May 2026 Community update: Dudley Peninsula feral cat knockdown underway

Because of that support, the program is now entering its largest winter trapping effort to date, with the aim of removing more than 95 per cent of the remaining feral cat population across the eradication zone.

This intensive knockdown phase is a critical step toward removing the final feral cats from the Dudley Peninsula over the next 24 months.

Community support is helping drive the Dudley Peninsula Feral Cat Eradication Program. As of Friday 15 May 2026, 17 feral cats have been removed from the peninsula since the intensive knockdown began on 27 April 2026.

THANK YOU TO DUDLEY PENINSULA LANDHOLDERS

Our team is very aware of the privilege of being trusted by landholders to access private properties. This is not something we take lightly.

Every time our team enters a property, we follow strict biosecurity protocols and work respectfully around farming operations, livestock and property infrastructure.

We know lambing season will begin in the coming weeks, and we will work closely with landholders to make sure our activities do not disrupt on-farm work or animal welfare. If there are areas, timing or activities we need to be aware of, please contact the team so we can plan around you.

The support from Dudley Peninsula landholders has been outstanding. Almost all landholders contacted have given permission for the team to use specialist control tools and techniques on their properties, giving the program a stronger chance of locating and removing the last remaining feral cats.

CAT OWNERS — WE NEED YOUR HELP

Targeted feral cat control is now underway across the Dudley Peninsula to protect vulnerable native wildlife.

Feral cats threaten beach-nesting birds, reptiles, small mammals and many other species. While our focus is on feral cats, roaming domestic cats may be accidentally caught during control operations.

Residents are strongly encouraged to follow the Kangaroo Island Council’s domestic cat laws and keep pet cats contained on their property, microchipped, desexed and wearing a collar. Keeping cats contained helps protect your pet, native wildlife and Kangaroo Island’s sheep industry.

Recent changes to legislation also provide stronger options for feral cat control in regional areas, including approved control activities closer to residences where landholder permission and legal requirements are in place.

The safest place for a pet cat is in the home.

WHAT IS HAPPENING THIS WINTER

The 2026 winter knockdown began on 27 April, with cage traps opened across the Dudley Peninsula and west of the feral cat exclusion fence at the same time.

More than 600 traps are now being used as part of the intensive trapping program. These traps are connected to Celium trap alert technology, which allows the team to respond when traps are triggered rather than needing to physically check every trap every day. More than 100 further traps will be rolled out over the coming months, including our landholder trapping program commencing in July which will intensify efforts even further. 

This improves efficiency, reduces unnecessary vehicle movements across properties and helps improve animal welfare outcomes.

The team is also using modified cage traps, soft-jaw leg-hold traps, thermal technology, remote cameras and trained feral cat detection dogs to target cats that avoid standard cage traps.

NEW TOOLS, TECHNOLOGY AND TEAM MEMBERS

The program is now combining specialist eradication skills with the latest available technology to locate and remove the most elusive feral cats.

The program’s camera network provides near real-time detections, helping direct field teams to the right location at the right time. This targeted approach means less time is spent in areas with no recent cat activity and more effort is focused where it is needed most.

The program now has four trained feral cat detection dogs ready to deploy, with one new recruit in training. These dogs can help locate scent trails and detect cats in heavy cover and hard-to-reach areas.

Cooler, damper winter conditions are ideal for both thermal technology and scent detection. Low temperatures provide better thermal images, while cool, humid conditions help scent hold longer.

PROGRESS SO FAR

The intensive 2024 winter knockdown helped reduce cat detections by 67 per cent across the Dudley Peninsula.

Over the January to September 2025 control period, the team removed 196 feral cats.

Since the beginning of 2026, a further 90 feral cats have been removed, including 70 from the Dudley Peninsula and 20 west of the feral cat exclusion fence toward Muston, Florance and American River roads.

This year’s increased trapping effort, combined with specialist tools and techniques, is designed to push the population much closer to zero.

COMMUNITY SIGHTINGS ARE CRITICAL

Community reports remain one of the most important tools in the program.

At this stage, every sighting matters.

Recent reports from landholders have helped the team respond quickly, deploy detection dogs and open traps in targeted areas, leading to successful removals.

If you see a feral cat, or signs of feral cat activity such as footprints, scat or evidence of a kill, please call or text the Feline Hotline on 0459 952 830.

If you do not get hold of the team immediately, please leave a message and we will get back to you.

HELP US MONITOR WILDLIFE RECOVERY

As cat numbers continue to decline, we would also love your help in monitoring wildlife recovery across the Dudley Peninsula.

Your reports add to the evidence our cameras are already picking up, including increased sightings of pygmy possums, hearing more bush stone-curlews at night, and noticing greater numbers of small native birds in backyards and gardens.

These observations help build a clearer picture of how wildlife is responding as feral cat numbers decline.

COME AND MEET OUR TEAM

To thank our supporters and welcome new members of the community, the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board  and Penneshaw Progress Association is hosting a free community barbeque at the Penneshaw CFS station on Middle Terrace from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Come along, meet the feral cat eradication team and learn more about the tools and technology being used in the final knockdown phase of the program.

There will be drone and thermal imagery on display, a free barbeque, our feral cat detection dogs. We look forward to seeing you there

When: Tuesday 26 May 2026, 5.30pm to 7pm
Where: Penneshaw CFS Station, Middle Tce, Penneshaw
Cost: Free

Everyone is welcome.

Thank you for your support!

The progress made on the Dudley Peninsula would not be possible without the support of landholders, residents, community groups, progress associations, KI Council, program partners and the broader Kangaroo Island community.

Your trust, reports, advocacy and practical support are helping protect Kangaroo Island’s wildlife, farming businesses and future biosecurity.

Together, we are now closer than ever to achieving a feral cat-free Dudley Peninsula.