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The latest news and updates from our Centre, and the broader invasive species research and management sector.
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Welcome to Issue 368. Enjoy!
 

 
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 The CEO yarn

Congratulations to the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) who recently received the United Nations Public Service Award for their role in building a community-led approach to managing rabbits at landscape scale. 

Michael Reid (former National Rabbit Facilitator with the Invasive Animals CRC hosted by the Victorian Government) along with two of the VRAN community champions, Kaye and Geoff, received the award in Baku, Azerbaijan last week, on behalf of the network collective (pictured above). 

It’s heartening to see this initiative go from strength to strength, which originally began through our Invasive Animals CRC Community Engagement program. The Network promotes community led rabbit action across the rabbit management system, working to grow collaborations between government agencies and community volunteer groups. 

It is also helping build the new generation of rabbit control experts and champions, via the Learning Network, which has been strengthening expertise across the system on best-practice rabbit management and community engagement. 

Agriculture Victoria is now looking at how this model of shared decision-making and responsibility can be applied to managing other invasive species and issues across the state, as well as sharing the model with other jurisdictions to ensure the success of the program can be seen at a national level. 

If you want to learn more, this short YouTube video is certainly worth watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odLcsaLijUg 

Enjoy this issue of Feral Flyer,

Andreas Glanznig
CEO | Centre for Invasive Species Solutions

Victoria’s rabbit action network receives prestigious UN award  

Agriculture Victoria Program Manager Michael Reid said the program aims to provide a long-term commitment across governments, community groups, generations and property boundaries - not a fix and forget solution. 

"We recognised that actions taken in isolation were having a limited impact as rabbits know no boundaries, and the need for a partnership to approach the problem," Mr Reid said. 

"This program brings together a diverse range of perspectives of people affected by the problem to ensure the issue is addressed collectively by working together." 

Since its establishment, VRAN has reached out to around 6,000 people on public and private land. 

Michael accepted the award with network community members Gerald Leach and Dr Kaye Rodden. 

Read more via the media release

Visit our PestSmart rabbit management toolkit
 

From knowledge to know-how – motivating landholders to take management action 

It doesn’t stop with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network. 

Professor Don Hine and Dr Lynette McLeod are currently leading one of our Centre’s key community engagement projects looking at how we can accelerate sustainable landholder-led participation in best practice wild dog management techniques through application of behavioural science and targeted engagement. 

This is no easy task and understanding landholder motivations and inhibitions in wanting to undertake management is imperative to achieve impact. 

Read more here 

Read Behaviourally Effective Communications for Invasive Animals Management: A Practical Guide

Orroroo's Geoff Power to head up Dog Fence board

Orroroo sheep producer Geoff Power will help oversee the rebuild of the state's century-old wild dog barrier after being appointed chairman of the SA Dog Fence Board.

Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone said Mr Power was an "experienced livestock leader" and had the skills to support the state government to undertake the $25 million project being funded by the federal and state governmments and livestock industry.

Mr Power said it was a challenge that he was very pleased to take up to have 1600km of the 2100km fence rebuilt.

Mr Power, who is also the chair of the National Wild Dog Action Plan Consultative Committee, said a scoping study on the SA Dog Fence had already been completed but were keen to ensure all pastoralists are consulted.

'It is their fence so it has to work for them and we want to make sure we put up a fence that is durable and will last 80 years," he said.

"We won't get this opportunity again so we have to get it right."

Read more via Stock Journal

Visit our PestSmart wild dog management toolkit
 

Fox cull reaps benefits as dogs encroach

Wildlife is returning to the freshwater ponds on a Wannamal property after a determined commitment to fox management saw about 80 foxes culled in the past three years.

The farmer, who did not want to be named, said in the past foxes had devastated his sheep flock to the point that he experienced less than 50 per cent lambing - which was unacceptable and led him to quit running Merino sheep and stick to cattle.

His property sustains a herd of 280 cattle, divided into four groups, with seasonal rotation allowing for an effective management of grass feed.

"Baiting was costing a lot, it required a high commitment to documentation and time and we lost 50pc of our lambs, so we gave up on it and had no choice but to no longer carry Merino sheep altogether.

"But since then prices have improved and we thought we'd try running sheep again.

"I said to my sons, 'if we want to run sheep we have to get rid of the foxes'.

"So one of my sons and his cousin undertook a targeted and focused fox cull."

Read more via Farm weekly

View our Pestsmart field guide to baiting wild dogs and foxes
 

KI Council tours proposed Dudley cat-proof fence location

The Kangaroo Island Council recently toured the proposed location of the proposed cat-proof fence across the Dudley Peninsula.

The fence would be built at the narrowest point of Kangaoo Island stretching about 2.7 kilometres, cutting off the Dudley Peninsula from the rest of Kangaroo Island.

Leading the tour was Natural Resources KI regional director Damian Miley and sustainable development manager for KI, Mike Greig.

Read more via The Islander

Visit our PestSmart feral cat management toolkit

New publication: National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028

A number of invasive ant species are amongst the most serious global invasive pests. Australia’s environmental, economic, and social wellbeing is threatened by these ants, some of which have already been introduced and have become established in Australia. The environmental impacts of invasive ants can be complex; ranging from predation and competition through to modifying habitat. Economically, invasive ants impact primary production through seed consumption or animal attack, and biting or stinging farm workers; and impact electrical infrastructure in buildings. Communities are also affected by invasive ants by making outdoor areas un-usable and invading houses.

Exotic invasive ants, as a group, have been identified nationally as the seventh most important National Priority Plant Pest. In recognition of this serious threat, the National Biosecurity Committee requested the development of this national plan.

Download the plan online via the Environment and Energy's website
 

Australian Mammal Society Conference

The mission of the Australian Mammal Society (AMS) is to contribute to the greater understanding and conservation of Australasian mammals.

Research by members of the Society spans a wide variety of biological disciplines including behavioural and community ecology, population genetics, management and conservation.

The conference is next week Sydney, 7 - 11 July.

Visit the website

The Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference (AVPC) has a long and prestigious history as one of the regions keystone biosecurity related conferences bringing together practitioners, researchers, wildlife managers
and policy advisors to network, share their stories and discuss the future of vertebrate pest management in Australia and beyond.

It attracts visitors from Australia, New Zealand and across the globe.

In 2020, we want the conference to be bigger and better than ever before and we have chosen “Feral Futures 2051” as the theme for the 18th AVPC. 

2051 will mark the second half of the 21st century and research, innovation and new ideas will be imperative to ensure our future is as feral-free as we can make it.

We invite you to be involved in the Conference as a Partner, Sponsor and/or Exhibitor, or as an attendee.

Visit the
AVPC website to download the prospectus.

Four in five urban wild dogs carry parasitic worms, study finds

In the most comprehensive investigation to date, Australian scientists have declared that wild dogs in urban areas carry a range of parasites that pose a risk to public health.

The research, published in the journals Wildlife Research and Australian Mammalogy identifies that four in five wild dogs tested were infected with parasitic worms known as helminths, and over half of wild dogs tested were positive for a hydatid tapeworm known as Echinococcus granulosus (pictured below), which can cause disease in humans, if they come in contact with infective eggs which are shed into the environment through wild dog faeces.

Read the media release

Visit our PestSmart wild dog management toolkit
 

Tasmanian survey finds bandicoots are 'patchy and in low numbers' as predators and habitat loss threaten future

A survey asking residents to report sightings of eastern barred bandicoots and their surrounds has found their apparent decline in north-eastern Tasmania could be explained by key changes over two decades.

The survey was launched after reported sightings of the eastern barred bandicoot noticeably dropped in recent years, pointing to possible "range retraction" for the vulnerable species.

NRM North, which conducted the completed survey in conjunction with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, received more than 300 responses since it was launched in March.

NRM North biodiversity co-ordinator Derek Hamer said the message from the survey was that cats - domesticated and feral - were on the increase and suitable native vegetation was declining.

"Based on a recent UTAS study, feral cats may have previously avoided nocturnal devils at night, but are now free to hunt unencumbered since the facial tumour decimated devil numbers," he said.


View the article via The Examiner

Visit our PestSmart feral cat management toolkit
 

Understanding and intervening in illegal trade in non-native species

This project has collated two decades of relevant interception records from state and commonwealth reporting agencies. These data have been interrogated for summary statistics and general trends relating to chordate interceptions in Australia over time. The team has identified pathways and commodities associated with high levels of pre-border chordate interceptions and identified new exotic incursion threats to Australia.

Learn more about the project here

Visit our PestSmart incursions toolkit

(image supplied by NSW DPI)

B.A.M. Pest Animal Control

B.A.M provide pest management plans and pest control programs tailored to suit each individual situation.

Services they offer are: survey’s, shooting, trapping, ferreting, baiting, possum proofing, bird proofing, domestic cat containment and weed control.

They cover everyone from farmers and volunteer environmental groups to government departments and general public.

Visit the profile

Add your community group to PestSmart

Want your group highlighted in a future issue? Email us here

Australian Mammal Society Conference

7-11 July 2019, Sydney, NSW
View event information

20th NSW Weeds Conference

26-29 August 2019, Newcastle, NSW
View event information


Australian Rangelands Conference 2019

2-5 September 2019, Canberra, ACT
View event information

Australasian Wildlife Management Society Annual Conference

3-5 December 2019, Darwin, NT
View event information


18th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference

4-7 May 2020, Melbourne, VIC
View event information

 

Holding an event in 2019 and want your event highlighted in a future issue? Email us here



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