Eradication and control of feral and free-ranging dogs in the Galapagos Islands

Abstract

On the Galapagos, as with other remote islands lacking native predator populations, selection for behavior in native species which leads to their avoidance of predators has been relaxed and island fauna are often at their mercy. The author describes the history of canid introductions to the Galapagos beginning in 1832. Feral dogs’ impact on endemic fauna is summarized. Eradication and control efforts, both in coastal areas and in highlands, is described in detail along with results of these efforts, which included shooting, use of both baits and water stations containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080), and capture and chemical vasectomy on males.