Some of these pest species were purposely introduced into Australia. For example, rabbits and foxes were introduced for hunting. Other pest species arrived accidentally, or escaped from farms or domestic environments into the wild. Disturbance of environments, particularly land clearing, habitat fragmentation and provision of permanent water has aided the establishment and spread of many introduced species. The absence of natural predators or diseases to control them has also meant that their populations have been able to grow rapidly, resulting in a variety of damaging impacts.
Pests and Your Rural Residential Property
There are a number of actions you can take to avoid animals becoming pests on your property. These include:
- Get your fencing right and maintain it to stop pest animals accessing your property, and to prevent your own pets and livestock from escaping to become a pest elsewhere
- House livestock and pets (eg. chickens, guinea-pigs) in pest-proof coops and buildings overnight
- Store livestock and pet foods (eg. grains and dog food) in a sealed, pest proof environment and do not leave leftovers lying around that will attract pest animals (eg. Indian Mynas)
- Keep compost and waste areas well covered to avoid attracting pests
- Eliminate possible breeding sites for mosquitoes by removing unwanted water holding containers, keeping fishponds and dams stocked with native fish, screening all open tanks or wells with gauze no coarser than 1mm, and flushing pot plants, water features and bird baths with a hose on a weekly basis.
Pest Management Obligations
Under the New South Wales Rural Lands Protection Act 1998, landholders have an obligation to eradicate pest animals on land they own, occupy or manage. Current species declared as pests in New South Wales include; rabbits, feral pigs, wild dogs and a number of locust species. Foxes and mice are presently classed as nuisance animals in NSW and there is no obligation for landholders to control these. Many local councils and state government land management agencies however undertake fox control programs.
Pest Management Control Methods
There are a variety of control techniques for pest species, including; trapping, shooting, and poisoning (generally using 1080 baits). The use of particular control techniques depend on the pest species, local conditions, and resources. It is recommended that landholders refer to the specific species control references and the Humane Pest Animal Control: Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures document referred to in this Chapter of the Guide before deciding on control techniques. The correct techniques must be used to avoid harm to farm animals and wildlife.
Integrated Pest Management
It is important to note the relationship between different pest species such as rabbits, feral cats and foxes. For example, in many areas, predation of rabbits by cats, foxes, and wild dogs actually help to suppress rabbit numbers. Targeting just rabbits in a control program may therefore result in increased predation on native wildlife. Getting the best outcomes from a pest control program therefore requires an integrated approach that may consider a number of pest and prey species. Working with your neighbours to coordinate control programs will also increase the chances of success as pest species occur across property boundaries. It is recommended that you contact your Local Council and co-operate with neighbours to ensure the most effective results.
