1080 is a toxic bait that is used to control/reduce numbers of various pest species in many countries including Australia. 1080 is a odourless, tasteless white powder that is made from Sodium fluoroacetate. It is diluted with water to create the specific concentration needed to kill the target animal/species (1080 poison baiting – the facts n.d.). The bait is toxic to most living species including microbes, plants, insects, birds and humans. According to Peta Australia (2019) the 1080 poison causes birth defects, reduced fertility and damage to the reproductive system, brain and heart.

 

This poison is being put out in the environment and it's killing non-target animals like peoples' pets (Chlanda 2018); some people are killing our dogs, and farmers' working dogs are most at risk. 1080 Baiting does not only affect the mammal population, however Notman (1989) states that there is at least 9 orders of invertebrates that are directly affected by 1080. Invertebrates have been seen eating the baits and their habitats have been affected due to the residue of the 1080 baits seeping into their environment.

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Methods of using 1080 include hiding It in fatty meats and other food items where it is to be eaten by a predator, or it is sometimes dropped via aircraft over certain “target” populations. Although attempts are made to limit the species affected, animals who feed on the poisoned corpses can also be killed, as well as humans if they ingest the chemical.

 

Another downfall of 1080 baiting is that poisoned animals are now known to contaminate nearby waterways. Faecal contamination of waterways by wallabies who have ingested the 1080 poison has raised a real issue, which has been brought up in parliamentary enquires.

 

Due to the poison being highly soluble, it spreads very quickly throughout the water column and therefore in food chains! There is concern that because its presence is difficult to detect, 1080 may become a plausible weapon in bio terrorism.

 

1080 is used in Australia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico and New Zealand. It is banned in most countries including the US, as during the early 1970’s civilian deaths were occurring as a result of the poison.

 

Torturing and killing animals will never restore balance to the natural environment. Using chemicals that leave dogs and other animals to die slowly in agony is not an acceptable practice. Please share our website and spread the word about this horrible bait.