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Feral Animal Policy (DRAFT)
SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
Feral animal policy
1.
Introduction
Council acknowledges feral animals inhabit areas of the Sutherland
Shire and cause environmental, social and economic impacts within the
community. Feral animals pose a serious threat to the conservation of
biodiversity, the sustainability of natural ecosystems and to the safety
and welfare of residents.
Feral animals compete with indigenous fauna for food, shelter and
habitat. Some species predate on native animals while others graze on
native vegetation threatening many already endangered communities,
populations and species. Increased pressure on natural ecosystems
by feral animals has resulted in degraded environments with loss of
vegetative cover, reduced local biodiversity, accelerated soil erosion,
reduced water quality and increased weed invasion.
This policy covers, but is not confined to, several animal species
already identified as being a concern in the Shire.
2.
2.1
Feral animals of the Shire
Indonesian Rusa Deer
Of all feral animals in the Shire deer cause the greatest concern.
Initially introduced into Royal National Park from Indonesia, feral deer
now extend into habitats throughout the park and adjoining areas. In
response to advancing bushfires and in search of new habitat many
deer have moved out of the national park and into Council reserves
and onto private property in suburban areas of Bundeena, Maianbar,
Grays Point, Gymea Bay, Heathcote and Kirrawee. Herds follow
vegetation corridors and readily swim across the Hacking River to
move between the park and residential areas. The National Parks and
Wildlife Service (NPWS) have been implementing a deer management
plan for the Royal National Park since 2002. With the current
population of deer in the Shire calculated at 2,500 it is imperative that
Council collaborate with other agencies and become actively involved
in deer control.
Deer inhabit a range of vegetation types in the Shire and adversely
affect plants through grazing, trampling and antler rubbing. Plant
communities suffer modification to their structure, loss of diversity, local
extinction of species and a reduced ability to regenerate. Changes in
vegetation have affected birds, reptiles and insects as opportunities for
cover, foraging and nesting are diminished. An increase in soil erosion,
reduced water quality and spread of weeds can be attributed to deer.
Unless deer are controlled in native plant communities, destruction of
habitats and loss of ecological values will continue. Of particular
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
concern is the degradation of already endangered communities
including Littoral Rainforest, Kurnell Dune Forest, Sydney Freshwater
Wetlands and Coastal Saltmarsh in the Shire. There is also potential
for deer to spread into the presently deer free areas of the Woronora
and Georges River catchments with disastrous consequences. Due to
their threat to the environment the NSW Scientific Committee, as of
16th December 2004, has made a Final Determination to list “Herbivory
and environmental degradation caused by feral deer” as a key
threatening process on the Threatened Species Conservation (TSC)
Act 1995.
Damage caused to private gardens by deer and the associated costs to
residents is significant. Deer browse on a range of native and exotic
plants and are responsible for damage to fences and garden
structures. Deer are known to tip over household garbage bins in the
street in an effort to find food. Browsing and trampling by deer is
hampering bush regeneration activities and adding increase costs to
landscape works where deer occur.
On sporting ovals and parks, where deer commonly graze, sports
persons and picnickers are exposed to health risks associated with
fresh faeces.
Deer are more active at night and regularly wander onto roads. Deer
have been involved in collisions with cars causing damage to vehicles
and endangering lives of motorists. Injured deer are dangerous and
occasionally end up in resident’s gardens after an accident. Deer have
also been trapped on private property and become distressed after
entering through a gate and being unable to get back out. Many
residents express anxiety when confronted unexpectedly with a large
deer on their property or on the road.
2.2
European Red Fox
Foxes were introduced into Australia for recreational hunting in the mid
19th century and fox populations are now established across most of
Australia. Foxes are known to inhabit natural and urban areas
throughout the Shire.
Foxes play a major role in the decline of native fauna. They are elusive
hunters and scavengers and prey on a range of small mammals, bird,
reptiles and insects including threatened species. The NPWS have fox
baiting programs for all national park reserves in the Shire. High
priority areas include Towra Point Nature Reserve where foxes predate
on endangered migratory birds. “Predation by European Red Fox” is
listed as a key threatening process on the Commonwealth Environment
Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act 1999 and the TSC Act 1995. A
threat abatement plan for predation by the European Red Fox was
endorsed by the Minister for the Environment in 2001. This provides a
framework and guidance for the management of foxes in NSW.
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
To successfully control fox populations in the Shire a combined
strategic approach is required between NPWS, Council, other lead
agencies and the community.
2.3
European Wild Rabbit
Domesticated rabbits arrived with the First Fleet and now range over
most of Australia. Small rabbit populations occur in scattered locations
across the Shire including Bundeena, Cronulla, Kurnell, Alfords Point,
Menai, Heathcote and Taren Point.
Feral rabbits compete with native herbivores by grazing on a range of
vegetation. They cause damage to both native and exotic plants often
digging below the soil surface to forage for roots and seeds. Rabbits
ringbark trees and graze on seedlings reducing vegetation’s ability to
regenerate.
Rabbits have established themselves at several sporting ovals in the
Shire causing damage to turf and creating an unsafe playing surface.
Bush regeneration activities have also been hampered by rabbit activity
at some locations.
“Competition and land degradation by feral rabbits” is listed as a key
threatening process on the EPBC Act, while “grazing by feral
European rabbits” is listed as a key threatening process on the TSC
Act. Rabbits are a declared pest animal under the Rural Lands
Protection (RLP) Act 1998 and consequently requires landholders to
continually suppress and destroy them.
2.4
Feral cats
Feral cats do not rely on humans for their survival and have established
populations across Australia. It is estimated there are 400,000 feral
cats in NSW. The NPWS have established feral cat trapping programs
for national park reserves in the Shire. Council receives occasional
reports of feral cats in Council managed reserves and stray cats in
urban areas.
Feral cats are opportunist feeders able to adapt to whatever prey is
available including threatened species. They eat small mammals
including possums, bandicoots and rabbits. They also hunt birds,
reptiles, amphibians and insects. “Predation by feral cats” is listed as a
key threatening process on the TSC Act.
2.5
Other species
Pest animal species including introduced rats cause concern in the
community. Rats inhabit public places where food scraps are available
such as around shopping centres. Council currently uses pest control
contractors to control rats in areas adjacent to the Cronulla beaches.
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
3.
Policy Objectives
3.1
Develop feral animal management strategies
Council will develop and implement integrated strategies to reduce the
environmental, social and economic impacts of feral animals in the
Shire. Council aims to manage and control populations of feral
animals in the Shire through a cooperative approach with other
agencies and land owners.
The strategies will be consistent with and support other Council and
lead agency documents such as the NPWS threat abatement plans
and deer management plan that relate to the management of feral
animals and the conservation of biodiversity. The strategies will explore
options for feral animal management and will be guided by up to date
research and control techniques.
The strategies will be cost effective and develop actions and
performance measures for the desired policy outcomes. Strategies will
be regularly reviewed and an adaptive management approach used for
their implementation.
3.2
Reduce environmental impacts
Council will take active measures to protect the Shire’s biodiversity and
flora and fauna habitats from the threat of feral animals. Control
programs will be targeted on areas of greatest conservation value such
as where threatened species are affected. Council will adopt the most
appropriate techniques and take action to control feral animas on land
it manages in the Sutherland Shire.
3.3
Reduce the economic and social impacts
Council will take active measures to reduce the economic and social
cost of feral animals to the community. Control programs will be
developed to control feral animal populations in areas where damage
to both public and private property is affected.
3.4
Increase public safety
Council will take actions to reduce the danger and health risks to the
community associated with feral animals on roadways, public places
and Council managed land.
3.5
Increase community education
Council will continue to research and gather information on the impacts
of feral animals and their control through an active involvement with
other agencies. Council will promote a better understanding of feral
issues among the community through the use of fact sheets,
presentations and providing information for media releases.
3.6
Consult the community
Council will consult with the community regarding the management of
feral animals in residential areas. Local residents will be encouraged to
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
be involved in feral animal management strategies and will be informed
of any actions to be undertaken by Council.
3.7
Collect and manage data
Council will keep a record of customer requests. Council will collect
information through surveys and the Customer Request Management
System on the number, distribution and impacts of feral animals in the
community and utilise the data to make informed decisions on feral
animal management.
3.8
Provide funds
Council will regularly review the financial impact of controlling feral
animals in the Shire and provide an appropriate level of funding to
assist in the reduction of the environmental and social impacts in urban
areas. Council will seek funding opportunities from state and federal
programs to assist with feral animal control.
3.9
Determine management roles
Council will allocate responsibility for the management of feral animals
to appropriate departments in accordance with this policy. Council will
avoid an ad hoc and fragmented response to feral animal
management. Council will ensure staff or contractors are
adequately trained in managing feral animals or implementing
programs in accordance with the relevant legislation.
3.10
Provide a consistent customer response
Council will provide a consistent response to customer requests
regarding feral animals. Council will liaise with other agencies
including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Rural Lands
Protection Board, NSW Police and Department of Infrastructure
Planning and Natural Resources to ensure unified and up to date
information is provided. The attached customer response flow-chart
will be used by Council staff when responding to requests.
4.
Customer response procedures
4.1
Dead deer
Council will respond to requests to remove dead deer in the Shire.
Cleansing Services will pick up and dispose of carcass in the Shire
located on roads, private property and from Council managed land.
4.2
Injured deer
Council will respond to requests concerning injured deer promptly to
minimise further pain and suffering to the animal. Injured deer are
dangerous and residents need to be advised to keep clear. Council will
attend the scene promptly to asses the situation and take the
appropriate action and if necessary have the animal humanely
destroyed. Council will notify or request assistance from NSW Police
to maintain public safety on roadways if necessary. Council staff will
then forward the matter to Cleansing Services to remove the carcass.
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
4.3
Persistent troublesome deer
In cases where troublesome deer persist in an area and can be readily
located on Council managed land or private property Council will
respond accordingly. Requests will be referred to Council’s
appropriate section to assess the situation in consultation with the
Asset Manager and implement appropriate actions.
4.4
Damage or threat caused by deer
Damage to property by deer is the responsibility of the owner. Council
will endeavour to reduce the damage incurred to private and Council
managed property. Requests to control deer in residential areas will
be referred to Council’s Parks and Waterways Branch to respond.
Details of the damage and location will be recorded. The opportunity
will be taken to provide the customer with information on deer issues.
4.5
Fox sightings
Council will record reports of fox sightings. Data will be used by
Council’s appropriate section to develop control programs in
partnership with the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB), NPWS,
land owners, and the community in targeted locations.
4.6
Damage caused by rabbits
Council will record damage caused by rabbits and take appropriate
actions. Parks Operations will be notified of damage to ovals so
playing field surfaces can be repaired and made safe. Council’s
appropriate section will develop control programs where appropriate
in partnership with the Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB), NPWS,
land owners, and the community in targeted locations.
4.7
Feral cats
Council will record sightings of feral and stray cats. Council’s
appropriate section will implement control programs where evidence
indicates a significant problem exists on public and Council managed
land.
4.8
Other feral/ pest species
Council will continue to monitor and control pest species such as rats
where problems exist on public and Council managed land. Council
will record other feral/ pest animals that are reported and develop
strategies for their control if evidence suggests they are causing
significant threat to the environment or public health and safety.
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SSC Feral animal policy (2004)
CUSTOMER RESPONSE TO DEER ISSUES
Take customer details/ location details
Dead deer
National
Park
Persistent
troublesome deer
Injured deer
Advise customer deer are dangerous. Keep clear
Roads, Council
& Private
property
Private property,
Council reserve or
Council roadways
National Park
reserves
If potentially
dangerous to the
public, request
assistance from
NSW Police to keep
the site safe
Damage/ threat
caused by deer
National Park
reserves
Private property,
Council reserve or
Shire roadways
Refer to NPWS
Pest Species
Officer to assess
situation
Refer to SSC.
(Appropriate section
to be determined)
Refer to
NPWS
Refer to SSC
Cleansing
Services
Pick up and
dispose of
carcass at Lucas
Hts Waste
Services
Refer to SSC
Refer to NPWS
Duty Officer
0419 428054
(Responsibility to be
determined)
Collect data
Contact contractor to
destroy injured animal or
capture and destroy
persistent deer if practicable
NPWS process
to follow
Send customer information
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