Why should I care about 1080 poison?

Have you ever questioned the prevailing belief that 1080 poison is a necessary evil, used to safeguard native animals? We are here to challenge this narrative and shed light on the hidden facts that the government, industry, and media have repeatedly failed or refused to share. Join us as we delve into why the use of 1080 should concern us all. In this blog, we will explore how 1080 poison works, its impact on animal welfare, the motives behind baiting, the unfortunate deaths of unintended victims, and other crucial yet neglected issues. Let's uncover the truth together and discover why we should all rally behind a movement to ban 1080 poison today.

What is 1080 poison?

1080 poison, scientifically referred to as sodium (mono-)fluoroacetate, stands among the most lethal substances ever discovered. Its toxicity is so extreme that the Federal Government has categorised it within the same restricted regulatory schedule as infamous poisons like arsenic and cyanide [1]. Remarkably, it is one of just 96 chemicals recognised as a matter of national security due to its lack of odour, taste, and, crucially, an absence of any known antidote [2, 3, 4].

1080 poison affects the central nervous system, brain and heart.

When an animal swallows 1080 poison, it stops cells from making energy, which can harm the central nervous system, brain, and heart [5]. The poison affects a part of the cells called ‘mitochondria’, which are like their power source. This disruption takes time to happen, so symptoms and death don't appear right away. It can take anywhere from half an hour to several hIours. Different animals suffer different effects from the poison. Carnivores have trouble with their nerves, herbivores have trouble with their heart or breathing, and omnivores have problems with both [6].

1080 poison is inhumane.

The use of 1080 poison does not result in a humane death [7]. 1080 poison affects the natural functioning of the body and causes problems in the animal's central nervous system and heart. Animals who consume 1080 poison show signs of extreme distress and pain. They may scream, cry, vomit, have bowel movements, and experience violent and prolonged seizures [8]. People who have witnessed animals dying from 1080 poison report that animals often run into walls or objects and lose control of their limbs [9]. Without veterinary treatment, they die with a final convulsion up to 48 hours (two whole days) after swallowing the poison. Veterinarian Howard Ralph described 1080 poisoning as a sensation similar to being electrocuted for more than two days.

How is it used?

Depending on the target species, 1080 poison is put into different types of baits like meat, carrots, oats, and bananas. These baits are then spread around the environment. There are several ways to do this: one is by placing baits on the ground or along trails, and the other is by dropping baits from helicopters [10].

1080 poison is used across Australia.

1080 poison is allowed to be used in all Australian States and Territories, but some local Councils have chosen not to use it. One example is the Blue Mountains City Council, which recently voted against using it [11]. 

In many other countries, however, 1080 poison has been banned because of concerns about how it affects humans and other animals. The United States banned its use in the early 1970s. It is still allowed to be used in countries like Israel, Japan, Korea, and Mexico [12]. Today, Australia and New Zealand are responsible for using 95% of the world's supply of 1080 poison [13]. 

Why it is used?

1080 poison is relatively easy to use, is very strong and doesn't cost much to make. Back in the 1950s, it was really expensive to import a pound of 1080 poison, costing more than $350 [14 PDF]. But nowadays, it's much cheaper to use. It only costs between 40 cents and $1 to spread 1080 poison over a whole hectare of land [15 PDF]. Because of these reasons, the government and industry use 1080 poison to kill animals they don't want or cause problems, especially in agriculture like wool and lamb production. They also say it's to protect native wildlife. However, there is currently no information from the government about how many baits are being used and how much money is spent on them.

Although you might think that there are good reasons for using 1080 poison, it doesn't consider the bigger problem. Basically, we are killing native dingoes to protect introduced animals like sheep, who are living on land that used to be home to native species. But there's another issue: animal agriculture, especially when it comes to producing wool, lamb, and beef, harms the environment and native animals. It's a major cause of things like land clearing, extinction, and habitat loss. So even though the government says they want to protect native animals, they're actually killing native animals to protect introduced ones.

*To learn more about the environmental impact, please visit the relevant issues page here.

Dingoes, brush-tail possums, wallabies, pademelons are often targeted.

In Australia, 1080 poison is used to control the population of 10 different species. These animals include dingoes, brush-tail possums, Bennett's or red-necked wallabies, Tasmanian pademelons, rabbits, deer, goats, foxes, wild pigs, and cats. Unfortunately, many more animals are affected by 1080 poison. Even though it is said to target specific animals and there are rules about how it's made, labelled, and used, many innocent animals are unknowingly killed in baiting programs. These deaths are seen as unintended and unavoidable.

What’s wool got to do with it?

A big reason for the wool industry killing dingoes in Australia is because of the country's agriculture industry [16 PDF]. When wire fencing was invented and poisons became more accessible, grazing expanded rapidly across the country. When farmers realised that using fences instead of shepherds could make them more money, they made the switch [17 PDF]. They left the sheep to take care of themselves in the open fields, and this is still how things are done today.

This led to a shortage of workers, and shepherds had to take care of huge flocks of sheep. By the 1850s, it was common for each shepherd to be responsible for 4,000 sheep [18]. At the same time, dingoes were seen as a big problem for sheep farmers. So, Victoria made a law that encouraged getting rid of dingoes and allowed farmers to put poison near fences. But even with these efforts, the sheep flocks kept growing. By 1893, there were about 100 million sheep in Australia [19 PDF]. The number reached its highest point in 1970, with 180 million sheep [20 PDF]. 

While some people believe that not killing dingoes could lead to the complete disappearance of the sheep industry [21], others argue that the idea that dingoes are the main cause of its decline is exaggerated. They point out that sheep populations have also decreased in other countries like New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States, even though they don't have dingoes. These countries have other predators, but still, sheep numbers have not gone down [20 PDF]. All the evidence suggests that the decline in Australia's sheep population is not because of dingoes, but because of factors in the market. These factors include long-term decreases in the price of wool compared to other fabrics like synthetics and cotton [22], as well as high costs of growing and processing that make the industry less profitable [23]. 

As a result, the prices that farmers receive for wool have dropped significantly since the 1950s. Some reviews have mentioned the impact of dingo predation on wool production, but that was only in the context of the 1800s, and none of the reviews mentioned dingo predation as a cause of the subsequent decline [20 PDF]. The wool industry continues to call dingoes "wild dogs" to support the use of 1080 poison. But research has found that 99% of animals labelled as wild dogs are actually genetically dingoes [24].

Non-target animals are also at risk

According to Dr. Quinn Whiting-O'Keefe, 1080 poison can harm a wide range of creatures, “from earthworms to elephants”. During baiting programs, unintended deaths happen, including native species and companion animals. This occurs for a few reasons:

1. Animals that aren't supposed to eat the baits end up consuming them.

2. Baits can be carried by other animals, spreading them into areas where there are no warning signs.

3. Another animal might eat a poisoned animal, their vomit, or the maggots on their body.

Research has shown that even a small amount of 1080 poison can be deadly for endangered native animals. For example, consuming just one fox bait with 3 milligrams of poison can be lethal for these species [25 PDF]. The risk increases if the bait is meant for dingoes, with the poison content reaching 6 milligrams per bait. This is enough poison to kill a 30 kilogram dog. 

The spotted-tailed Quoll is one of the species threatened by 1080 baiting programs. Research conducted in southern New South Wales and Victoria has shown significant declines in local populations, ranging from 60% to 100% over the past five years. The primary cause of these declines and extinctions is believed to be the use of 1080 poison in aerial baiting programs targeting dingoes [26]. Another study found that long-nosed potoroos are more vulnerable to 1080 poison compared to rabbits. They advised against conducting rabbit poisoning campaigns in areas where non-target species are present due to their susceptibility to 1080 poison [27].

The true effect of 1080 baiting programs on other native animals remains uncertain. The government has acknowledged the challenge of accurately measuring the number of animals that die in the field, both target and non-target species [28]. Research has indicated that a significant portion of baits intended for specific animals are consumed by unintended species. This includes 11% being taken by ravens or crows, 12% by ants, and 33% by monitor lizards or goannas. Furthermore, up to 28% of baits are left uneaten. Additionally, it has been observed that a considerable number of baits go missing without explanation. The complete and lasting consequences of baiting on other native species are still not fully understood. It has been observed that 1080 poison can also affect the fertility, health, and movement of animals [29].

Is using 1080 poison a “necessary evil”?

Even though Australia has been using 1080 poison since the 1950s, it has not been successful in controlling what governments call "pest" species. Instead, it has caused a great deal of suffering for the animals who have consumed it. The government and industry have not provided sufficient information about the effects on non-target species, which leads us to believe that more harm than good has resulted from its use.

Dingoes and other native animals play a vital role in the ecosystem.

Dingoes are top predators and they have a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and preserving biodiversity. Despite facing persecution for a long time since the arrival of settlers, dingoes have a connection to the presence of threatened species. They help regulate the populations of other animals and control carnivores [30]. In areas where dingoes are present, there are fewer introduced species like foxes and cats [31]. Killing dingoes can lead to long-term problems, as it disrupts pack structures. You can find more information about this issue in our blog "Why Killing Dingoes is Ineffective".

What are the alternatives?

Animal Liberation and the Coalition Against 1080 Poison advocate for compassionate conservation principles instead of relying on cruel and often ineffective lethal methods [32]. Fortunately, there are alternatives to using 1080 poison that do not involve killing animals. These alternatives include sterilisation programs to manage populations of introduced species and using guardian animals to protect farmed animals from predators. The choice of method can be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific context and conditions of each site.

Want to join the fight?

There are a few ways you can help us!

1. Sign the petition demanding an urgent review of 1080 poison.

2. Join Animal Liberation and the Coalition of Australians Against 1080 Poison on social media.

3. Fund the fight - all donations will go toward the 1080 campaigns and consumer education.

4. Share this information with your friends and family!

Published 9 June 2021
Updated 4 July 2023