No detectable impact of short-term feral cat control: two case studies on shooting as a management tool in northern Australian savannas

Context Feral cats (Felis catus) are a significant threat to biodiversity in Australia’s northern savannas. Direct control methods can be employed alongside indirect controls such as habitat modification through fire and feral herbivore management. However, the effectiveness of intensive short-term lethal control in reducing feral cat numbers remains unclear. Aims This study assessed the effectiveness of targeted shooting as a feral cat control measure at two large properties in northern Australia, namely, Yampi Sound Training Area (YSTA) and Piccaninny Plains Wildlife Sanctuary (PP). Specifically, we tested whether short-term intensive shooting significantly reduces feral cat activity and density in northern Australian savannas. Methods Camera-trap arrays were deployed at treatment (n = 3) and control (n = 2) sites at the two locations to monitor feral cats over two 12-day periods before and after targeted control activities (i.e. shooting). Individual cats were identified from images. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) and Allen’s index were employed to analyse activity changes, and spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) analyses were used to estimate cat density. Key results At YSTA, 25 cats were removed across two treatment sites (16 and 9 respectively) over 11 nights, whereas at PP, 12 cats were removed at one treatment site over six nights. These efforts resulted in no significant reduction in feral cat activity or density at treatment sites. However, the short monitoring duration affected accuracy of density estimates and should be interpreted cautiously. Conclusions Short-term intensive shooting did not produce measurable reductions in feral cat activity at our treatment sites. These findings suggest that this method of direct lethal control alone is unlikely to achieve sustained feral cat population reductions, particularly in open landscapes such as northern Australian savannas. Implications These findings highlight the substantial limitations and resource demands of short-term intensive shooting as a feral cat management method. Effective feral cat control strategies in open ecosystems are likely to require integrated, sustained, and adaptive management. Future research should explore long-term management strategies and account for ecological and behavioural factors influencing feral cat populations.