Pittwater Council Website

Pittwater Council Vision - To be a vibrant sustainable community of connected villages inspired by bush, beach and water.

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Main Content

Feral Animals

Feral Cat Indian Myna Feral Rabbits Red Fox Indian Myna Pindone Baits Laid

What is a Feral Animal?

A feral animal is an animal that was either originally domesticated, escaping into the wild, or that was brought in from its native environment into a foreign one. With few or no natural predators and favourable conditions, feral animals have successfully flourished, out-competing native species for food and shelter. These pests have also contributed to a dramatic decline in native species populations and in the worse case scenarios even extinction. In Australia most feral animals were brought in deliberately, including the European Rabbit, European Red Fox and the Cane Toad.  

The main feral animals of concern in Pittwater and the Northern Sydney Region include:

These invasive pests have had a major impact environmentally, socially and economically.

Impacts of Feral Animals

Environmental Impacts

  • Compete with native animals for food and shelter. For example, Indian Mynas are known to displace small native birds by taking over nesting habitats.
  • Destroy native animal habitat.
  • The larger vertebrate pests such as cats and foxes prey on ground dwelling mammals and birds. For example, anectodal evidence has shown that cats have impacted on the local Squirrel Glider population in Avalon.
  • Cause soil erosion - rabbits.
  • They spread diseases (e.g tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis in foxes).

Social Impacts

  • Feral pests such as rabbits can destroy suburban gardens, while Indian Mynas are responsible for noise pollution and leaving droppings.
  • Local shopping areas, particularly food outlets and cafes, have been inundated with Indian Mynas, becoming a nuisance to the local community.

Economic Impacts

Pittwater Council spends approximately $18,000 on feral animal control, particularly on Rabbit control as it is now a problem throughout Pittwater in bushland as well as urban areas. Pittwater Council has also been extensively involved in fox control since 2000. More recently an Indian Myna control program has commenced with the assistance of local residents.

National Animal Pest Alert

Have you seen this ant? The Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a serious agricultural pest in other parts of the world and has been found in Brisbane. Find out more...

Fire Ant   Fire Ant Nest
Photo left: Fire Ant size 5mm            Photo right: Fire Ant nest
copyright Peter Green                        copyright Texas A&M University
Images sourced from DPI NSW             

Updated: 02 Dec 2011