What is a significant concern with baiting strategies?

The concern regarding baiting strategies primarily revolves around the potential to attract beneficial species to the bait. When bait is used, there is often a risk that it will not only draw in the pest species that it aims to control but also non-target organisms that are beneficial to the ecosystem. This can include important pollinators, predators of pests, or other wildlife that play critical roles in maintaining a balanced environment. The unintended capture or death of these beneficial species can lead to broader ecological impacts, undermining the long-term effectiveness of pest management efforts.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately capture the primary concern with baiting strategies. For instance, the cost of implementing these strategies, while a consideration, is not typically the central issue highlighted in discussions about their ecological impact. Similarly, baiting strategies generally aim to target a range of animal sizes depending on the species of interest, rather than only targeting large mammals. Lastly, stating that baiting is effective in every environment overlooks the reality that its effectiveness can vary significantly based on ecological conditions, target species behavior, and other environmental variables.