Oyster Harbour Catchment Group
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Our Groups Story >
      • Meet our Committee of Volunteers
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Our Fellow Community Groups
    • Catchment History
    • Natural Resources
    • Threats >
      • Erosion
      • Cats: Feral, Stray and Domestic
      • Feral Rodents
      • Invasive Plants
    • Natural Wonders >
      • Lakes and Wetlands
      • Biodiversity >
        • Seagrass meadows
        • Spiders
        • Western Ringtail Possum
  • PROJECTS
    • Regional Landcare Program
    • Looking Forward, Looking Back: farm planning
    • "uPtake" fertiliser trial
    • Healthy Estuaries WA >
      • Nutrient Mapping
    • Taking Past Learnings into the Future
    • Ranges Link
    • Past Projects
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Membership
    • Newsletter
    • Citizen Science and other volunteering opportunities >
      • Annual Western Ringtail Possum tally
    • Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group >
      • Albany and Surrounds Cat Blog
    • Accuspread Field Day Registration
    • Red Card Feral Animal Shoot >
      • Team Registration
    • Grazer Matcher
  • CONTACT US
  • RESOURCES
    • For Youth and the Youthful at Heart
Picture
Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG) Mission Statement “A collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.” Endorsed by the ASFCWG Feb 2020
Picture
​

Upcoming ASFCWG happenings
 KYLONRING AND CATS SCHOOL COMPETITION – Https://sites.google.com/view/saving-kyloring-stories/home

 The ASFCWG are currently undertaking research and preparation in the hopes that we can hold a Catio workshop in Albany.
The event would be a event for all local residents interested in cat containment, how to build an enclosure and how to keep cats just as happy. Enclosures will keep cats safer from outside dangers, keep wildlife safe from roaming cats, keep livestock safer from cat diseases and humans safer from diseases and paying those big vet bills. 
This is a work in progress and we have been met with some aversion but relationships are improving and it looks like we may be able to go ahead in April or May this year. It is something that is extremely important given all the media attention that contained cats are getting at the moment. We have a number of organisations and individuals wanting to assist and donate which will make this event more possible to get off the ground. 
Please contact us if you can offer help or would like to donate to get this event off the ground. 


Other events 
SOUTH COAST THREATENED FAUNA RECOVERY PROJECT 
​-https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/abbsta/south-coast-threatened-fauna-recovery-project 

What have we been up to? 
Picture


 Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group
Since our Grant started in March this year, we have been very busy trying to get as much squeezed in as possible.
We rely on our Mission statement “To facilitate the collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.” to keep us on track.


 
WAFCWG symposium 2023
What is currently being done, what is upcoming, and what has been learned?
This event was well worth attending ad I gained knowledge and contacts to move forward with cat control and containment.
Feral Cats-
Much is being done in the feral cat region and tools are improving. More is being added to the toolbox for overall control of cats, One new device that is available is a Felixer, https://pestsmart.org.au/toolkit-resource/felixer-feral-cat-grooming-traps-under-development/
This is a highly intelligent machine, that squirts 1080 poison onto a cat or fox, it is very specific to the target animal and the animals groom this off, ingesting the poison and dying.  Baits have become more target specific and are more readily ingested by cats, targeted trapping and shooting procedures are improving and more people are aware of the damage feral cats are having on our country.
Research is being undertaken on viruses, one that would render the offspring as sterile, and genetic technology, that would also make the offspring sterile- unfortunately, both  models  are quite a while off before live testing can be done as understandably they need to be trialled for safely and tested thoroughly before anything more could be implemented.
Feral-proof enclosures seem to still be extremely important for those “bite-sized” cat treats that feral cats seem to favour such as the bilby, Gilberts Potoroo, and the spinifex hopping mouse to name a few to protect them while we deal with the cats and foxes outside the fence. It is a short-term solution but a much needed one.
I have learned much more about roaming cats and control and will share more in the coming days. Tomorrow I will share what’s happening with stray cats.
 
 
Pet cats –
The cat containment laws are still not implemented in WA, and this is making it very difficult for local Governments to implement containment laws, however many jurisdictions are taking a stand and adding management tools that restrict a cat from entering Reserves, and National parks to name a few.  We commend these regions for taking a stand and  we have hopes that more local government will take these leaders of better  at control on board. the Cat act 2011 is due for an update in 2024 and we hope that the last two states WA and NSW will take saving our wildlife more seriously and implement cat containment at this time. The push is getting stronger and feels that with a loud enough voice the government will have to respond.
Pet cats kill up to 50 more native species per square km than feral cats as they are congregated in smaller areas and hunt to play not for food, cats live 4 longer if kept contained. If allowed to roam cats are exposed to diseases such as toxoplasmosis, worms’ cats scratch fever feline enteritis, feline ds cats flu and more. Many of these can be fatal and some can be transmitted to humans and livestock. Toxoplasmosis for example can cause abortion in livestock and humans. keeping them enclosed will prevent this and stop the dangers that are in the outside world such as cars, other cats, dogs, foxes and many other dangers.
 
Stray cats
This category is still a very difficult group to control with today’s laws and definitions, strays are still in that very hard-to-deal-with basket unfortunately and until we adopt new policies that allow stray cats to be dealt with in towns and cities the problem will still be around. Currently our definitions say,
A feral cat is not owned or socialised and none of their needs are satisfied by humans.
Stray cats are not owned but may be semi-socialised. Some of their needs may be satisfied by hmans indirectly, and in some circumstances deliberately.
Domestic cats are fully socialised, owned and registered with a local authority and identified according to the Cat Act. Their needs are satisfied by humans.
Which expands to basically say that cats in and around towns, farms and tips are classed as strays.
 We need clearer definitions to define owned and unowned cats to allow for control of cats in and around tips. farms and other places where stray cats congregate.
In the mean time we can help by trapping and taking stray cats to rangers, pounds, vet clinics, rescu organisations and under no circumstances should we feed these animals, this encourages breeding as the body is healthy. the cats will hunt if they are fed or not. the best thing is to gain trust with feed for a short period of time than trap.
We need to start reporting any sightings of strays, feral and roaming cats to the local rengers and stray and ferals to pests https://www.feralscan.org.au/
​



​2022
​So, what HAVE we been up to ?


Pop-up displays at

The Albany Show
Green fair on the square
Endangered species workshop
TAFE facilities
16 legs spider display in Porongurup
Stem primary school event


Display’s (smaller)

Manypeaks store
Feral shoot
Cats on Candid Camera
Hay silage and pasture field day
Meetings
Vet Clinics

Events and workshops

Presentation at “Cats on Candid Camera” by Gilberts Potoroo Action Group
Presentation at our sponsors OHCG AGM
Implemented Southern Albany Corporation Indigenous Rangers 1080 training
Stem Event 164 students, 7 schools
Attended Stem event UWA - 20 upper school students
2 x TAFE presentations for two CALM classes 26 students
Home school group presentation, 16 students
Hosted an Endangered species event in Manypeaks 40 attendeesOther
ASFCWG Meeting x 3 plus numerous other groups meeting attended
Social media training
Research
Education- attended various courses and training
Feral cat drawing competition with the DBCA cadets’ program
Partnering with Friends of the Western Ground Parrot on a Story competition for students https://western-ground-parrot.org.au/ 
Attended and supported numerous events over the year
Facilitated to rehome and or sterilize of cats from several groups of struggling cat owners.
Sourced and in-use educational materials for responsible cat management from Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities www.amrric.org/resources/       
At these events, we had opportunities to interact with adults and kids on responsible cat ownership and the protection of our precious wildlife. I was pleased to hear that many are doing the right thing for both cats and wildlife and keeping cats enclosed. 

Our partnerships are getting stronger and we are discovering so much brilliant work being implemented and exciting things to come. We encourage people to visit the new WA Feral Cat Working Group’s web page https://wafcwg.org.au/  

Picture

“Giving Our Threatened Species A Chance” Workshop 
 
Giving Our Threatened Species A Chance
On September the 18th at the Manypeaks Hall we had such a fantastic event attended by over 40 people. Thank you for all the support and interest. 
Attendees were treated great speakers from
o Department of Biodiversity and Conservations and Attractions,
o Birdlife WA
o Friends of the Western Ground Parrot
o Gilberts Potoroo Action Group
o South Coast Natural Resource Management
o Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group
o Indigenous history of the area.
The event was focused on the endangered fauna species of the Waychinicup National Park, Two peoples bay, and Manypeaks with a particular focus on the Critically endangered Gilbert Potoroo ‘Ngilgyte’, Western Ground Parrot ‘Kyloring’, and the Western ringtail possum ‘Ngwayir’, plus other endangered as vulnerable species such as the Australian Bittern ‘Boordenitj’ (Bunyip bird), Quokka ‘Nyungar” and the Noisy Scrub Bird ‘Tjimiluk’.
We discussed how to reduce the impact of introduced animals and of course paid special attention to feral and roaming cats, which can devastate populations of these animals especially if we don’t keep up work being implemented. We still have a way to go in gaining the upper hand, but every bit is making a difference.
We hope that everyone that came out of this special event enjoyed themselves and came out with a head full of knowledge and ideas to help the native critters.


What else has been happing?
We have been active in the community with 6 presentations and interactive sessions with school students, school ranger groups, and TAFE conservation students.
One of the highlights was running a session with ex-schoolteacher Chas Rhind with 160 students from 7 schools that the Albany TAFE hosted where we played a game with students, in smaller groups on the impact that roaming cats have on our wildlife. It was pleasing to hear some students have their fluffy family members safely contained in a cat enclosure. Safe cats’ safe wildlife and a win-win situation for all.
We’ve  had the ASFCWG display up at numerous locations including the Manypeaks store where part of our current grant is located, been active in the promotion of responsible cat ownership with letters of recommendation to Shires and assisting with excess cat complaints, attended many events, courses, and meetings to promote responsible cat ownership and chatted with veterinary clinics.
Our partnership with stakeholders is getting stronger and we are discovering so much brilliant work being implemented and exciting things to come. We encourage people to visit the new WA Feral Cat Working Group’s web page https://wafcwg.org.au/ , which has great information and an library of resources
. 


 
For more information, or to receive updates email jenni.loveland@ohcg.org.au  or follow our blog https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-cat-blog.html

We are supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State Natural Resource Management Program, supported by Royalties for Regions and the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group.
 


Picture
I'll just leave this here for you to ponder. It actually scares me to bits.
Picture
GETTING our new signs was a highlight for us. 

Picture









​School presentation

On Wednesday the 17th of August we presented at South Regional TAFE Albany for a program of STEM events to celebrate National Science Week that was part of National Science Week. Students took part in a range of science-based activities as part of a South Regional TAFE Albany event titled “Combining Western and Indigenous Science to Help us Undertake Responsible Caring of the Land”.
We spoke to the kids about the importance of protecting both the native wildlife and the health of our cats by keeping them contained.
Sylvia Leighton from South Regional TAFE Albany Campus brought together students from Woodbury Boston Primary School, Golden Hill Steiner School, Denmark Primary School, Wellstead Primary School, South Stirling Primary School and Mt Manypeaks Primary School.
We enjoyed this event and were so proud to be a part of it. Thanks to all who took part, attended or presented, including all the Conservation students and volunteers.
The 8 other presentations were spoken about happily as they entered our room. Great day had by all.
See the story in the Albany advertiser.

https://www.albanyadvertiser.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/rural-primary-school-students-celebrate-national-science-week-at-south-regional-tafe-albany-c-7910932?fbclid=IwAR3desisuQzGU2vPYyay3r5zPwQA1YM8MkBTCTWhvpPhh6fg7-UzofQ-b3E

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Our project is off and running with a display presented at the famous “sixteen legs” exhibit which had over 150 attendees over the month. This is just the start of infiltrating the information into the community. Our plans are to really hit this hard coming into the new term with events, school visits visiting and chatting with the locals of Manypeaks, Waychinicup, and Two peoples bay to chat about how we can help with any cat issues they might be having, offer solutions to keeping your cat happy at home and listening to the thoughts and suggestions they may have. 
Our first presentation was implemented at Albany Tafe to a small but very attentive group. The Conservation and Land Management class had been doing some camera trapping over the last 5 weeks at Lake Seppings and it was, unfortunately, no surprise to see numerous cats on the footage. Of course, we all know that many a cat is allowed out to wander both day and nighttime but what I found a little sad was that the invasive species, rats, foxes, and cats pretty much outweighed the native species seen.
While many people are trying to do the right thing by keeping their cats enclosed, we still have a way to go.
Cats are such an important part of Australian households and can be very effective at reducing anxiety, depression, and loneliness. I know I like nothing more than having my cat snuggled up safely on my bed when I am feeling under the weather. Protecting them from harm by keeping them indoors not only helps wildlife but is so much better for your cat’s health.
Did you know that indoor cats can live up to four times longer than outdoor cats?
By keeping your cat safe at home, you will:
• Decrease risks of cats getting hurt or dying in accidents
• Prevent them from harming or killing other animals
• Give them a better chance to enjoy a longer, healthier life.
How do we keep our cats happy at home?
We meet all their needs, here are a few hints.
Offer a variety of foods in different ways such as hidden treats and treat balls (cat-friendly vegetation is encouraged).
Cats have different water bowl preferences, have a few options available (cats especially like running water).
Cats do not always like to share or interact; a hidey-hole will act as their safe place to keep them calm and happy. While a lookout spot is good for those cats who prefer to be able to stare down on life's happenings. It’s good to have a mixture of both.
A common misconception is cats only need one litter box, cats prefer a clean area away from feeding and sleeping areas. The general rule is one tray per cat, plus one extra.
As you will have probably noticed, cats love to stretch and scratch their claws everywhere. Best to have various scratching options available. It may save your furniture. 
 
If you would like more information on happy indoor cats have a look at this handy booklet https://safeandhappycats.com.au/ or see https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-feral-cat-working-group.html for more hints.
Watch this space for our first event on Threatened species and the threats that cats pose to them” which will hopefully be brought to you in August /September. Email jenni.loveland@ohcg.org.au  if you would like to go on the upcoming event list. 

Picture
 Current project

Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity -Protecting Potoroos and their Native Neighbours -Project Summary 2022-2024
​

The Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup region, a short 35 km northeast of Albany, is a mixed farming area with three major nature reserves and the Waychinicup National Park. This area is highly significant to residents, tourists, the scientific community, and the Minang Traditional Owners. Two famous endemic and threatened fauna species live exclusively in the area, the Gilbert’s Potoroo and Noisy Scrub Bird, as well as more recently the first attempt to re-establish a population of the Critically Endangered Western Ground Parrot commenced. (see images below)In addition, there are 10 other threatened fauna species with significant populations in this area including the Australasian Bittern, Western Ringtail Possum and Quokka. Many groups have carried out work to protect these remarkable animals in this area including the Department of Biodiversity and Conservations and Attractions (DBCA), BirdLife WA, the Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group (GPAG), Friends of the Western Ground Parrot and more.  One of the main threats these animals face is that of feral cats. ​

Picture
Pezoporus flaviventris - Western ground parrot Kyloring Click photo for more information
Picture
Atrichornis clamosus — Noisy Scrub-bird, Tjimiluk Click photo for more information
Picture
Potorous gilbertii - Gilbert's Potoroo - Ngilkat Click photo for more information
The Oyster Harbour Catchment Group with 30 years of natural resource management are very excited to support the Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group to implement the “Protecting Potoroos and their Neighbours” project. Jenni Loveland, founder of the Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group has been working since 2019 to educate the community about the best ways to keep pet cats safe and contained, reduce the stray and barn cat population, and encourage landholders to reduce feral cats on rural properties.
The Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG) has recently received a grant from State Natural Resource Management to implement a project to value-add to the introduced predator management works currently taking place in the area. The aim is to increase community awareness of this remarkable biodiversity hotspot, focusing on the importance of protecting the 13 threatened species and the damage/impact feral and roaming cats have on the native wildlife population. 

The ASFCWG will fill the role of a community liaison officer working with Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup residents, Noongar groups, school children, and the general public to encourage sustainable social change. The role will include fostering the benefits to cats by keeping them safely contained to your property; discovering barriers and opportunities for feral control; providing education to the community about how to protect the special biodiversity of this unique region, and keeping the community updated on the significant investment DBCA, DPIRD and many others have made in protecting native animals and local productivity.
Jenni will be supported in this project by the Oyster Harbour Catchment Group for administrative and logistical assistance DBCA, DPIRD, and for technical information concerning fauna, and Gilberts Potoroo Action Group, Friends of the Western Ground Parrot, South Coast Natural Resource Management, Birdlife WA, and other organisations for advice on the current projects and works being implemented throughout this region.




 Native Stories 
Picture
Brent Barrett -DBCA- Click photo for more information

Western Ground Parrot, Pezoporus flaviventris- Kyloring


​The Critically Endangered Western Ground Parrot, known as Kyloring by the Noongar people, is one of the rarest parrots in the world with a population estimated less than 150 birds, found in a single population in Cape Arid National Park, east of Esperance.
 
The long-tailed, medium-sized parrots are well camouflaged with green, yellow, and black plumage. Ground parrots’ nest on the ground and spend most of their time feeding close to the ground in dense heathland, their diet consisting of seeds, flowers, green fruit and even leaves.  While they can fly, they usually only do so around sunrise and sunset when they move between roosting and feeding areas or when flushed. This is also the time when they call sounding similar to an old-fashioned boiling kettle.
Because of their ground dwelling habits all ground parrots are a prime target for foxes and feral cats.
The Department of Biodiversity and Conservations and Attractions (DBCA) lead the recovery efforts for Kyloring through the South Coast Threatened Birds Recovery Team, and their efforts to conserve ground parrots are supported by volunteers and project partners including the Friends of the Western Ground Parrot, Birdlife Australia and South Coast NRM.  DBCA have been managing feral cats and fox control across occupied and historical ground parrot habitat, with baiting, trapping and trials of the Felixer grooming traps resulting in decreases in fox and cat activity in 2021 a small number of Western Ground Parrots were returned to local heathlands as part of efforts to establish a second population.  With birds from the 2021 release detected by the project team 12 month after release, a second release of birds was carried out this winter. Establishing a second wild population is essential for the long-term survival of the species which has been decimated by large, out-of-control bushfires and predation by feral cats. DBCA has put a huge amount of work into reducing these risks and will have to continue this work so long as cats and other predatory introduced animals continue to populate ground parrot habitat.  This intensive landscape management has benefits for numerous other threatened species.
If we want the translocated Kyloring to thrive in our region we need to minimize the number of cats entering their new home. All too often unwanted cats are dumped in bushland which adds to the feral cat population. Indoor cats are healthier and live much longer and don’t pose a threat to wildlife, least of all to some of the world’s rarest parrots. Feral cat management starts at our own home. Sterilise your cats, if your cat wanders outside your property, build an enclosure so it can be contained or simply keep it inside, keeping both cats and wildlife safe.
Picture
Potorous gilbertii - Gilbert's Potoroo - Ngilkat Click photo for more information
Gilberts Potoroo- Potorous gilbertii -  Ngilkat

This little cutie is not very common at all, and many people haven’t even heard of them. So, who is it and where do they live?
There are five types of potoroos recorded in Australia with sadly at least one probably extinct. Our local Potoroo the Gilbert's Potoroo is in great peril with fewer than 100 individuals. It desperately needs our help to survive.
The Gilbert's Potoroo is medium-sized, smaller than a quokka, and can sometimes be mistaken for a Quenda or Southern Brown Bandicoot to the untrained eye.
Weight: Adult males, 1100g, adult females 900g
Head and body length 270 mm
Tail length 210 mm
The coat is thick, soft, and grey-brown with fur continuing lightly down the tail. The tail curls up tightly when the animal is resting. The ears are rounded and almost completely buried in the fur.
These small marsupials hop on their long hind feet similar to other members of the kangaroo family. They dig for food with their forefeet which have long curved claws but are also able to handle food items with dexterity.
Their diet is specialised with over 90% being made up of native underground fungi (sometimes called "truffles"), which they dig up to 10cm to find. Berries, fleshy seedpods, and insects are also eaten but only in very small quantities.
Not much is known about reproduction, but studies have shown that females can produce a single pouch young when under 12 months old, with males maturing around two years of age. They produce young at any time of year 4-6 weeks after mating and the young stay in the pouch for three to four months. Unlike other marsupials, they have a very quick transition and within a week, they have permanently left the pouch but will still suckle from mum for about a month and then leave the mother’s home range when about 6 months old.
The only known natural population lived within Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. They need unburnt dense sedges and scrubland, where they search for food at night and rest during the day in bowl-shaped nests under spreading sedges, well hidden beneath the shrub canopy.
The biggest threats to the Gilberts potoroo are cats, foxes, and fire.
In 2015 a lightning storm ignited a fire at Two Peoples Bay resulting in the destruction of over 90% of suitable habitat there leaving only a handful of survivors. The species was saved from extinction by the earlier establishment of two safe haven populations by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions in anticipation of just such a catastrophic fire.
Gilbert's Potoroo is the perfect prey size for both foxes and cats, which both frequent the area. Both fox and feral cat control is being undertaken regularly at Two Peoples Bay and has increased since the fire to protect the handful of survivors.
We too can help the potoroo by controlling foxes and feral cats on our properties, sterilising all cats by 6 months of age, including “barn cats” and containing pet cats. Unwanted cats should be rehomed or sent to a rehoming facility and never left to fend for themselves in the bush.

For more information on the Gilberts Potoroo or to donate please visit https://www.potoroo.org/conservation and for information on keeping cats happy inside see https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-feral-cat-working-group.html
T
For more information on the Gilberts Potoroo or to donate please visit https://www.potoroo.org/conservation and for information on keeping cats happy inside see https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-feral-cat-working-group.html
See stories on the local species that live in the area. 

We acknowledge the Minang and Koreng people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Noongar community. 

​Sponsors and Supporters
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Our Groups Story >
      • Meet our Committee of Volunteers
      • Meet Our Staff
      • Our Fellow Community Groups
    • Catchment History
    • Natural Resources
    • Threats >
      • Erosion
      • Cats: Feral, Stray and Domestic
      • Feral Rodents
      • Invasive Plants
    • Natural Wonders >
      • Lakes and Wetlands
      • Biodiversity >
        • Seagrass meadows
        • Spiders
        • Western Ringtail Possum
  • PROJECTS
    • Regional Landcare Program
    • Looking Forward, Looking Back: farm planning
    • "uPtake" fertiliser trial
    • Healthy Estuaries WA >
      • Nutrient Mapping
    • Taking Past Learnings into the Future
    • Ranges Link
    • Past Projects
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Membership
    • Newsletter
    • Citizen Science and other volunteering opportunities >
      • Annual Western Ringtail Possum tally
    • Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group >
      • Albany and Surrounds Cat Blog
    • Accuspread Field Day Registration
    • Red Card Feral Animal Shoot >
      • Team Registration
    • Grazer Matcher
  • CONTACT US
  • RESOURCES
    • For Youth and the Youthful at Heart