Stage 3: Imagine

One sheet per group

Due May 29th

1. Overview of your solution and why it will solve your problem?

The use of a poison combined with catch-neuter-release policies to reduce and

prevent the growth of the invasive feral cat populations in areas with endemic
and endangered species that are threatened by them(Australia,Hawaii,New
Zealand). The poison will only affect the cat population due to their trophic
level and the endemic species being immune to the poison due to their
evolutionary history.

2. Detailed description of the solution

Airdropping specially developed “sausages” designed to attract and target

feral cats. These sausages are only poisonous to the cats and can be produced
cheap and easily. This reduces the size of the population. Pairing this with
catch-neuter-release policies on feral cats will reduce the populations growth
as well.

3. Your action plan: What needs to happen for you to be able to pitch your
product

Follow and improve Australia's current plan that follows this. Develop better
poisons and practices to further curb the feral cat population. Spread
awareness of the dangers feral cats pose to endemic species to inform people
who don’t know how to help.

4. Email to virtual mentor

Dr. Dave Algar and who is the principal research scientist in the
Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions for the state of
Western Australia
Dear Mr. Algar,

I am a highschool student who has some questions. Currently, in

biology, we are doing a project in which we have to find a solution for one of

the worlds problems using biology or biology concepts. We have decided to

research how to solve the feral cat overpopulation problem in different places

around the world such as Hawaii or Australia. We are interested in your

research on the poison 1080 and sausages that you have developed. We

wondered how it could be implemented in different areas to control the

populations of invasive species? Would it be possible to implement a system

in Hawaii such as that in effect in Australia? It would be nice to hear your

thoughts on how this system could be applied so we can improve are project.

-Ryan Miller and Vincent Long