg) and 125g (for foxes at 3mg and cats at
6mg).

must be laid by digging a hole for each bait at least 50mm (2 inches) deep and tied to a secure
object nearby before hole is filled with soil.

where unused are to be collected and destroyed within 7 days of the date of their receipt by the
baiting participant. It is illegal to store any impregnated bait material.
Participating properties must be:

over 40ha in size and will receive a maximum of 15 baits unless otherwise approved.

10–40ha in size if they are adjacent/adjoining other properties involved in the coordinated
program and will receive a maximum of 6 baits unless otherwise approved.

less than 10ha in size will not participate unless given specific approval.
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
5
Important tips for safety and success

Look for the signs of the pest animal and
target that area.

You may only have to place baits in one
or two areas or in a boundary paddock.

The best results may be achieved by
strategically placing baits along specific
stock pads, game trails and creek
crossings.

Always ensure your domestic dog is
adequately restrained during and after
baiting.

Remember 40 baits on four adjoining
properties (in the right areas) will be more
effective than the same quantity of bait on
one property.
Advise your neighbours to restrain or
muzzle their dogs.

Your domestic dog may receive a lethal
dose if they ingest saliva or vomit of other
poisoned dogs or animals.
You can be selective (minimise the risks)
and target the animal by:

Try to minimise the risk to your domestic
dog by conducting mustering before a
1080 campaign.
Proper planning is essential to minimise the
danger to your pets and working dogs and to
maximise the success of the program.
Here are a few tips to remember:
 Ensure you know where and when you
will lay baits

One bait contains enough lethal dose to
kill two domestic dogs.

You don’t have to lay lots of bait - be
specific.

Maximise your chances of success by
encouraging neighbours to participate.


o
burying baits;
o
tying baits;

o
marking the area where baits
are placed for easy retrieval
purposes.
Ensure you have secure, leak proof
containers to hold baits.

To reduce the risk to your domestic dog,
always thoroughly clean down all
machinery and equipment used in the
baiting process. This includes vehicles
(underneath as well as floor of tray), and
all clothing (including boots) and
containers.

Always retrieve and destroy all unused
baits.

If you suspect that your domestic dog has
eaten bait immediately contact a vet.

Do not concentrate your baits. This is
particularly important when considering
baiting in mineral deficient areas. Cattle
in some of these areas have been known
to pick up baits.

Free-feeding and footprint plots can be
used to determine whether the pest
animals are actually eating the bait
material.
There is no set time for 1080 baits to become inactive in terms of toxicity.
It depends on the following factors:

What type of bait material is used?

Locations of the bait.

Soil types and content of ground flora.

The amount of rainfall after baiting has occurred.
It is important for you to track, monitor and dispose of unused baits following
the steps outlined in this pack.
6
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
Selectivity of 1080
There is considerable variation in susceptibility between animal species with dogs (domestic,
working and feral) being the most susceptible. In general, cold-blooded animals such as reptiles
and fish are the most resistant of all animals while birds show considerably more resistance than
mammals.
One of the risks with using 1080 is the leaching of the poison from the impregnated baits due to
rainfall. If an area was heavily poisoned using 8 kg of bait per hectare (containing 0.5 mg of 1080
per kg of bait) and the poison was leached out due to 50 mm of rain, an individual person would
need to drink 1750L of contaminated water before they would receive a lethal dose.
If a hunter shot a 60kg feral pig that had ingested 3 kg of 1080 bait (at a rate of 0.5 mg of 1080 per
kg of bait) and based on the unlikely assumption that half the poison is now within the edible meat
of the carcass, that hunter would need to eat 7.5 kg of raw meat in one sitting before being at risk.
Table of lethal 1080 doses
Animal
Lethal Dose of 1080 (in mg/kg
bodyweight)
Relative Resistance (Dog = 1)
Dog
0.1
1
Fox
0.2
1
Cat
0.3
3
Wallaby
0.3
3
Cattle
0.4
4
Sheep
0.3
3
Pig
0.6
6
Rabbit
0.4
4.4
Magpie
0.9
9.9
Human
2.0 – 5.0
20 – 50
Sparrow
3.0
30
Rat
7.0
70
Hawk
10.0
100
Goanna
55.0
550
Frog
1000.0
10,000
Based on the figures in the table above:

an 85 kg person would have to eat 7 kg of raw bait (impregnated with 1080 based on dog
dosage) to obtain a lethal dose
Source: Vertebrate Pesticide Manual (2009) The State of Queensland – Employment, Economic Development and
Innovation (now DAFF)
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program
7
Procedures for a 1080 Baiting Program near Settled Areas
8
Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program Feral Animal Control (1080 baiting) Program