Assessing the effectiveness of the Birdsbesafe® anti-predation collar cover in reducing predation on wildlife by pet cats in Western Australia
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Published source details
Hall C.M., Fontaine J.B., Bryant K.A. & Calver M.C. (2015) Assessing the effectiveness of the Birdsbesafe® anti-predation collar cover in reducing predation on wildlife by pet cats in Western Australia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 173, 40-51.
Published source details Hall C.M., Fontaine J.B., Bryant K.A. & Calver M.C. (2015) Assessing the effectiveness of the Birdsbesafe® anti-predation collar cover in reducing predation on wildlife by pet cats in Western Australia. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 173, 40-51.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use collar-mounted devices to reduce predation by domestic animals Action Link |
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Use collar-mounted devices to reduce predation by domestic animals
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 2012–2014 in suburbs in Western Australia, Australia (Hall et al. 2015) found that cats Felis catus wearing ruff Birdsbesafe® collars brought home fewer reptile and amphibian prey (combined) compared to uncollared cats. Cats wearing Birdbesafe® collars brought home fewer reptiles and amphibians (red: 4 individuals, yellow: 2, rainbow: 1–26) than cats without collars (9, 8, 24–31). Collar colour did not significantly affect the reduction in reptiles and amphibians brought home, although overall captures of prey vertebrates with full colour vision (reptiles, amphibians and birds combined) were more reduced when rainbow-coloured collars were worn compared to vertebrates with limited colour vision (mammals). The effectiveness of red, yellow and rainbow-patterned Birdsbesafe® collars (5 cm wide ruff fitted over standard cat collars) were tested in 2012–2014 by randomly assigning colours to cats and monitoring prey captures for three-week periods with or without the collar (2012–2013: 39 cat households, 2013–2014: 43 new cat households). Only rainbow collars were tested in 2013–2014. Cat owners recorded dead and live prey captures.
(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
