1080 Bait – The Legal Killer

• August 12, 2019
• by Iain Michie

NB: In this post, there will be NO pictures of animals suffering from having ingested 1080 bait.

For any animal lover this is an extremely emotive subject.

My wife and I, like the informed majority it appears, do not sit on the fence on this subject and are totally against its use everywhere, not just in Australia.

I have spoken to a number of dog owners who, concerningly, were completely unaware of 1080 bait and how it can affect companion animals.

I must admit, that it is only since starting our travels, that we have become more aware and knowledgable about this issue.

1080 Bait, or to give it it’s chemical name Sodium Fluoroacetate is a manufactured poison used extensively to kill so-called ‘pest’ species.

In Australia these include foxes, rabbits, wallabies, cats, feral pigs, and wild dogs.

It is colourless, odourless, and tasteless and is therefore easily ingested by companion animals.

Worst of all, it has no antidote.

It was first tested in New Zealand as far back as 1954, and by 1957 was in widespread use all over NZ.

Reporting states that it was first used in Australia in the early 1960’s.

At the time of writing this, the NSW National Parks authorities are currently actively laying bait, until December this year (2019), in all of the National Parks.

It would appear that the use of this poison is Australia wide regardless of Territory or State.

Reserves, farmland and bush can also have bait put down on it.

1080 bait is a disgustingly inhumane way for any animal, dog or otherwise, to die from, yet the governing bodies still continue with its use. 

It appears that certain supporters of this poison take the stance that the use of it to cull the designated ‘pest’ population is completely acceptable and that it causes minimal suffering to the animals that ingest it.

On the other hand, there are numerous accounts from people that have witnessed first hand animals that have ingested this poison and it would seem to completely contradict the supporter view.

To the extent, that animals eventually die having gone through devastating mental disorientation and excruciating agony.

There are 3 ways that bait is laid.

These deployment methods include aerial baiting, trail baiting and mound baiting.

Aerial baiting involves the dropping of baits along transects, usually from a helicopter.

Trail baiting is similar to aerial baiting in that baits are distributed from a moving vehicle.

Mound baiting involves the burying of baits up to 15cm at bait stations.

Baits for herbivores, granivores and omnivores are usually grain, carrots or pellets prepared from pollard and bran

Baits for carnivores and omnivores are fresh or dried meat

The National Parks and Wildlife Service has a website, link below, which allows you to find out where and when the 1080 bait is being laid.

However, please be aware that this bait may not be solely retained within the designated area. Birds have a tendency to pick it up and drop it wherever ?.

Plus there is the possibility of secondary poisoning, whereby a poisoned animal that has died, is eaten by another.

Bearing in mind that this poison has been manufactured and used to kill In Australia for practically 60 years, you might have thought that it may have had the desired effect by now.

Obviously not!

A quote regarding the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.