Snowy River
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 Snowy River
There were no significant changes recorded during the 2008-09 period. As was reported in 2004-08 dingoes and wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and deer were the main pest animals in the Snowy River Shire during the current reporting period although goats, cats, and horses were also present. 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 Snowy River Shire.
Furthermore, there are 7 priority actions to manage habitat and feral control for 4 threatened communities, populations and species listed by Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) within the Shire.
The New South Wales (NSW) 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 Cooma 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). See 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
Seven types of introduced animals were reported to be pests in Snowy River Shire 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) (see Table 1). Horses were also present however details on their location and abundance are not available for the current reporting period. Cats, foxes, rabbits and wild dogs and dingoes were the most widespread pest animals in the Snowy River Shire.
| 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 adjoining areas of native forests and woodlands | High density populations along the western region of the Shire, on the fringes of the National Park |
| Feral Pigs (Sus scrofa) |
Lands adjoining wooded areas in native forest and woodland - native and modified pastures or grasslands, wetland and riparian areas | Medium to low density populations in the northern regions of the Shire |
| Feral Goats (Capra hircus) | Mostly rough and inaccessible terrain | Medium to low density population south of Jindabyne |
| Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) |
Concentrations across all habitat types | Low density populations throughout the Shire with medium to high density pockets in the northern regions |
| Fox (Vulpes vulpes) |
Across the entire council area in all habitat types | High density populations around the centre and western boundary of the Shire with medium density populations along the fringes of the National Park in the east |
| Wild Deer (Cervus spp, Dama dama and Axis spp) |
Predominantly modified pasture and areas of scattered native forest, modified and native grasslands or native heath and scrublands | Low to medium density populations in the south west of the Shire |
| Cat (Felis catus) | All habitat types | Low density across the majority of the Shire with patchy medium and high density areas around the centre and north east |
* 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.
Pest animals as threatening processes
The activities of six pest animal species in NSW that are present in the Snowy River 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 3).
| Name of Threatening Process | Date of Determination |
|---|---|
| Competition and grazing by the feral European rabbit (DECC 2008d) | Final: 10 May 2001 |
| Herbivory and environmental degradation caused by feral deer (DECC 2008e) | Final: 17 December 2004 |
| Predation by feral cats (DECC 2008c) | Final: 24 March 2000 |
| Predation by the European Red Fox (DECC 2008b) | Final: 20 March 1998 |
| Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral Pigs (DECC 2008f) | Final: 27 August 2004 |
| Competition and habitat degradation by Feral Goats (DECC 2008g) | 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 are 4 priority actions under the ‘habitat management: feral control’ recovery strategy in the Snowy River Shire Council. These actions apply to 4 threatened species and populations. These include; the Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus), threatened by cats, foxes and rabbits, the Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus), under threat from cats, dogs, and foxes, the Kindra Leek Orchid (Prasopyllum retroflexum) and Max Mueller’s Burr-daisy (Calotis pubescens) both threatened by pigs (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 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 minimize the impacts of pests on neighboring lands, such as farms (DECC 2008a). Detailed information on these projects are 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 Snowy River Shire
No information was available detailing control activities undertaken by the Cooma Rural Lands Protection Board for this reporting period.
Pest animal control expenditure
No information was available regarding expenditure and effectiveness of pest animal control within Snowy River Shire 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 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), 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:
Table 3. Density divisions in the Snowy River Council
| 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 (2008h) Snowy River 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=Snowy%20River%20Shire%20Council&type=habitat%20management:
%20feral%20control&priority=&sort=scientific&name=scientific
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
