Pest animals like rabbits, foxes and deer have unfortunately become a normal part of life across metro SA and the urban fringes. Read on to find out how to help manage their impact.
This fox set up its territory in a very central location – the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
We may not be able to eliminate all pest animals so instead, we prioritise which ones to manage to help look after native wildlife, pets, livestock, plants and crops. And we also need to stop new pests from establishing.
What makes an animal a pest?
There are two key elements that make an animal a pest, they are:
- introduced to an area where they don’t naturally occur – either accidentally or deliberately
- wreaking havoc on the environment, agriculture and/or pets.
What are the impacts of pest animals?
Some impacts of pest animals include:
- kill pet chickens and livestock (foxes)
- eat native animals (foxes)
- destroy native vegetation, damage crops and cause soil erosion (rabbits, deer)
- can transmit diseases to native wildlife and livestock (foxes)
- compete with native animals and stock for food (feral goats)
- pose a threat to public safety on the roads (deer).
How do we stop new pest animals from becoming a problem?
When a new pest is introduced to an area, there’s only a short amount of time to eradicate it before it makes itself at home and breeds.
That’s why it’s important to be on the lookout for, and report any sightings of alert pests. These pests are those that aren’t yet established in South Australia, but could become a problem.
Key alert pests are cane toads, Indian mynah birds and red-eared slider turtles.
Once a new pest animal makes itself at home and breeds, it’s really hard to turn back the clock. If one gets a foothold, then the focus changes to how to manage it.
Red-eared slider turtle. Photo Credit: Greg Hume, WikiCommons.
How do we manage pests that are already a problem?
The top pest animals in urban and urban fringe areas are rabbits, foxes and deer.
Any control methods in urban areas must not have the potential to harm people or pets.
The secret to controlling pests is to focus on reducing their impact.
For example, we’ve all heard of the devastating effect foxes can have on backyard chickens. After a fox attack, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion to kill the fox. However, foxes are territorial, so if you kill one fox, another will replace it as quick as you can say “roast chicken”. But, if your focus is on reducing the impact of the fox, the best solution to having safe and happy chickens is to ensure that their coop is fully enclosed.
We’re all in this together!
Pest control in South Australia is the legal responsibility of every landowner.
We also know that volunteer groups play an important role in managing pests, with the support of federal, state or local governments – so we all do our bit.
Here are a few ways to prevent pests from impacting on your neighbourhood:
- Manage your yard to make sure you don’t provide homes for problem pests. Things like wood piles, old tires and green waste make great homes for rabbits, foxes and rats!
- Dispose of all household rubbish in sealed bins, as food scraps will attract pests.
- Chat with your neighbours, share your pest problems and make a plan to work together.
- Report any alert pest species you see to PIRSA.
By following these simple steps, we can all do our bit to protect our patch from pest animals.
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