ORAL TOXICITY OF p-AMINOPROPIOPHENONE TO BRUSHTAIL POSSUMS (TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA), DAMA WALLABIES (MACROPUS EUGENII), AND MALLARDS (ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS)

Development of p-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) as a toxicant for pest predator management in New Zealand and Australia prompted investigation of its toxicity to potential nontarget species. Acute oral toxicity of PAPP in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), dama wallabies (Macropus eugenii), and Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) was estimated in pen trials, carried out between February 2000 and September 2001. The susceptibility of possums (LD₅₀≥500 mg kg⁻¹) and wallabies (LD₅₀ 89 mg kg⁻¹) to PAPP was low in comparison to noncarnivorous placental mammal species, but ducks (LD₅₀ 38 mg kg⁻¹) were more susceptible than other bird species. These results suggest that the nontarget hazard to possums and wallabies from PAPP bait applied for pest predator control would be low. However, future development of PAPP as a vertebrate pest control agent should include rigorous assessments of the hazard posed by bait formulations to bird species and provision for delivery techniques that could mitigate exposure of nontarget birds.