Pest Animals

Wingecarribee Shire falls within the South East Local Land Services region.

Local Land Services have developed the Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan 2024-2028 that outlines the framework for managing pest animals (e.g. deer, rabbits, foxes) for our region.

The Plan also highlights the following species as the regional alert species:

• Hog Deer
• American corn snake
• Cane toad
• Red-eared slider turtle.

An alert species is a pest species where early detection is vital to ensure they can be managed effectively. These pest species may have small populations in the region or are yet to be detected.

To report an unusual sighting of a pest or alert species, please use one of the following methods:

• Complete the report an unusual animal sighting form.
• Phoning the DPIRD Invasive Plants and Animals Enquiry line at: 1800 680 244
• Email: invasive.species@dpi.nsw.gov.au

This list is subject to change if new incursions of invasive species are identified.

For more commonly known pest species, use FeralScan. See Recording Pest Species section for more information.

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an introduced pest animal that can cause significant damage to our natural landscapes, urban and peri-urban areas, and agricultural land. 

What residents can do to control rabbits on their property

• Monitoring: Record burrows, warrens, damage and numbers of rabbits on your property. This can help guide what control options are most appropriate for your property. This can be done using Rabbit Scan. This tool is accessible online and can be used on mobile devices.
• Harbour removal and management: Rabbits will often use dense vegetation (e.g. hedging), long grass, weeds (e.g. blackberry), refuse and firewood piles as above ground shelter. Reducing or managing available rabbit harbour is often a valuable way to manage rabbits on smaller properties when other control methods are unsuitable (e.g. pindone baiting).
• Fumigation: If there are rabbit warrens on your property, fumigation is an effective method for controlling rabbits after undertaking other control methods (e.g. pindone baiting) or if the other methods are unsuitable. Fumigation will need to be completed by a licenced contractor.
• Pindone baiting: Pindone carrot is an anticoagulant poison that is required to be dispersed over multiple days to be effective at reducing a rabbit population. It can only be used on properties that are larger than 1000m². Pindone carrot baiting programs can be completed by a licenced contractor or if you have completed the required training.  
• Biological controls: Locally, rabbits have built up immunity to the current strain of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV). Local Land Services and Council regularly undertake tests to assess local rabbit immunity to RHDV. If low immunity is detected or another strain becomes available, both agencies will explore a wider release of RHDV to reduce rabbit populations. Pindone baiting and fumigation should follow biological controls to further reduce rabbit populations.

Depending on the rabbit density and property size (greater than 1000m²), a collaborative rabbit control program may be required between neighbouring properties, Council and Local Land Services to maximise the outcomes of the rabbit control program.

To report rabbits across the Wingecarribee Shire, you can use the Feral Scan website and app. This free resource allows individuals to record: 

• Rabbit sightings 

• Damage caused by rabbits 

• Rabbit control activities. 

For more information about European Rabbits, control methods and timing, visit PestSmart.

Foxes pose a significant challenge in both rural and urban areas. In cities and towns, they often prey on small domestic animals such as chickens, guinea pigs, rabbits, and aviary birds.

While they rarely interact with domestic cats and dogs, foxes can cause nuisance by rummaging through garbage.

Managing Foxes

Urban fox control is complex due to the proximity of people and pets. Foxes are intelligent and difficult to trap, and many standard rural control methods—like baiting or shooting—are not appropriate in built-up environments.

Instead, focus should be placed on preventative strategies. Fox-proof enclosures are essential, especially at night, and should be designed to prevent digging and climbing.

For management on larger and more rural properties, it is recommended to learn more through the PestSmart European Foxes website or to engage Local Land Services for advice.

What You Can Do

• Secure pets and livestock: Use fox-proof designs for coops, hutches and aviaries. Lock pets and poultry up overnight.
• Avoid attracting foxes: Do not leave pet food outdoors and ensure garbage bins are securely closed.
• Seek assistance: NSW Local Land Services may support eligible landholders with baiting, trapping, or fumigation of fox dens.
• Work with neighbours: Coordinated efforts across properties are more effective than tackling the issue alone.

Monitoring

Monitoring fox activity is an important part of understanding and managing their impact. Fox Scan is a free community resource that allows landholders, residents, and Council to record sightings, damage, and control activities related to foxes.

By entering data into Fox Scan, you contribute to a larger database that helps identify problem areas, track movement patterns, and support coordinated control efforts. This tool is accessible online and can be used on mobile devices.

Visit Fox Scan to learn more or to start recording observations.

Deer are spreading across New South Wales, occupying both agricultural and natural environments. Multiple species of deer have been found in the Wingecarribee Shire, with fallow deer being the most commonly observed.

Deer can cause various problems, including:

• Environmental degradation: trampling and grazing damage native vegetation, competing with wildlife for food.
• Agricultural losses: crop, pasture, plantation and revegetation damage.
• Safety risks: vehicle collisions in peri‑urban zones.

Managing and Monitoring Deer

Effective feral deer management requires a coordinated, humane, and sustained approach. Collaborative and coordinated efforts across properties are more effective than tackling the issue alone.

Monitoring deer activity is an important part of understanding and managing their impact. Deer Scan is a free community resource that allows landholders, residents, and Council to record sightings, damage, and control activities related to foxes.

By entering data into Deer Scan, you contribute to a larger database that helps identify problem areas, track movement patterns, and support coordinated control efforts.

This tool is accessible online and can be used on mobile devices.

Visit Deer Scan to learn more or to start recording observations.

Rodents such as rats and mice are common in urban and rural areas, and while they may seem small, they can cause significant problems. These include:

• Health risks: Rodents can spread diseases to humans and pets through their droppings, urine, and bites.
• Food contamination: Rats and mice contaminate food storage areas and kitchens, chewing through packaging and leaving waste behind.
• Environmental impacts: Mice and rats compete with native species for food and habitat and may also prey on insects, reptiles, and bird eggs, disrupting ecosystems.

Despite these issues, it’s important to manage rodents in ways that don’t harm local wildlife.

Managing Rodents

To control rodents while protecting native animals, it's best to prioritise prevention and use non-toxic or wildlife-safe methods:

• Remove attractants: Clean up fallen fruit, secure garbage bins, and store pet food and bird seed in rodent-proof containers.
• Block entry points: Seal holes and gaps around buildings, particularly near roofs, under doors, and where pipes enter walls.
• Trap responsibly:
• • Use snap traps placed inside secure boxes or areas inaccessible to pets and wildlife.
  • Cage traps can also be used to catch and release rodents, though they should be checked frequently and emptied humanely.
• Avoid harmful poisons: Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are particularly dangerous because they stay in a rodent’s system long after death. Native predators like owls and kookaburras can be poisoned after eating a contaminated rodent.
• If using bait, do so carefully:
• • Always use tamper-proof bait stations.
  • Place them in sheltered, low-traffic areas to reduce risk to pets, children, and wildlife.
  • Remove carcasses promptly to reduce the chance of secondary poisoning.

What You Can Do

• Keep food secure: Don’t leave pet food outside. Store bird seed, compost, and waste in sealed containers.
• Tidy your garden: Remove piles of wood, debris, or long grass that rodents might use for nesting.
• Choose safer products: Look for rodent control options that are low-toxicity or use mechanical traps. Avoid products containing SGARs.
• Monitor and maintain: Check traps regularly and dispose of rodents responsibly.
• Seek help for serious infestations: Contact a licensed pest controller for advice and assistance with larger rodent problems.

More information can be found here. 

The Common (India) Myna is native to India and surrounding regions of Asia and were first released in Australia in 1862 to combat pests in Melbourne market gardens, and then released in other states. They are intelligent and highly adaptable birds which have become serious pests in urban areas of NSW, ACT, Victoria and Queensland and are starting to spread into rural areas. 

Common Mynas can often be confused with native, Noisy Miners. 

Common Myna Control

Control of Common Mynas in Australia is clearly desirable provided it can be achieved in a safe, humane and cost-effective manner. Council supports the control of Common Mynas through encouraging residents to modify their local habitat to increase native bird populations, and through a selective trapping program.

Trapping Common Mynas

Selective trapping using 'Pee Gee' traps provides an effective, safe and humane way of controlling Common Mynas, and greatly reduces or eliminates the risk to non-target wildlife.

Engage a local Men's Shed to see if they can provide 'Pee-Gee' traps for a fee. Alternatively, they can be purchased online.

For more information about how to control Common Mynas, please read a guide to controlling and trapping Common Mynas in the Southern Highlands.

Monitoring

Council recommends that the community use Myna Scan to contribute to a larger database that helps identify problem areas and where control efforts have occurred. This tool is accessible online and can be used on mobile devices.

Introduced insects can cause significant damage to our local environment. They can contribute to disease and disorders to horticultural crops, gardens and native vegetation. They can also outcompete native insect species and displace hollow bearing animals.  

One of the local insect pests to be aware of are Europeans wasps.

European wasps build large communal nests that can house over 100,000 wasps. The nests are built underground, in wall or ceiling cavities, or hollows in trees and are normally only visible as a small entrance hole.

They are about the size of a bee and bright yellow and black in colour, with black ‘V’ shaped markings on their abdomen. Wasp stings cause intense local pain and swelling. However, people who or are allergic to wasp venom, or have been stung multiple times, may have a more severe reaction and require urgent medical attention

If you believe that you have a European wasp nest on your property you will need to arrange for a licensed pest controller to destroy the wasps and their nest. 

FeralScan is a website and app-based tool that enables the community to record sightings of pest animals. It also has a function for recording management efforts that have been delivered on your property. Rabbit Scan, Fox Scan, Deer Scan and Myna Scan are all a part of Feral Scan.