LHPA rangers help track down pests
Livestock Health and Pest Authority rangers are once again gearing up to help map pest animal activity in NSW in order to improve the management of feral pigs, foxes, rabbits, wild dogs and other pests.
Rangers across the state’s 14 LHPAs are preparing to gather information about the density and distribution of pest animals as part of updating the state-wide 2004−05 Pest Animal Survey.
The Pest Animal Survey, published by the Invasive Animals CRC and NSW Department of Primary Industries, relies heavily on accurate data provided by LHPA rangers along with other government agencies and community groups.
‘In the last survey, 86 of our organisation’s rangers collected, collated and reported information that helped provide a platform for regional pest management planning,’ LHPA Pest Animal and Insect manager Tim Seears said today.
‘Pest animals are estimated to cost Australia over $700 million annually and surveys like this one help our partner groups such as the CRC and NSW DPI build a better picture about the impacts of pest species and assist us to better manage their impact.’
‘The distribution and abundance of pest animals can be affected by conditions such as ongoing drought and it is therefore essential that we remain up to date with information about their movement,’ Mr Seears said.
‘The local knowledge our rangers in the field have about pest activity in their district will feed into the DPI survey, which in turn will result in data managed in a Geographical Information System (GIS) and provided back to local authorities.’
This year the survey will map the extent and density of emerging and established pest species including wild dogs, rabbits, feral pigs, foxes, wild deer, feral goats, feral donkeys, feral horses, feral cats and feral camels.
‘Last year alone, our rangers ran 1200 group programs to help landholders control pests,’ Mr Seears said.
‘The recent appointment of Senior Rangers to key roles across the LHPAs in recent months will also enable us to better coordinate our capacity to manage pest animal impacts and better identify priority areas for control and surveillance work.’
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