Palerang
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 Palerang
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As was reported in 2004-08 foxes, wild dogs and dingoes, rabbits and feral pigs continue to be the main pest animals in Palerang Council area during the current reporting period although feral goats, deer and cats were also present in some areas. 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 distributions and abundance is unavailable.
Activities of six pest animals are listed as Key Threatening Process in the Palerang Council area.
Furthermore, there are four priority actions to manage habitat and feral control for four threatened communities, populations and species listed by NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) within the Council area.
The 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 Braidwood Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) 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). See DPI (2007) Pest Animal Survey: A review of the distribution, impacts and control of invasive animals throughout NSW and the ACT, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, DPI, Orange.
Seven types of introduced animals were reported to be pests in Palerang Council area during the reporting period: wild dogs and dingoes (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), pigs (Sus scrofa), feral goats (Capra hircus), wild deer (Cervus spp, Dama dama and Axis spp) and cats (Felis catus). The general location and abundance of these animals is shown in Table 1.
| Species | Preferred Habitats | Distribution and Density (High, Medium or Low*) |
|---|---|---|
| Dingoes and wild dogs(Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) | Within native forests and woodlands and native and modified pastures | Low to medium density populations along the eastern boundary with high density populations on the fringe of Deua NP in the south east |
| Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) | Any timbered area or area of modified pastures adjacent to timbered areas. | High density predominantly along Shoalhaven River corridor with medium to low density populations scattered across the remainder of the council area. Absent in the northern tip |
| Feral Goats (Capra hircus) | Reasonably rugged habitat which is partially covered by native forest and woodlands with areas of modified pastures | High density population around Araluen with low density populations to the west and north east of the council area |
| Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) | Across the entire council area in all habitat types | Predominantly low with medium density pockets around urban areas |
| Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Across the entire council area in all habitat types | Majority of area is populated with a medium density of foxes with a high concentration to the west of the shire area |
| Wild Deer (Cervus spp, Dama dama and Axis spp) | Predominantly modified pasture and areas of scattered native forest | High density population to the east of Lake George with scattered low and medium density pockets along the central regions of the shire |
| Cat (Felis catus) | All habitat types | Predominantly absent with patchy low density concentrations scattered across the shire. |
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 six pest animal species in NSW that are present in the Palerang 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 (DECC 2008 d) | Final: 10 May 2001 |
| Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer (DECC 2008 e) | Final: 17 December 2004 |
| Predation by feral cats (DECC 2008 c) | Final: 24 March 2000 |
| Predation by the European Red Fox (DECC 2008 b) | Final: 20 March 1998 |
| Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral Pigs (DECC 2008 f) | Final: 27 August 2004 |
| Competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats (DECC 2008 g) | Final: 12 November 2004 |
Source: NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change 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 2001). Updates on this plan are currently unavailable.
There are four priority actions under the ‘habitat management: feral control’ recovery strategy in the Palerang Council area. These actions apply to four threatened species and populations, specifically the Eastern Bentwing-bat (Miniopterys schreibersii oceanensis), under threat by feral cats and foxes, the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus), under threat by foxes, Pale Pomaderris (Pomaderris pallida) and Pygmy Cypress Pine (Callitris oblonga) shrubs threatened by goats and pigs (DECC 2008h).
Pest animal control activities
NSW Government agencies
The NSW DPI recently 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, RLPBs, Department of Lands, Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs), 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 RLPB. DECC priorities are on 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 minimise 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 (IACRC) 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 (IACRC, 2008). In addition the ACRC 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 Palerang Council area.
No information was available detailing control activities undertaken by the Braidwood RLPB for this reporting period.
Pest animal control expenditure
No information was available regarding expenditure and effectiveness of pest animal control within Palerang Council area for the current reporting period.
About the data
The 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), 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 RLPB Districts, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation (National Parks and Wildlife Service - now DECC), 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 5 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 described as observing very little evidence of animals on 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) Palerang 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=Palerang%20Council&type=habitat%20management:%20feral%20control&priority=&sort=
scientific&name=scientific
Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (OCE) (2004), Regional State of the Environment Report, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra, http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/Palerang/pestanimals.htm
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
IACRC (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
