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Pest Animals
Pest animals can come from any animal group (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, crustaceans, insects). Many of Australia's pest animals were deliberately introduced because they were thought to be useful or valuable. Others were unintentionally introduced.
Now, many exotic animal species have established wild populations that have adverse impacts on the community and environment. Pest animals can spread disease, prey on and displace native animals, destroy vegetation and threaten domestic animals.
Sunshine Coast's worst pest animal species
It is a landholder's responsibility to control pest species on their own property. Sunshine Coast Council undertakes pest animal management programs including programs that encourage community involvement. Contact Council if you would like to find out more about what pest animal programs are happening. Some of Sunshine Coasts worst pest animals include:
- Red eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
- European fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Feral cat (Felis catus)
- Wild dog (Canis familiaris)
- Cane toad (Bufo marinus)
- Deer (Cervus elaphus, Cervus timorensis, Dama dam)
- Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis)
- Feral pig (Sus scrofa)
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Useful Tips and Facts
- Create urban wildlife corridors and stepping stones to larger local bushland or parkland areas.
- In nature there is no such thing as waste everything is linked and contributes to the cycle. As a plant reaches the end of its life cycle it is not discarded by nature, instead it provides habitat for animals and food for micro-organisms as it lies on the ground, the waste from the micro-organisms, bacteria and fungi feeding on it replace nutrients and organic material to the soil for new plants to grow.
- Plant local native species
- The best way to attract native wildlife to your backyard is to provide a variety of healthy natural foods in the form of seeds, leaves, flowers, nectar, pollen, fruits and nuts throughout the year.
- The use of pesticides and herbicides can damage your soils and kill non target species. The poisoning of insects with chemicals can also cause larger species relying on those insects as a food source to become sick or even die from eating poisoned insects.
- To create habitat for smaller native birds you can grow shrubs close together to create dense corners or pockets in your garden which will provide protection and refuge from larger aggressive birds such as noisy miners
- Wattles (Acacias). While most wattles only live between 6 - 10 years, they are an important pioneer species which colonise disturbed areas, where other plants find it hard to grow. They improve soil conditions enough to allow other species to germinate and thrive by fixing nitrogen into the soil through their roots and adding high levels of organic leaf litter.