Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference

Considerable effort has been put into retaining older vertebrate pesticides and improving the effectiveness and safety of pest control. Nevertheless, conventional control targeting single species is sometimes still associated with non-target impacts, bioaccumulation of toxins, fluctuating pest numbers, and unexpected ecological consequences. To counter this, we are developing multi-species bait types for sustained field use that are more palatable to vertebrate pest species. We are incorporating “low-residue” toxicants, namely zinc phosphide, cholecalciferol, diphacinone, and a combination of coumatetralyl and cholecalciferol, in new bait formulations. Looking to the future, we seek to increasingly combine “low-residue” characteristics with humaneness. New humane formulations of cyanide are being developed for a variety of pest species, and para-aminopropiophenone is being introduced for predator control in New Zealand as part of the product development and registration pipeline.