Goulburn Mulwaree
Indicator: Pest Animals
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
What the results tell us for Goulburn Mulwaree
Seven pest animals were recorded in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area during the current reporting period. This is a similar trend to the previous reporting period however, due to limitations in the current reporting period data, quantitative information to assess change in the pest animal distribution and abundance is unavailable.
Activities of five pest animals are listed as Key Threatening Process for the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area. Furthermore, there is one priority action to manage habitat and feral control for one threatened species listed by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) within the Council area.
DECC undertook control programs within the Council area for pest animals however specific details on this work were unavailable for the current reporting period. DECC also have implemented an eight year plan for pest animal management, known as the ‘NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008 - 2015’.
Information detailing control programs for pest animals undertaken by the Goulburn Rural Lands Protection Board are unavailable for the current reporting period.
Pest animal infestations
The more mobile pest animal species utilise a wide variety of habitat types within all land tenures. Populations of all pest animal species fluctuate with climate, seasonal conditions and the availability of local resources. Managing pest animals and their impacts is the shared responsibility of all land managers.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has undertaken a spatial survey of pest animal distribution and abundance across NSW and the ACT (see About the data for more information). This is reported in the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) (2007) Pest Animal Survey: A review of the distribution, impacts and control of invasive animals throughout NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, DPI, Orange.
Seven types of introduced animals were reported to be pests in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area during the reporting period: feral cats (Felis catus), feral goats (Capra hircus), feral pigs (Sus scrofa), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), wild deer (Cervus spp, Dama dama and Axis spp) and wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids). Their general location and abundance are summarised in Table 1. Rabbits, foxes and cats were the most widespread pest animals, with populations across the Council area. Pigs, goats and wild dogs and dingoes kept to the east and south east boundaries of Goulburn Mulwaree. Native animals such as Kangaroos (Macropus spp), and wombats (Vombatus ursinus), ducks and galahs (Cacatua roseicapilla) can also impact on primary production and may occasionally require control (OCE 2004) however updated information regarding the impact and spread of these native species is unavailable for the current reporting period. Rabbits, foxes and cats were the most widespread pest animals in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council area during the current reporting period.
| Species | Preferred Habitats | Distribution and Density (High, Medium or Low*) |
|---|---|---|
| Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) | Found wherever available cover is present, adjoining open grazing lands. Lands affected are mainly those on and adjoining native forests and woodlands and riparian corridors in east and south of Council area | Low concentration pocket south west of Goulburn and along the southern boundary of the Council area |
| Dingoes and wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) | Lands adjoining timbered country on eastern border of the Council area. Habitats include native forest and woodland but also some areas of pine plantations, native shrub, heathlands, native and modified grasslands and riparian zones | Low and medium densities along the eastern boundary of the Council area |
| Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Foxes are located across the entire Council area. Highly concentrated around the urban fringe of Goulburn and surrounding lands with sparse timber | Medium density population across the entire Council area, one high pocket around Goulburn |
| Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) | Most found around houses and sheds and in other man-made areas. Across the majority of the Council area in a variety of habitats | Predominantly low densities with medium density areas |
| Wild Deer (Cervus spp, Dama dama and Axis spp) | High and medium density populations on native and modified grasslands and cropping areas in the south west of the Council area. Found in areas of native forests and woodland, timber plantation, riparian areas, native heath and shrub and native and modified pastures. | Medium to high density in the south west of the Council area and low density population in the central east of the Council area. |
| Cat (Felis catus) | Entire Council area across all habitat types | Low densities throughout the Council area with scattered pockets of high density concentrations around Goulburn, east of Goulburn and the south west of the Council area |
| Feral Goats (Capra hircus) | Scattered populations around the periphery of the Council area through rough terrain on timbered country including native forests, woodlands, heath and shrubs and surrounding modified pastures | Low density populations along the periphery of the eastern boundary of the Council area with scattered pockets to the north and south west corner |
Source: DPI 2007, OCE 2004 (* see About the data for information detailing how densities were calculated)
Information detailing the changes in density of pest animal populations was unavailable for the current reporting period.
Pest animals as threatening processes
The activities of five pest animal species in NSW that are present in the Goulburn-Mulwaree Council area have been listed as key threatening processes in the state by the NSW Scientific Committee under the Threatened Species and Conservation Act 1995 (see Table 2).
| Name of Threatening Process | Date of Determination |
|---|---|
| Competition and grazing by the feral European rabbit | Final: 10 May 2001 |
| Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer | Final: 17 December 2004 |
| Predation by feral cats | Final: 24 March 2000 |
| Predation by the European Red Fox | Final: 20 March 1998 |
| Competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats | Final: 12 November 2004 |
Source: DECC 2008
A threat abatement plan, prepared during the last reporting period for the European Red Fox, continues to run. The plan provides a collaborative strategy for fox control programs, with the primary purpose of conserving native species in NSW (DECC 2008). Updates on this plan are currently unavailable.
There is one priority action under the ‘habitat management: feral control’ recovery strategy in the Goulburn Mulwaree Council. This applies to one threatened species, the Eastern Bentwing-bat (Miniopterus schreibersii oceanensis), which is under threat from predation by foxes and feral cats (DECC 2008h).
Pest animal control activities
NSW Government agencies
The DPI introduced the ‘NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008 - 2015’ which aims to protect the environment, economy and community from the adverse impacts of invasive species (DPI 2008). This eight year plan has set out a framework for the coordinated and cooperative management of invasive species aiming to prevent new incursions, contain existing populations and adaptively manage widespread species. This plan is working jointly with DPI, DECC, LANDS, CMAs, RLPBs and stakeholders.
During the reporting period, the DECC undertook control programs for pest animals in conservation areas, often in conjunction with other government agencies and/ or the Rural Lands Protection Board. DECC prioritises those areas where new outbreaks occur, where threatened native plants or animals are at risk from the impact of pest animals, and where there is a need to minimize the impacts of pests on neighboring lands, such as farms (DECC 2008a). Detailed information on these projects is unavailable for the current reporting period.
The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC) is working on several projects aimed at controlling pest animal numbers of pigs, foxes, cats and rabbits. For example; a new bait for canids and felids which is considered fast acting, with no visible signs of distress as animals are rendered unconscious rapidly is being developed (IA CRC, 2008). In addition the IA CRC are also developing an antidote that may be given to any domestic dogs that take baits accidentally.
No information was available detailing pest animal control activities undertaken by the Goulburn Rural Lands Protection Board for this reporting period.
Expenditure on and effectiveness of pest animal control
No information was available regarding expenditure and effectiveness of pest animal control within Goulburn Mulwaree Council area for the current reporting period.
About the data
The NSW DPI pest animal survey represents the distribution, abundance, control and impacts of major pest animals across NSW and the ACT during 2004 to 2006. Information was captured through a two-part survey involving land management agencies. Based on a density ranking system (see Table 3 below), the resulting maps depict variation in animal abundance and density across all land tenures. Information was collected on a regional scale using a grid cell basis (5x5 km – equating 25km²). Pest animal density data was obtained from pest animal managers and key representatives from Government and non-Government agencies responsible for the control of pest animals across NSW and ACT. These agencies include the Rural Lands Protection Board Districts, DECC (National Parks and Wildlife Service - now The Department of Environment and Climate Change), DPI (State Forests of NSW), Environment ACT, and Game Council of NSW.
This is a very coarse dataset and consequently the results are lacking in specific, quantitative detail compared with the previous reporting period.
Density divisions are detailed in Table 3 below:
| Density | Definition |
|---|---|
| High | Many animals seen at any time and much sign of activity i.e animals always observed, reliable sightings or otherwise evidence of high abundance. Best described as observing significant evidence of many animals on greater than 80% of occasions |
| Medium | Some animals seen at almost any time and/or much active sign i.e frequent but unreliable sightings of animals. Best described as observing significant evidence of some animals on 50–80% of occasions |
| Low | Few or no sightings and/or little active sign i.e rare sightings/ evidence. Best describe as observing very little evidence of animals 1-50% of occasions. |
| Absent | No animals i.e very unusual to see evidence of animals. Best described as seeing either no evidence or very little evidence of extremely low numbers of animals on less than 1% of occasions |
Source: DPI 2007
References
DECC – see Department of Environment and Climate Change
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008a) Pest and weed management in NSW National Parks, Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 22 Oct 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pestsweeds/pestweedmgmtnsw.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008b) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Predation by the European Red Fox – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/EuropeanRedFoxKTPListing.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008c) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Predation by feral cats – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FeralCatsKTPListing.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008d) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Competition and grazing by the feral European rabbit – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FeralEuropeanRabbitKTPListing.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008e) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FeralDeerKtp.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008f) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Feral pigs – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FeralPigsKtp.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008g) NSW Scientific Committee – Final Determination, Competition and habitat degradation by feral goats – Key Threatening Process Declaration. NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/FeralGoatsKtp.htm
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2008) Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Threatened species, populations and ecological communities of NSW, Department of Environment and Climate Change. Viewed 22 October 2008 http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/pas_lga_recovery_
details.aspx?lga=Goulburn%20Mulwaree%20Council&type=habitat+management:+feral+control
OCE 2004 – see Department of Environment and Climate Change (2004)
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2004) New South Wales State of the Environment 2006, Chapter 6, Biodiversity Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed: October 20 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/soe/soe2006/chapter6/chp_6.4.htm#6.4.75
Department of Environment and Climate Change (2001) Predation by the red fox – threat abatement plan, Department of Environment and Climate Change, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/RedFox-FinalThreatAbatementPlan.htm
DPI – see Department of Primary Industries
Department of Primary Industries (2008) NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015, Department of Primary Industries, viewed: October 21 2008 http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/nsw-invasive-species-plan
Department of Primary Industries (2007) Pest Animal Survey: A review of the distribution, impacts and control of invasive animals throughout NSW and the ACT, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Department of Primary Industries, Orange
IA CRC (2008) – See Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (2008) Foxes: What are we doing?, Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, viewed 21 October 2008 http://www.invasiveanimals.com/invasive-animals/foxes/index.html
