Pest animals that aren't native to Australia are the main reason species become extinct.
Feral cats have impacted almost 120 native species. Foxes have impacted 115.
Pest animals can harm farm animals by attacking, killing, or eating them. They eat crops, grass, and can spread diseases. They cost agricultural producers $866 million per year.
We all have a role in managing pest animals. Find out about pest species in the Byron Shire and what you can do to help control them.
Target pests in Byron Shire are widespread.
Controlling target pest numbers will reduce their impact on threatened species and on agricultural land. It will also reduce transmission of disease to livestock and humans.
The following pests are established in this area:
- Cane Toads
- Indian Myna or Common Myna
- Feral Cats
- European red fox
- Dingoes/Wild Dog
- Rabbits.
Emerging pest species
The following are emerging pest species. They are established in the region or nearby areas. This means there is an imminent risk that they could become established in the Byron Shire:
- Feral pig
- Feral deer
- Feral goat.
Local Biosecurity Alert Species
Local Biosecurity Alerts are non-established pests that require large scale coordination from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, former DPI) and Local Land Services (LLS) to prevent establishment.
Local Biosecurity Alert Species include:
- Red imported fire ant
- Red-eared slider turtle
- American corn snake
- Indian ringneck parrot
- Yellow crazy ant.
Your role
All property owners or tenants have the responsibility to manage pests on the land they own or manage.
The NSW General Biosecurity Duty (GBD) means that all public and private landowners and land managers are responsible for controlling pests on their property.
Council’s role
We are responsible for controlling pests on the lands we own and/or manage.
We can also provide advice on the ways to manage pests and supporting information.
NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the lead agency for invasive species policy in NSW.
This department leads the management of:
- new land-based and aquatic invasive species
- established aquatic pests.
Local Land Services
Local Land Services (LLS) is the lead agency that supports landholders to manage pests on their land.
They are responsible for planning and coordinating:
- pest management programs
- advice and community education
- compliance.
They also help the DPIRD respond to and monitor invasions of new pests.
FeralScan is a free and secure community platform (website and smartphone App) that allows you to report pest animal sightings.
This data helps NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Local Land Services to prioritise areas to manage.
FeralScan is quick and easy to use, and your records are private and confidential.
If you need immediate advice or support, you can call Local Land Services.
There are several lethal and non-lethal tools available to control pest animals.
Different tools are suited to different pests and locations, and some are subject to laws and regulations.
Pest control tools include:
- soft jaw traps and shooting
- fencing
- livestock guardian animals
- aversion techniques (such as lights, alarms, and flagging)
- poison baits.
In most cases, using a combination of control methods is the best way to manage pest animals efficiently and cost-effectively.
The New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water defines wild dogs as any dog living in the wild, including:
- Dingoes - generally classified as an animal that has over 93% dingo DNA and no recent (in the last 150 years) hybridisation with feral dogs.
- Feral dog - domestic dogs that are living wild.
- Wild dogs - which are dingo or feral dog hybrids and backcrosses.
Dingoes are the only native species that are not protected in NSW.
Dingoes have lived in Australia for at least 3,500 years.
They are distinct from domestic dogs in genetics, physiology, and behaviour.
The dingo is a culturally significant species for local Traditional Custodians. Many rural landholders consider dingoes a risk to pets, people, and livestock.
Managing dingoes as wild dogs has had an impact on dingo populations.
Byron Shire Council's approach to Dingoes
We are investigating how we can adapt our pest management strategies.
This is in response to:
We are working with Traditional Custodians, researchers, local producers and the broader community to better understand the local dingo and wild dog population.
Reporting sightings and impacts via FeralScan is crucial. It will help us better understand this issue.
For more information, please contact Council’s biodiversity officers on 02 6626 7000 or ccaliari@byron.nsw.gov.au
More information
Cane toads:
- cause significant harm to Australia’s native wildlife
- poison pets
- affect local agriculture.
Did you know that cane toads?
- Are poisonous at all stages of life from eggs to adults. Toads can kill birds, snakes, lizards and other native animals that try to feed on them.
- Can injure pets and the poison may also affect humans. There have been reported eye injuries caused by a cane toad squirting poison.
- Can lay up to 70,000 eggs a year.
- Since their introduction to Australia in 1935, cane toad numbers have jumped from 102 individuals to an estimated 200 million toads.
Cane toads also compete with native animals for food and habitat. They eat very large quantities of insects including rainforest snails and ground beetles. These are the good bugs that we need to create healthy soil.
Get involved in controlling cane toads
Adult Cane Toads can live for more than 10 years which means females can lay up to 700,000 eggs during her lifetime! So, each animal can make a difference in your local area!
What can you do?
There are a few things to consider when catching cane toads:
- Ensure you are certain that the cane toad is not a native frog species before taking any action.
- If you catch a suspected toad that is less than 4 cm in length, you can bring it to the Byron Shire Council or the National Parks NSW office for identification support.
- If handling cane toads, take care not to come in contact with the poison. Venom exudes from the glands above the shoulders and can be sprayed short distances.
- Always use rubber gloves.
The Common Indian myna is an introduced bird pest that decreases native bird populations.
Myna's compete with native wildlife for nesting hollows. They evict and kill:
- young kookaburras
- rosellas
- dollar birds
- small mammals like sugar gliders and ringtail possums.
We have an Indian Myna Trap Loan Program for residents.
Contact our Biodiversity Officer for more information on 02 6626 7000.
What else can residents do?
- report Indian Mynas on FeralScan
- prevent access to food waste, compost, uneaten pet food
- feed pets inside
- remove bird feeders
- create a native bird-friendly garden by planting native plants, removing weeds and providing a bird bath
- turn outside lights off at night to prevent attracting insects
- repair eaves and gaps in your roof to prevent nesting.