Pest and feral animals impact greatly on both biodiversity and agriculture. They are a serious problem because they:
The Shire is responsible for feral animal control on Shire owned or managed land. Private landowners are responsible to control, manage or eradicate pests on their property.
Find out about specific pest and feral animals through the below links.
Ants
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Bee Swarms
Western Australian Apiarists' Society
Cats (feral)
Feral cats are a significant threat to native fauna with in excess of 2.2 million birds, reptiles and mammals predated by feral cats across Australia. They are listed as a Key Threatening Process under section 188 of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and are now a Declared pest in Western Australia under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007.
Recognised control methods for feral cats include:
- Exclusion fencing
- Baiting
- Trapping
- Shooting.
Control of feral cats must be humane and undertaken in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
Cockroaches
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Corellas
Murray has an increasing problem with Corellas. The two species found in the area are the Eastern long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris) and the Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea).
Corellas flock in large numbers, making excessive noise when feeding, moving around throughout the day and to and from roost sites at sunrise and sunset. The impacts Corellas have are:
- Damaging trees and tree branches
- Causing a disturbance to residents
- Fouling and damaging infrastructure, private property and public assets
- Competing for habitat with native birds including Black Cockatoos.
If Corellas are causing damage to your property below are some at home deterrents:
- Clap boards – hold two pieces of timber and clap them together
- Flicker bright lights at dawn and dusk
- Visual barriers – when on the ground they like to see their surroundings, but remember they will have a few look-outs from the trees
- Reduce amount of open space by planting islands or pockets of shrubs
- Bird scaring products – scare kites, bird spikes, noise generating devices etc.
Sadly, not one solution will fix this complex and widespread issue. Whilst actions can be undertaken to discourage Corellas, the problem will continue to increase in severity without a long-term intevention.
European House Borer
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
European Wasp
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Feral Pigs
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group
Pigs were introduced into Australia during European settlement, and after reaching such high numbers they have become a major problem for local agricultural industries and biodiversity.
Feral pigs affect agriculture and natural areas by rooting, trampling and grazing. They are a potential carrier of diseases and pathogens such as Phytophthora dieback, tuberculosis, anthrax, tapeworm and noogoora burr and pose a major threat as potential carriers of Foot-and-Mouth disease if it were to reach Australia.
Pig control options include:
- Baiting
- Shooting
- Trapping.
Flies
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Stable Fly Control Measures
March Flies
Fly Eradication Regulations.
Foxes
Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group
Fox control
It is the landowner's responsibility to control foxes found on their property.
Since introduction, the fox has contributed to the decline of a wide range of mammals across Australia. Foxes tend to eat what is most readily available to them which unfortunately can include some of our threatened local native species such as the Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), Quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) and Chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii).
Fox control is most effective in late winter and early spring when foxes are breeding and food is in high demand.
Fox control options include:
- Baiting
- Exclusion fencing
- Fumigation
- Den destruction
- Trapping
- Shooting.
Midges
Department of Health WA
Portuguese Millipede
Agriculture and Food | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Rabbits (feral)
Peel Harvey Biosecurity Group
Rabbit control options
Rabbits are Australia’s most destructive introduced pest. Landowners are required to control rabbit population on their properties.
There are several options to control rabbits including:
- Baiting
- Fumigation
- Warren destruction
- Exclusion fencing
- Trapping
- Shooting.
Rabbit control on private property works best when there is a collaborative effort with neighbouring properties.
Rodents
Department of Health WA
The management of rodents is the responsibility of the property owner.
To reduce the number of rodents on your property:
- Remove piles of unused materials and junk
- Prune or remove overgrown vegetation
- Remove fallen fruits and rotten vegetables from gardens
- Ensure compost bins are covered
- Store pet food in sealed air tight containers
- Block potential access points around the home
- Set traps in suspected harbourage areas.
When managing rodents, avoid using Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) as they can also kill birds of prey, possums, quendas and other native animals.
First-Generation Rodenticides (FGARs) have a short active life and are metabolised within 30 hours of consumption, making them less harmful to non-target animals.
Using traps rather than baits controls rodents without harming local wildlife.
Bird friendly rodent control