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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 2 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. 3 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. 4 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 5 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. 6 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. 7 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 1