Best Practice Pest Animal Management

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IntroductionThis module is part of a series of modules in the Pests Cost Us All project.

The project aims to improve and up date landholder knowledge in pest animal management and weed management across South Australia.

This will be achieved through provision of training and awareness sessions and demonstration sites.

The Pests Cost Us All project is part of the Australian Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, the government’s plan for stronger farmers and a stronger economy.

Learning outcomes from this module

• Understand the benefits of integrated pest animal management

• Select appropriate objectives for pest animal management•• Employ correct timing of pest animal management on the

property (create a pest animal management calendar)

Learning outcomes from this module… continued

• Select appropriate pest animal management techniques that will result in effective long term pest animal control

• Understand the legal requirements for pest animal control

• Assess the effectiveness of pest animal management activities

• Understand options for reporting new pests

What other issues would you like to address in relation to pest management on your property?

We will record these and refer to this list throughout the session

Before we start – your issues

1. Define the problem

2. Determine objectives

3. Develop plan

4. Implement plan

5. Monitor, evaluate and revise plan

Principles video(5:18 duration)

Strategic Pest Animal Management – key steps

• Importance of understanding your pest animals

• Landscape approach

• Setting pest animal control goals

• Control techniques and integrated management

• Long term effort

• Planning and monitoring

Pest management principles

Step 1. Define the ProblemUnderstand pest animal biology/ecology

- Habitat preferences

• Breeding cycles & reproductive capacity

• Feeding preferences & patterns

• Behaviours & habits

• Dispersal and seasonal movement/migration

• Natural predators

• Identifying scats, tracks and other signs

Step 1. Define the Problem

• Risk assessment of pest animal species

• Mapping pest animals

• Identifying entry/dispersal pathways

• Agricultural/economic• Direct impacts on livestock/crops• Cost of time & effort spent controlling pests

• Environmental• Native flora & fauna• Erosion• Water quality

• Social• Livestock losses – traumatic• Financial stress

(Step 1). Impacts

• Important to know what species are present

• NRM Officers good source of information

• Tracks, Scats, and Other Traces: A Field Guide to Australian Mammals, Barbara Triggs

• Pest animal species - PestSmart Connect• Pest Animal Field Guide App (iphone only)

• Atlas of Living Australia – sharing biodiversity knowledge

(Step 1). Identification

Step 2. Determine Objectives• Prevention• Eradication• Containment• Asset based protection

• Feasibility and cost effectiveness of each goal based on circumstances

• SMART Objectives

Step 3. Develop PlanIntegrated plan- long term, landscape approach to controlling the impact of pests

Focus on reducing damage from pests, not just pest numbers

Choose your strategy- feasibility, cost effectiveness, animal welfare considerations

Legal considerations

(Step 3). Integrated Pest Management• Integrated pest management (IPM) – what is it and why is it

important?

• Possible ‘side effects’ of removing pest animals• Increase in other pest species

• (e.g. foxes ↓ = rabbits ↑)• Increased impacts on natives• Impacts on vegetation (e.g. woody weeds, fuel loads etc.)

• Baiting – e.g. 1080, pindone, PAPP• Warren/den fumigation – e.g. phostoxin,

carbon monoxide• Using 1080 baits in south australia

(Step 3). Chemical Methods

• warren/den ripping • harbour removal • exclusion fencing • shooting • trapping

(Step 3). Mechanical Methods

(Step 3). Biological Control Methods• Myxomatosis & RHD (Calicivirus) for Rabbits

• Vectors

• Cane toad? Oops!

Carp Herpes Virus (video)

• Could be worth considering, depending on your situation, e.g. goals, resources

(Step 3). Guardian Animals

(Step 3). Legal considerations• NRM Act 2004• Roadside pest control• Agricultural and Veterinary Products (control of use) Act 2012• Controlled Substances Act 1984• Native Vegetation Act 1991• Animal Welfare Act 1985• NPW Act 1972 – for over abundant wildlife

• Work Health and Safety Act 2012

• You have a duty of care to employees and people working on your property

• YOUR welfare is also important

• Risks of working with machinery, chemicals

(Step 3). Work Health and Safety

• Landscape approach is much more

effective

• Work with your neighbours

• Are there regional programs?

(Step 3). Working with others

• Conduct control efforts at times when maximum effectiveness is likely.

• Timing linked to:• Lifecycles of the pests• Availability of resources • Protection of assets • Animal welfare concerns

• Control calendar

(Step 3). Timing of Control

Step 4. Implement Plan

• Use your plan and implement actions

• Communicate with neighbours, and work together

Step 5. Monitor, Evaluate and revise plan• Essential part of Integrated Pest Management

• Important to understand if control methods are being successful or not

• Allows the control program to be modified if required

(Step 5). Monitoring methodsMonitor pest impacts

e.g. livestock predation, crop damage etc.

Pest abundance surveyse.g. spotlight surveys, camera traps, track/scat counts etc.

Monitor responses to control effortse.g. recovery of native flora/fauna species, improved water quality, etc.

ReportingReport alert pest animals found on your property to NRM Biosecurity, your regional Natural Resources office or the National Pest Alert hotline:

• NRM Biosecurity phone (08) 8303 9620• Your regional Natural Resource office• National Pest Alert hotline freecall 1800 084 881.

Map locations of pest animals:www.feralscan.org.au/

Further Information• Regional Natural Resources websites

www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au• PIRSA Biosecurity Website

www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity• PestSmart Website

www.pestsmart.org.au• YouTube PestSmart channel (all pests):

www.youtube.com/user/PestSmart• Local officer contacts (insert if required)

• Integrated pest management principles

• Understanding pests and their ecology• Setting appropriate objectives• Choose appropriate control methods

and timing• Monitor, evaluate and adapt as

necessary• Communicate and co-operate with

neighbours and NRM/PIRSA• Maintain control efforts over the long

term

Review – key messages

• Are there any issues that were recorded earlier that were not addressed?

• What ideas and plans do you have for managing pests in your area?

• Any other questions?

Review

FEEDBACK AND EVALUATIONPlease take some time to give us your feedback so we can improve this module for future delivery.

Thank you for your participation