Pigeons index

The rock pigeon (Columba livia) originated in the Eastern Hemisphere. Some of these pigeons were eventually domesticated by humans. Escaped domestic and racing/homing pigeons established populations in cities and towns. They were introduced into Australia by the early settlers from England.  The Rock Pigeon is often referred to as feathered rats by some and highly prized for its speed and ability to return home by others.Pigeons live 3 to 4 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity, they make themselves at home in our buildings, factories, schools and anywhere we care to call home.

Doves (pigeons) are unique from other birds as they drink by sucking, so they don't have to tilt   their heads back to swallow.

People should be aware that pigeons have been associated with diseases such as lung, heart and kidney disease, salmonella and respiratory problems to name just a few.

A work place free of pigeons and their faecal material will make for a healthier work environment. 

Australian Feral Management uses an array of proven methods to control pigeons in all situations. We can carry out an eradication program with discretion, our own patented Pest-X bird spikes were developed in house over 25 years ago and are still effectively repelling pigeons today.

  • Our designed pigeon traps are used by professionals throughout Australia.

  • With sophisticated sound suppressed air rifles we can rid a factory of hundreds of pigeons in one night.

  • Where pigeon baiting is going to be employed a permit is required from the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

  • Sometime prevention in the form of barriers can be employed to prevent pigeons gaining access to work and pedestrian areas. We are quite happy to advise on the appropriate   method to control these unwanted birds.

WILD RABBITS have been causing widespread devastation in Australia for over 100 years. Rabbits have found conditions in Australia to be ideal. Australia has attempted to control the rabbit population with a combination of measures including:

  • Destroying warrens through ripping, ploughing, blasting, and fumigating;

  • Poison baiting;

  • Shooting and hunting with dogs and ferrets;

  • Releasing predators (such as cats and foxes);

  • Biological control (for example, the myxoma virus and rabbit fleas);

  • Rabbit proof fencing.

These methods have impacted on the rabbit population. However, the rabbit's breeding vigor and adaptability have made effective control, particularly in some remote and less productive areas, impossible. Experience clearly shows that no one control method can solve Australia's rabbit problem.

Australian Feral Management can not rid your property of rabbits, we wish we could. With years of experience and regular maintenance we can keep them at minimum levels

Scientists believe that European red foxes were successfully introduced into the Australian bush in 1871, by recreational hunters in Melbourne. By around 1910, the species had spread as far as Western Australia. Foxes are now found across most of mainland Australia. They can be found in many different environments, from coastal forests to the arid zone. Foxes have had a devastating impact on many native animals in particular medium sized mammals that live on the ground or partly in the trees, birds that nest on the ground and native turtles. Unfortunately many of these species now only survive on islands or areas on the mainland where foxes are rare.

In the urban environment foxes still devastate the native wildlife especially on golf courses where the environment is an ideal sanctuary for wildlife.

Foxes dig up the golf course greens and bunkers looking for grubs and beetles, in doing so adding to the workload of green keepers.

Australian Feral Management carries out a range of measures to control foxes. Their dens can be fumigated and fox trapping has proven to be very effective. For a quick reduction in fox numbers shooting still remains the primary method.

Possums received their name in 1770 from Captain Cook's botanist Sir Joseph Banks. He described an Australian common ringtail possum as "an animal of the Opossum tribe" based on their similar appearance to the American Opossum. However, they are not closely related biologically. They are separated by 2 continents and 70+ million years.

The possums are small to mid-sized, nocturnal, omnivorous, mostly arboreal and generally brown or grey. In the Australian ecosystem their place is roughly similar to squirrels in the northern hemisphere. The 1st toe on hind feet is opposable, and the 2nd and 3rd toes are fused except for claws at the tip used for grooming. All possums in Australia are a protected species, when they move into the roof area of your home they can cause disruption with their goings and comings at all hours of the night. Urine stains from possum pee on your ceiling does tend to look a little unsightly.  We don’t paint out the stains on your ceiling, but Australian Feral Management does offer a full possum trapping and proofing service as we are licensed to do so by the National Parks & Wildlife Service.

Cats menu

Cats have been in Australia at least since European settlement, and may have arrived with Dutch shipwrecks in the 17th century. By the 1850s, feral cat colonies had become established in the wild. Intentional releases were made in the late 1800s in the hope that cats would control rabbits, rats and mice.

Feral cats are now found in most habitats on the mainland, Tasmania and many offshore islands, although not in the wettest rainforests.

While it is impossible to accurately estimate the numbers of feral cats, or the damage they are doing to the native fauna, the National Parks & Wildlife Service estimate that there are over 400,000 feral cats in New South Wales, and as many as 12,000,000 (twelve million) scattered throughout Australia!

For management purposes, cats are divided into three categories domestic, stray and feral although individual cats may move between categories. Domestic cats are owned and cared for, and stray cats are those found roaming cities, towns and some rural holdings. Feral cats, which survive without any human contact or assistance, are the main target of control programs.

Trapping and shooting are methods employed by Australian Feral Management in the control of feral cats.

Deer index

Six species of deer are established in the wild in Australia, having been introduced during the world-wide movement to 'share the world's most beautiful and useful things' as was the objective of the acclimatisation societies which were active in the latter half of the 19th. Century. Of the many species which the acclimatisation societies and private individuals introduced, only the chital (Axis axis), fallow deer (Dama dama), hog deer (Axis porcinus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), rusa deer(Cervus timorensis) and sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) remain.

 

The rusa deer believed to number in the thousands in the Royal National Park south of Sydney are causing concern to neighbouring suburbs as the deer venture to feed in back yards and gardens. Many are injured and killed by motor vehicles, which also sustain considerable damage from the impact. Dead deer on highways are a traffic hazard as motorists try to avoid the carcass. Dead deer removal from public lands is essential to avoid a public health issues. 

Deer panic in suburban areas when disturbed and seek shelter in the most unusual places.

At Australian Feral Management we shoot, tranquillize and net live animals and we have developed specialized equipment for the removal of stricken and dead deer.

Crows & Ravens index

There are two species of crow and three raven species that occur in Australia and are all similar in appearance with black glossy plumage. Crows have white bases to the neck feathers, while Ravens have grey colouring at the base of theirs.

The Little Raven and the Australian Raven have over lapping distribution in N.S.W. Both species will defend their territories against each other.

In rural areas Ravens are despised for the damage they cause to young live stock, even though the clean up job they do on dead animals is beyond calculation.

In suburbia however they play the roll of the urban terrorist specializing in golfers they steal their golf balls with glee and fly off amid howls of abuse. Occasionally people are attacked if the bird’s feel their nesting site is being invaded, this can result in an OH&S issue.

Damage from Crows and Ravens to golfing greens and sporting fields can be extensive, resulting in expensive repairs.

Crows and Ravens are a protected species in areas from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and to west to the Great Divide.

A NPWS permit is required before any reduction can be carried out.

Ibis index

Australian White Ibis have long down curved black bills and often feed away from water. They can be seen probing into soft and marshy ground or under cowpats.

Around cities they frequent rubbish tips, spilt and leftover food scraps in entertainment venues and outdoor restaurants. Because they have in a lot of cases lost their fear of humans they will stand on tables next to people eating and that maybe just after a visit to the local rubbish tip, a most unhygienic situation.

Because of their gregarious nature their nesting habits cause concern as the vast numbers of birds can depilate the areas they inhabit.

Our experience has shown that the use of fix traps has very limited success with these birds. With proper and regular nest removal Australian Feral Management can keep the Ibis populations under control.

Ibis are a protected species and a National Parkes & Wildlife Service permit is required before reduction can be carried.

Australian Feral Management was involved with the N.P.W.S. whose research revealed that 10% of the Ibis populations carry the bacteria salmonella.
Corellas index

There are two species of Corellas that inhabit NSW, the Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea) and the Long Billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirosris). Both birds are large white cockatoos with little or no pink on their throats. These cockatoos form large flocks and inflict vast amounts of damage to crops in rural areas. In recent time they have become infamous with the damage they cause to golf clubs and turfed areas like playing fields and council parks. 

These birds are a protected species and a permit is required from the National Parkes & Wildlife Service before and reduction can be undertaken.

Ducks index

All Australian ducks swans and geese are protected species and any reduction can only be carried out with a National Parkes & Wildlife Service permit.

On a whole native ducks do not normally cause much concern in an urban environment, however feral ducks can be more aggressive forcing the native species out of their normal areas. The black & brown ducks have in recent times been increasing in numbers on golf courses, which offer a perfect environment with their lagoons and open grassed greens.

The build up of facial material from ducks can reach a situation where it becomes difficult not to have it stuck to the soles of shoes which in turn allows entry to eating areas with in the golf club building itself. Golf balls can become contaminated in the facial material and handling the golf balls might well be unhygienic.

Swimming pools and especially those pools that are heated make perfect areas for ducks to spend the night. The problem is their facial material contaminates the water you need to swim in.

Australian Feral Management will advise on a program that will reduce the duck population.

Cockatoos index

The sulphur-crested cockatoo is usually found in pairs or small parties. But in southern Australia they often congregate in large flocks of up to a hundred noisy birds. These cockie mobs can get nasty and attack trees, decks and houses in a controlled frenzy of destruction that can go on for days.

Cockatoos are most destructive in spring when they have an increased tendency to chew, especially in early spring and also in late summer. Parent cockatoos are trying to build nests in early spring. In late summer, the baby birds leave the nest and like teenagers start exploring their environment and are more likely to destroy things.

All cockatoos in Australia are protected species and a permit is required from the National Parks and Wildlife Service before any control measures can be undertaken.

Australian Feral Management holds a general licence from the NPWS.
Hares index

Hares (Lepus europaeus occidentalis) are an introduced species into Australia and have spread throughout most grassland areas. In some locations they can cause damage to seedlings, orchards, horticultural crops and soil conservation areas.

Hares look similar to rabbits but are a lot bigger and have black tipped ears. They prefer open farmland with longer grass (such as dairy country), plantations or similar cover and can live in quite wet conditions. Hares can travel up to four kilometres daily to feed.

Control work should be carried out before planting seedlings or crops. Hares do not generally take poison baits and shooting is often the most effective method of control.

Australian feral Management controls hares on airport runways and for clients that are carrying out large seedling plantings
Starlings index

An introduced bird with an upright stance and a rapid jerking walk. First released in the 1850's in Victoria, it is now widespread throughout eastern Australia. It's name comes from the spangled star-like appearance of it's fresh autumn moult.

Starlings are omnivorous. They feed mostly on the ground, feeding on insects, seeds and small fruits. They are a major pest on cultivated fruit crops.

Starlings are now so numerous they may be threatening some native bird species by competing for nesting places - tree holes etc.

Up to 3 broods of four or five young each a year can be raised by a single pair of birds. In late summer, starlings can congregate in huge flocks (20,000 plus) and cause massive damage to crops in a matter of days. Starlings are very tough and wiry and yet show caution when dealing with man.

By harassing the starlings when they land in a crop and causing them to fly away, circle around and then land again, only to be chased away again is causing them to use up valuable energy for no return. Usually after half an hour or so of this, they move on to another "easier" site.

Starlings love power lines as a perch site, similarly they like large old dead trees. They usually avoid more heavily treed areas, probably to keep away from goshawks and the like which can ambush them.

In the suburbs of large cities the main complaint is the lice that come when starlings start nesting in the roofs of homes.

Australian Feral Management will advise on the problems associated with starlings and the alternatives methods of control.
Myna Birds index

The Indian mynah, , bully of the bird world (also known as the Common mynah, Common myna, Indian myna) has earned the reputation of being one of the worst feral animals in Australia. It's likely that if you live in Sydney, Melbourne, north Queensland or Brisbane, you're already familiar with them.

Indian mynahs are easy to recognise. At approximately 25 cm tall and are mainly chocolate brown, with a black head and neck, and a yellow beak. Some Australians confuse them with the noisy miner, an indigenous Australian species which is about the same size. The noisy miner is a honey eater indigenous to Australia, while the Indian mynah is part of the starling family and comes from India.

 Mynahs carry bird mites and have the potential to carry avian-borne diseases that are dangerous to people, not to mention the huge amount of droppings they leave under their communal roosting trees. Often gathering at night in numbers in excess of a thousand, these raucous birds can take over clumps of trees, especially around areas where lots of people go (where they encounter fewer predators) like shopping centres. In a short time their droppings can cover 100% of the ground and public seating under the trees.

Australian Feral Management are continually researching new systems to control this feral bird which is now ranked in the top 100 most invasive species.   Our thanks go to Mark David who has done extensive research on the subject of Myna Birds.  To visit his web site, please click here
Goats index

Goats (Capra hircus) arrived in Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. As they were small and hardy, ate a range of plants and provided milk and meat, they were convenient livestock for early European settlers. During the 19th century, sailors released goats onto islands and some areas of the mainland for emergency food. Certain breeds were imported for their hair. More recently, goats have been used to keep plantation forests and inland pastoral land free of weeds. Feral herds developed as these domestic goats escaped, were abandoned or were deliberately released.

Feral goats now occur in all Australian states and on many offshore islands, but are most common in the rocky or hilly semiarid areas of western New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. In 1996, there were about 2.6 million feral goats in Australia.

With the numbers of feral goats approaching 3 million, eradication is all but impossible. Within a given area Australian Feral Management can and does control populations of feral goats with great success
Pigs index

Feral pigs are environmental and agricultural pests. They cause damage to the environment through wallowing, rooting for food and selective feeding. They destroy habitat for native plants and animals and spread environmental weeds. Feral pigs destroy crops and pasture and they could spread exotic diseases should there be an outbreak. Research is continuing into techniques that will control feral pigs and minimise the damage they cause to native plants and animals.

Domestic pigs were brought to Australia at the time of European settlement as a food source, and were transported around the country by 19th century settlers. Initially, the pigs that escaped or were allowed to wander were associated with human habitation, but truly feral colonies eventually became established.

Their spread — mainly along watercourses and floodplains — is not well documented, but by the 1880s feral pigs reached such numbers that they were considered a pest in parts of New South Wales. Today, between 13 million and 23 million feral pigs are spread across about half of the continent, from western Victoria, through New South Wales into Queensland, and across northern Australia. Isolated populations are found on a few offshore islands.

With a proper schedule and campaign using traps baiting and shooting Australian Feral Management can reduce and control the feral pig population in a given area.

Australia's wild dogs include dingoes, introduced around 4000 years ago, feral domestic dogs and hybrids between the two. They are widely distributed throughout Australia. Predation and harassment of stock by wild dogs causes millions of dollars worth of losses to Australian sheep, cattle and goat producers each year. There are increasing accounts of deer hunters, campers and bushwalkers getting bailed up by dogs and now no animal seems to be safe from attacks.

Where breeding between domestic dogs and dingoes has been more extensive, some physical changes have occurred to the dingoes. There is now a much greater range of variability to be found in characteristics such as skull shape, body conformation and coat colour. This has caused problems in classification and the term wild dog is now often used to collectively describe the present canid population.

Australian Feral Management can advise on the best course of action where feral/wild dogs are causing a problem.
Licenses & Qualifications index

Australian Feral Management has a wide range of suitable firearms some of which have been modified to suit specific situations. These modifications allow us to rid pigeons from inside buildings, alleviating rabbits and foxes from urban areas and control deer in public places. We work safely, silently and discreetly in golf courses, cemeteries, airports and both private and public lands.

Australian Feral Management carries a wide range of licences including: -

Firearm Licenses

These licences are issued by the Firearms Registry and the N.S.W. Police Department.

  • Category A rimfire rifle

  • Category B centrefire rifle

  • Category D contractors licence.

  • Firearm noise suppressers (silencers) permit

  • Tranquilliser rifle permit

  • Netting gun permit

  • N.S.W. National Parkes & Wildlife Service 

  • NPWS Level One & Two firearm accredited

  • NPWS General License

  • Licensed Pest Controllers

  • Licence number: 0750
Insurances index

Australian Feral Management has been in animal control since 1984 and is fully insured to carry out its operations in urban areas.

The statement below is to be placed on the home page under the current statement in bold and Italics

You can be assured of the highest level of experience and service at all times.  We always do our best on every service and that’s my promise.  Steve Cope.