Widespread detection of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in Australian native marsupial carnivores

Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) have been detected in non-target wildlife species worldwide but information on exposure in Australian mammals is extremely limited. To address this, we analysed liver tissue from the five largest sized species of native Australian carnivorous and scavenging mammals for all SGARs currently used in Australia. A total of 52 individual animals from five dasyurid species were tested for exposure to ARs with 26 individuals (50 %) testing positive. Eleven individuals (21 %) tested positive for more than one AR compound, and two individuals tested positive for three types of AR. This study is the first to document widespread and pervasive AR exposure in native Australian marsupial carnivores, including those in remote locations away from towns. The frequency and severity of exposure, sometimes from multiple ARs suggest potential population-level impacts on these threatened species. These findings provide further evidence that ARs should be listed as a key threatening process under state and federal legislation and that the federal regulator (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority) should restrict the widespread sale of SGARs in line with other countries.