Feral pest control program a great success
A successful partnership is achieving great outcomes for the control of feral animals in the Upper Hunter.
Over the past three months the Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) has undertaken an extensive aerial control and ground baiting program on 212,000 hectares around the edges of Upper Hunter National Parks and reserves.
The program is a partnership between the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the LHPA and is being funded by the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
Many native fauna species in the Hunter region are threatened by feral pests either directly through predation and competition for food or shelter, or indirectly through changes they cause to their habitat. The control of feral predators such as foxes and wild dogs is a high priority for the recovery of the Broad-toothed Rat and Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, which occur in and around the Barrington Tops National Park and State Conservation Area.
Controlling feral pigs also benefits threatened species by reducing damage to habitats caused by wallowing, rooting and the spread of weeds and pathogens such as the Root-rot Fungus (Phytophthora cinnamoni) which is known to occur in the area.
The CMA is committed, through the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Action Plan, to working with partners to treat animal pests in order to help conserve biodiversity in our region. The CMA has teamed up with NPWS and Mid Coast LHPA to support additional efforts to the routine baiting for feral pests carried out in the Upper Hunter each year.
Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority Ranger, Craig Crooks, says the problem was bigger than previously thought. “When we undertook a survey from the air to get an idea of the size of the feral animal populations, we were amazed by the number of feral pests, especially pigs, running wild in these areas,” said Mr Crooks.
The partnership has been a huge success with an impressive 2,350 feral pigs, goats, foxes, wild dogs, feral cats and hares treated.
“These pests have a massive impact on the environment; they’re a major threat to biodiversity and cause a lot of damage to soils and waterways.”
As a result of the program, rural producers can expect reduced livestock losses and damage to fences and other rural infrastructure caused by feral animals.
“We aimed to complete the control program before spring to avoid the breeding season for non-target native species. Controlling feral pests at this time will also help improve lambing and calving rates throughout the region and reduce stock losses and damage from wild dog attacks.”
Over one hundred landholders took part in a series of workshops, provided through the program, to learn more about what they can do to control feral animals on their properties.
It is hoped that similar partnership projects to this one can be established in other parts of the Hunter region. The CMA is currently calling for proposals for the CMA’s 2009-10 Partnerships Program. For more information go to www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au or call the CMA on 4930 1030.
Media Contact: Mid Coast LHPA Craig Crooks 6545 1311 or mobile 0429 342 995 or the CMA’s Education Officer Phoebe Trongchittham 4938 4933.