Activation of bait station.

Poisoning is a widespread non selective predator control method throughout Patagonia. Our aim is to develop a field protocol to aware two fox species from being poisoned, through conditioned taste aversion. Our results should be used inside protected areas, but also in sheep ranches, to protect the small, harmless grey fox.

Initially, we want to test our ability to generate taste aversion against meat baits so it could later be generated against other non selective poison substrates, frequently used by ranchers, as chicken eggs. These will contribute to stop the uncontrolled elimination of top predators, those raptors and mammalian carnivores responsible of biodiversity conservation by top-down regulation in Patagonia and all over the world.