Eurobodalla
Indicator: Pest Animals
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please note: Text or data highlighted in this colour represent an update to this indicator for the period 2008/09.
What the results tell us for Eurobodalla
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As in 2004-08 foxes, dingoes and wild dogs, and rabbits were the main pest animals in the Eurobodalla Shire during the current reporting period, although pigs, goats and cats were also present. Cats, which were not recorded during the previous reporting period, now cover the entire Shire.
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 in the Eurobodalla Shire.
Furthermore, there are 12 priority actions to manage habitat and feral control for ten threatened communities, populations and species listed by New South Wales (NSW) Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) within the Eurobodalla Shire.
DECC undertook control programs within the Shire 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 Braidwood Rural Lands Protection Board and Eurobodalla Shire Council 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 Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (see About the data for more information). It involves pest animal mapping between 2004 and 2006.
Six types of animal were reported to be pests in Eurobodalla Shire during the reporting period: dingoes and wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids), feral pigs (Sus scrofa), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), feral goats (Capra hircus) and Cats (Felis catus) (DPI 2007). Cats, which were not recorded during the previous reporting period, are now found to cover the entire Shire with a consistently low density population. This is a significant change in distribution. The location and distribution of these pest animals are outline in Table 1.
Foxes and cats were the most widely spread animal pest in the Eurobodalla Shire during the reporting period although pigs, rabbits, wild dogs and dingoes were also abundant.
| Species | Preferred Habitats | Distribution and Density (High, Medium or Low*) |
|---|---|---|
| Dingoes and wild dogs(Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) | Lands affected are mainly those on and adjoining native forests and woodlands. High and medium densities are scattered along the western boundary of the shire | Absent populations along the coast, low populations along the western side with scattered high populations in the north west corner of the shire |
| Feral Goats(Capra hircus) | Very minor areas on the western boundary of the shire within escarpment area in native forests | Low distribution |
| Fox(Vulpes vulpes) | All across the shire; occur in all habitats within the shire | Medium density along the coast and the northern regions of the shire, low density across the remainder in more rugged areas |
| Rabbit(Oryctolagus cuniculus) | Predominantly on less rugged terrain within the shire in a wide variety of habitats including native forest and woodland, urban areas, riparian and wetland areas, and native and modified grasslands | Low density along the coast and northern regions of the shire, absent populations in the remaining more rugged regions |
| Feral Pigs(Sus scrofa) | Predominantly in more rugged terrain in native forests and woodlands in the centre west of the shire | Absent along the coast , northern and southern areas of the shire with low densities in the more rugger regions |
| Cat (Felis Catus) | Across the entire shire district | Low density across the shire with a pocket of medium density in the north east tip along the coast |
* see About the data for information detailing how densities were calculated
Source: DPI 2007, OCE 2004
Information detailing the changes in density of pest animal populations was unavailable for the current reporting period.
Small populations of Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis) have been anecdotally reported to the Shire Council staff throughout the reporting period, and these populations appear to be spreading. The Shire Council is investigating options for control and eradication of these pest bird populations. Similarly, anecdotal reports by the community also indicate that population density of feral European rabbits also appears to be increasing in some locations.
Pest animals as threatening processes
The activities of six pest animal species in NSW that are present in the Eurobodalla Shire 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 (DECC 2008d) | Final: 10 May 2001 |
| Predation by feral cats (DECC 2008 c) | Final: 24 March 2000 |
| Predation by the European Red Fox DECC 2008 b) | Final: 20 March 1998 |
| Competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats (DECC 2008 g) | Final: 12 November 2004 |
| Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral Pigs (DECC 2008 f) | Final: 27 August 2004 |
Source: DECC 2008
A threat abatement plan, prepared during the last reporting period for the European Red Fox, is still current. The plan provides a collaborative strategy for fox control programs, with the primary purpose of conserving native species in NSW (DECC 2001). Updates on this plan are currently unavailable.
Within the NSW Government’s Priority Action Statement, there are 12 priority actions under the ‘habitat management: feral control’ recovery strategy for the Eurobodalla Shire. These actions apply to ten threatened species, populations and communities. These include; 3 endangered ecological communities threatened by pigs, 4 bird species threatened by foxes and cats, 2 marsupials threatened by cats, dogs and foxes and 1 species of bat threatened by foxes (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 NSW DPI, DECC, Department of Lands (LANDS), Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs), Rural Land Protection Boards (RLPBs) and stakeholders.
During the reporting period, 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 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 CRC are also developing an antidote that may be given to any domestic dogs that take baits accidentally.
Effectiveness of control programs
No information was available to detail the effectiveness of control programs throughout the Eurobodalla Shire.
Expenditure on and effectiveness of pest animal control
No information was available regarding expenditure and effectiveness of pest animal control within Eurobodalla Shire for the current reporting period.
Eurobodalla Landcare and Eurobodalla Shire Council
Eurobodalla Shire Council undertook a fox control program in the Bengello Reserve during the reporting period in conjunction with a Property Vegetation Plan developed for the ongoing conservation and improvement of the area.
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 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, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks and Wildlife Service - now DECC, NSW 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 below in Table 3.
| 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) Eurobodalla Shire 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=Eurobodalla%20Shire%20Council&type=habitat%20management:
%20feral%20control&priority=&sort=common&name=common
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
