1080 INFORMATION

1080 is a potent poison that occurs naturally in the Western Australian genus of Gastrolobium plants. All except for two of the more than 100 species of Gastrolobium are native to South-West WA, where they are known commonly as ‘poison peas’. Gastrolobium growing in this region are unique for their ability to concentrate poisonous fluoroacetate from low fluorine soils.

While brush-tailed possums, bush rats, western grey kangaroos and other species native to South-West WA are capable of safely eating Gastrolobium plants, livestock and other introduced species are highly-susceptible to the poison. As a result, when 1080 is placed carefully it can be used effectively to manage feral animals such as foxes, rabbits and cats with minimal impact on the native fauna.

WARNING – 1080 (or sodium isofluoroacetate) from Gastrolobium plants is highly toxic and great care must be taken when handling it. It is classified as a Schedule 7 poison and can only be purchased from licensed retailers and used by authorised persons. See below for more information on becoming accredited in using 1080 poison for feral animal control.