Vertebrate pest animals
Pest animals have a significant impact on agricultural production, industry, the environment, and communities in NSW.
Pest animals:
- prey on livestock and wildlife
- increase grazing pressure on pastures
- damage crops and plants
- compete with native wildlife for food and habitat
- spread diseases to people and other animals (including stock and pets)
- damage fences and other infrastructure.
Without coordinated pest control efforts across the landscape, the level of effort to achieve the same outcome will significantly increase.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 prohibits some high-risk activities and materials - there is also a general obligation on people to be aware of their surroundings and take action to prevent the introduction and spread of pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants.
All landholders have a responsibility to control pest animal species and prevent new pest animals from establishing on their land. This is part of your General Biosecurity Duty.
Our Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans outline four main goals for best practice vertebrate pest management .
- Exclude – prevent the establishment of new invasive species.
- Eradicate or contain – eliminate, or prevent the spread of new invasive species.
- Effectively manage – reduce the impacts of widespread invasive species.
- Capacity building – ensure NSW has the ability and commitment to manage invasive species.
Support for vertebrate pest animal control
Our biosecurity officers are on the ground to provide advice to help landholders control pest species on their land. This includes:
- providing advice on how to deal with declared pest species
- coordinating management plans to control pests
- inspecting properties for declared pests and helping you to develop a control plan
- providing advice on controlling pest animals – either through group baiting programs (organised with your neighbours) or individual control methods
- offering free online accredited training to support landholder in the appropriate use of baits and pesticides.
We also sell baits to ratepayers and can advise you on purchasing baits (such as meat, carrots and grain) depending on your needs.
Use of baits and pesticides
Baiting with pesticides can be the most cost-effective option for reducing large pest animal populations once all physical control methods have been applied.
To acquire and use 1080, Pindone, RHDV, or PAPP baits in NSW, you must be accredited (or under the direct supervision of an accredited person) with an AQF3 Chemical Accreditation or Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (VPIT) course accreditation.
Historically, Local Land Services has delivered VPIT training face-to-face in a three-hour training session. Whilst a number of Local Land Services regions still conduct face-to-face training for small groups, landholders can undertake this training online. Our Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training can be completed at any time, at no cost and upon successful completion, you will hold a five year accreditation to possess 1080, Pindone, RHDV and or PAPP baits.
Group pest control programs
The most effective method of controlling pest animals across NSW landscapes is with coordinated group control programs.
Each year we coordinate hundreds of group programs using a variety of control methods. We encourage all landholders to participate for the largest impact on pest populations.
To find out more about group control programs in your area, contact Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or look up your local office.