Ridding Kangaroo Island of feral pests

Feral pigs, deer, cats and goats have posed a serious threat to Kangaroo Island's native animals and plants for many years. But a comprehensive program is now underway to rid the island of those unwanted guests.

“Feral pests are creating all sorts of problems on the island,” Pip Masters, Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board Feral Animal Management Project Officer said.

“They graze on native plants, compete with, or kill, native animals, and dig up pasture, grassland and forest litter.

“They also can spread diseases like Ovine Johne's Disease, which has a huge impact on cattle, Phytophthora, a disease that kills native plants, Toxoplasmosis, which is devastating on native marsupials, and Sarcosporidiosis, a protozoa which causes cysts to grow in the muscles of sheep.”

Funding

To help manage feral pests on the island, the Australian Government has provided the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Board with more than $255,000.

The Board has also received financial and in-kind support from the Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre (IA CRC), Kangaroo Island Council, the South Australian Government, and private industry.

Activities

One of the largest pest eradication projects in Australia is now underway and involves one of the most well-resourced feral animal projects ever undertaken on Kangaroo Island.

A hunting program targets deer, goats and pigs, to complement other initiatives aimed at each species.

“With goats we are trialling the use of Judas tracking collars for small populations. Goats are gregarious animals, so if you put radio collars on one animal it will lead you to others,” Pip said.

“To control pigs, we're working with landholders to trap the animals, and the Invasive Animal CRC is developing a poisoned bait.

“For cats, we make cat traps available to the public, and the Invasive Animal CRC is developing a toxin so we can avoid using 1080 baits. We also try to raise community awareness on how to control domestic cats.”

Achievements

Although the Board is looking far into the future with this project, efforts have already paid off.

Deer numbers appear to be down, with the aim being total eradication in five years. One population of goats has been almost completely eradicated and the Board is working closely with landholders and other organisations to catch feral pigs and cats.

Pip said the Kangaroo Island Council had now implemented some of the toughest legislation in Australia for domestic cats.

More information

1. Pip Masters, Feral Animal Management Project Officer, Kangaroo Island Natural Resource Board: (08) 8553 2833 or pip.masters@kicouncil.sa.gov.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

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Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts