Ferals in peril at Queens Beach
Kristy Bamford & Leonie Gale

The most exclusive beachfront in Sydney Harbour is being checked for errant nightlife. National park rangers are setting traps this month on the Hermitage Foreshore Walk at Queens Beach Vaucluse to check for feral park invaders.

Feral cats feed on native birds and small mammals and can cause local extinction of entire populations. Photo: FNPW

Sydney Harbour South ranger Ben Kahn is setting Elliot traps, small non-lethal metal traps, baited with a variety of foods attractive to small mammals and rats.

Each morning Ben will check the night’s takings. Any native species such as bandicoots or antechinus will be released. Not so lucky the pest Black rat Rattus rattus. After taking details of sex, age, weight, date, species, location and bait type any pest species will be humanely destroyed.

Rangers will also set cat traps. Any pet moggies in the area home late for breakfast should appear none the worse for their adventure. But spitting, hissing, claws of fury will go for a long rest at the local vet.

Asked if there was any chance of mistaking a precious puss for a feral cat ranger Ben said, “No way, if you could see the way these cats behave, there can be no mistake. Most pet cats have a collar but to double-check we put on heavy gloves and protective eyeglasses at the vets to check the cat for a microchip.”

“We have been trapping at South Head now for some time now and we trap a feral cat every couple of weeks or so. The local vets have been fantastic, offering us free services and assistance.”

After one month of continuous trapping, the results will be used to formulate a pest control strategy for the precinct. Local residents will get on board with the assistance of park rangers to make sure their adjoining yards are not providing homes for pest species. The Foundation provides $300 from a private donor to purchase new traps.

Ben hopes to see some positive results from the trapping program with an increase in small birds such as Superb Fairy Wrens and Spotted Pardalotes, common prey for both rats and feral cats. “It is even possible that small native mammals may once again become a common sight in the area”, says Ben.

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