Submission to the NSW Legislative Council inquiry into feral animal control .

We would like to propose some points which could be taken into consideration for a future Plan Of Management for the feral animal control .
· Baiting with poisons is no option to us , as the risk of poisoning undesired native animals and other animals further up the food chain ( eating of dead poisoned animals ) is too high . Also it is very difficult to control and assess how many animals of the selected species have been killed .
· Bating with drugs to sterilize the wanted species is a better option , provided that the drug can be designed to sterilize only the selected species and does not carry on in the food chain .
· Some feral animals ( e.g. Horses , Goats , Pigs , even Carp ) could be mustered in and sold for human consumption , pet food or fertilizer . Some meats ( e.g. Wild Pig and Carp ) could be harvested and exported to overseas ( Asia , Europe ) where huge markets exist . This is , of course , only an option in accessible areas with sufficient feral animal populations which make the effort worthwhile .
· Depending on geographical areas , animal numbers , accessibility different measures have to be used or even combined to achieve best results .
· The aim to find biological controls and natural predators has to be extended .
· It is impossible for most or all feral animal species to eradicate them totally , instead the aim has to be to achieve a new management and support a new stable balance .
· Some feral animal species ( e.g. Rabbits , Fish , Mice and Rats ) are now a main part of the native predators food source ( e.g. Eagles ) . In some areas , where the rabbits have been greatly decimated , the native raptors are now suffering from lack of food , and therefore prey harder on small native animals .
· Feral animals , if we like it or not , are now here , and have become a part of the environment and the food chain . Every human interference will have an effect on the whole eco system , not only on the targeted species itself . A new balance between native and feral animals is already on the way . Human interference and destruction of natural habitat are still the worst threats to all animal species . Native animals also adapt to the new threats and opposition through feral animal species .
· Some feral animal species are their worst enemies themselves , as Rabbits with Foxes and Cats for example . If the Rabbit populations are decimated , the Cat and Fox populations will subsequently decrease over the next years , as their main food source is eliminated .
· Any feral animal control measure should be effective and directly targeting the required species , without endangering other undesired animals . Well trained , educated and licensed Hunters are a perhaps slow , but sure and safe way to effectively control certain species , without the risk of poisoning undesired native animals . Pig hunters with dogs could be trained and licensed to eliminate pigs in certain areas and perhaps National Parks .
· The aim has to be to try and find a use for the feral animal , this could help to cover the cost of removing them and also create new income streams for farmers and property owners .
We cant just see the feral animals as the ultimate enemy and run a blind war against them , the future lies in management and specific measures to directly target certain species , without endangering other animals or even humans .
As anywhere a bit of common sense goes a long way !

Enter supporting content here