Pest animals

Rabbits and hares are widespread pest animals in the shire causing significant damage to native vegetation, farmland and soil stability.

European Rabbits are particularly destructive, as they graze heavily on young native plants, preventing natural regeneration and contributing to erosion and habitat loss.

They also compete with native herbivores for food and shelter, and undermine ground-nesting birds by disturbing habitat.

Hares, while less numerous, can impact revegetation efforts by browsing on shrubs and young trees, particularly in open paddocks and grassy areas.

Effective rabbit control is essential for protecting biodiversity and supporting land restoration.

Successful strategies usually involve a combination of techniques, including warren destruction, fumigation, targeted baiting (e.g. with Pindone or 1080 under permit), and biological control programs such as the RHDV (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus). Fencing and tree guards can also help protect young plants during revegetation projects.

Long-term success requires a coordinated, landscape-scale approach, with neighbouring landholders working together to reduce rabbit populations across property boundaries being essential.

Monitoring and follow-up are critical to ensure that warrens are not re-opened and that emerging populations are managed early.

Feral Deer are becoming more common in the shire, with most sightings involving Fallow Deer (Dama dama) and occasional records of Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor).

While deer are not yet abundant across the region, Fallow Deer numbers have been steadily increasing in recent years, particularly in forested and semi-rural areas. As their populations grow, so do their impacts on the environment.

Deer can cause significant damage through browsing on native vegetation, trampling sensitive groundcover, ringbarking trees and disturbing soil, which increases erosion and affects water quality.

They also pose risks to agriculture by damaging fences and grazing on crops and pasture.

In conservation areas, deer threaten the regeneration of native plant communities and can alter habitat structure, affecting native fauna.

Unlike rabbits and foxes, deer are currently classified as game species in Victoria, which limits control options.

However, councils, landholders and government agencies are increasingly recognising the need for coordinated management as deer spread into new areas.

Monitoring populations, protecting revegetation sites and supporting broader advocacy for improved control measures will be important to minimise the long-term impacts of deer in the shire.

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the most widespread and destructive pest animals in the shire.

Introduced to Australia in the 19^th century, foxes have had a devastating impact on native wildlife, particularly small to medium-sized mammals, ground-nesting birds and reptiles.

In the shire, foxes are a significant threat to vulnerable species such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Yellow-footed Antechinus, both of which are small, ground-foraging marsupials dependent on intact woodland habitat.

Ground-nesting birds, including quail and many woodland species, are also at high risk from fox predation.

Foxes are highly adaptable and can thrive in forests, farmland and even peri-urban areas. Their impacts are not limited to native species – they can also affect lambing operations and poultry, making them a concern for both conservation and agriculture.

Effective fox control typically involves a combination of baiting, shooting and habitat management, ideally coordinated across multiple properties and land tenures.

Reducing access to food and shelter, such as exposed compost or den sites, can also help limit their numbers.

Continued monitoring and collaboration between landholders, landcare groups and government agencies is essential to managing fox populations and reducing their impact on native biodiversity.

Cats pose a significant threat to native wildlife in the shire, whether they are feral or unrestrained domestic pets.

Feral cats are widespread across bushland and farmland, where they prey on a wide range of native animals, including birds, reptiles, frogs and small mammals such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale and Yellow-footed Antechinus.

Even well-fed domestic cats retain a strong hunting instinct and can cause considerable harm to local wildlife when allowed to roam freely, especially at night and around bushland edges.

One of the most effective ways to reduce the impact of cats on native fauna is to keep pet cats safely contained – indoors or in outdoor enclosures.

This not only protects wildlife, but also keeps cats safer from traffic accidents, disease and other threats.

Wildlife agencies increasingly promote cat containment as a standard for responsible pet ownership, especially in areas close to reserves or habitat corridors.

Supporting local biodiversity starts in our backyards. By keeping cats restrained, pet owners can play a vital role in protecting native species and helping to maintain the health of the shire’s ecosystems.

Learn more about responsible cat ownership by reading our Responsible pet ownership and Cat Curfew FAQs pages.

Several introduced bird species are present in the shire, particularly around towns, farmland and disturbed areas.

Common species include the Feral Pigeon (Columba livia), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis).

These birds have become well-established in urban and agricultural environments, where they take advantage of human-altered landscapes, food sources and nesting sites.

At present, they are not having a major impact on native bird populations in the shire, although ongoing monitoring is important, as some species – particularly the Common Myna – have been linked to competition for nest sites and aggressive behaviour in other regions.

While their impact is currently low, maintaining healthy populations of native birds through habitat restoration, nest box installation and planting of indigenous species can help reduce opportunities for these feral birds to expand into more natural areas.

Several introduced fish species are present in the waterways of the shire and can pose a threat to native aquatic life.

Mosquito Fish (Gambusia holbrooki) are widespread in local creeks and wetlands, where they compete with native fish and amphibians, and are known to nip at the tails of tadpoles.

European Carp (Cyprinus carpio) are common in the Loddon River system and Cairn Curran Reservoir, where their bottom-feeding behaviour disturbs sediments, increases turbidity and degrades aquatic habitat.

Other introduced species such as Redfin (Perca fluviatilis) and Brown and Rainbow Trout (Salmo trutta and Oncorhynchus mykiss) are established in creeks and reservoirs.

While popular for recreational fishing, these species can prey on or outcompete native fish, frogs and aquatic invertebrates.

Managing the impacts of introduced fish and restoring native aquatic habitat are important steps in improving waterway health and supporting the recovery of threatened native species.

Community support through responsible fishing practices and habitat protection can help maintain ecological balance in the shire’s waterways.

A number of introduced insects and invertebrates are found in the shire, some of which have significant impacts on native ecosystems, agriculture and community amenity.

European Honeybees (Apis mellifera), while important for crop pollination, can outcompete native bees and birds for nectar and nesting hollows, especially in woodlands dominated by flowering eucalypts.

European Wasps (Vespula germanica) are aggressive scavengers that can disrupt ecosystems by preying on native insects, and posing risks to people and pets.

In agricultural and grassy areas, Red-legged Earth Mites (Halotydeus destructor) are a major pest, feeding on the leaves of crops, pastures and young native plants.

In more urban settings, Portuguese Millipedes (Ommatoiulus moreleti), slugs and snails are commonly encountered in large numbers, particularly after rain. Managing these species often requires a combination of habitat awareness, garden hygiene, and in some cases, targeted control methods.

Supporting native invertebrates through planting indigenous vegetation and reducing chemical use can also help restore ecological balance.

The House Mouse (Mus musculus) and Black Rat (Rattus rattus) are two common introduced rodents found across the shire.

These species are highly adaptable and thrive in a variety of environments, including homes, farms, bushland edges and urban areas.

While often associated with buildings and food storage areas, both species can have significant impacts on native ecosystems, particularly when they spread into natural habitats.

They compete with native mammals for food and shelter, disturb ground-nesting birds, and may prey on small reptiles, invertebrates and eggs. In agricultural settings, they can damage grain stores, chew wiring and spread disease.

Effective control includes secure food storage, removal of shelter sites such as rubbish and dense exotic vegetation near buildings, and targeted trapping or baiting when necessary.

Monitoring and early action are key to managing infestations before they become widespread.

Supporting native predator populations, such as owls and snakes, can also help maintain natural balance in rural and peri-urban areas.

Feral goats (Capra hircus) are found throughout parts of the shire, particularly in the hilly areas around Fryerstown and on Mount Alexander (Leanganook).

These animals, descended from escaped or released domestic stock, from wild herds that can cause significant ecological damage.

Their browsing severely impacts native shrubs and understorey vegetation, preventing natural regeneration and altering habitat structure.

In rocky and forested areas, their trampling of soils, moss beds and groundcover leads to erosion, disturbs sensitive ecosystems, and degrades habitat for native species, including small mammals, birds and invertebrates.

Managing feral goats often involves fencing or culling and is most effective when undertaken across multiple properties and land tenures.