Browsing Wildlife Species - Description, Status, Distribution, Diet and Control Options and Issues

Game Services Tasmania Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Page 3 There are a number of native and introduced species species can have, though it must be realised that this is which will compete with livestock for pasture and crops in based on their computed metabolic intake, and assumes Tasmania. The main problem species being: that an animal is getting all of its dietary intake from pasture in competition with domestic stock, whereas in 1. Bennett’s wallabies reality it would be getting at least part of its diet from 2. Tasmanian pademelon (rufous wallaby) other sources. 3. Brushtail possum This booklet explains the distribution, diet and control 4. Fallow deer options most applicable to each species, and also where multiple species occur. 5. Rabbits Given the current high population levels of most wildlife 6. Forester kangaroos. species in Tasmania, capture and relocation is not a Other species such as hares, sulphur crested cockatoos, recommended practice for any of these species, as the feral cats, ravens (crows), wombats, native hens, wild ducks most likely outcome of any relocation will be the death of and black swans can all variously cause problems with crop the animal through fighting for territory or starvation due or pasture damage, water quality in dams, predation and to being unable to establish a new territory. damage to farm infrastructure. Bennett’s Wallaby (Partly Protected) Different control options will be more effective for different species. Macropus rufogriseus. Also called red-necked wallabies, or colloquially kangaroo, Species / Control Fencing Shooting# Trapping 1080 Poison Feratox Repellents grey kangaroos. Bennett’s wallabies       Bennett’s wallaby Tasmanian pademelon       are found in most vegetation types at Brushtail possum       all altitudes, but are Fallow deer       most common in Rabbits*       drier bush areas with an open understorey, Forester kangaroos       especially at the bush Table 1. Different control tool effectiveness for browsing species – pasture protection. - pasture interface.  Can work Primarily grass eaters, Bennett’s wallabies will also eat  Effective control herbs, fungi, shrubs, seedlings and chew bark. They have  Very effective control adapted well to introduced  impracticable / illegal. grasses, legume and some * Rabbits can also be controlled with Pindone, myxo, crop species. On the basis calicivirus and through burrow fumigation. of relative energy needs, # There are many different ways to shoot. 2.8 Bennett’s wallabies eat the same amount as a Knowing which species are present and causing damage 50 kg sheep, although this on your property is critical to deciding the correct control probably won’t all have strategy (See Table 1). come from the pasture or It’s also important to consider the full suite of species on crop area. your property as these may affect the effectiveness of Bennett’s wallabies usually control options for other species. For example, trapping is come out to feed at particularly effective on properties where both Tasmanian dusk and can travel long pademelons (rufous wallaby) and brushtail possums are distances into crop or pasture, moving over wide areas as the main problem species however traps can be destroyed they feed throughout the night. This can result in patchy by other species such as wombats so caution should be damage across a paddock that is not always obvious. Five used. Bennett’s wallabies radio tracked over a three month In terms of different species impacts on farm productivity, period at Kempton, southern Tasmania, had an average Figure 1 shows the relative impacts that different native home range of 100 ha (range 34 - 164 ha), moving nightly up to 1.7 km through forest to Grazing equivalents - wild animals to domestic stock pasture and up to 0.5 km out

Forester kangaroos into pasture.

Bennetts wallabies Control Options and Issues Pademelons Fencing is an excellent control Wombats option for Bennett’s wallabies, Brushtail possums although they will repeatedly try and breach fences. Bennett’s Rabbits 1 dry sheep equivalent (DSE) wallabies will generally try to (50 kg wether) push through a fence rather Figure 1: Grazing equivalents for wild animals to domestic stock. Illustration by Bruce Dolbey than under it but if holes are Page 4 present under a fence they will certainly make use of some crops and introduced these existing holes. A small portion of the population will grasses. Four and a half to just jump the fence, and when pushed or stressed they will five Tasmanian pademelons more readily leap and jump at fences in their haste to get (rufous wallaby) will eat as away. much as a 50 kg sheep. Because Bennett’s wallabies attempt to push and jump Tasmanian pademelons through a fence, they readily break the joints in some (rufous wallaby) shelter types of mesh fencing which is why a heavier mesh is under cover by day and recommended in areas where this species is present. emerge to feed at dusk. As a result they are commonly seen feeding close to cover. In light or sandy Bennett’s Wallaby Summary Four pademelons radio tracked in dry sclerophyll habitat soils they are able at Kempton, southern Tasmania, over a three month to dig under a fence • usually come out to feed on period, had overlapping home ranges of approximately to create an entry dusk and throughout the night 150 ha (range 149 - 169 ha). Pademelons made nightly or exit point. From • are found in most vegetation movements of up to 2 km through bush to feed on inspection it is often types but prefer drier open pasture within 200 - 300 m of the bush edge. In more found that these holes areas bordering pasture typical habitat where animals are moving between bush have been made by • cause patchy damage with dense undergrowth and improved pasture, they wallabies trying to get throughout a paddock and up usually stay closer to the bush edge. out, after having come to 500m from the bush edge in via a breach point • fencing, shooting and Control Options and Issues elsewhere. On heavier poisoning are the best control soils they will exploit methods for this species Fencing is the most effective control for Tasmanian slight undulations in • Bennett’s are hard on fencing pademelons (rufous wallaby). Like Bennett’s wallabies, the ground surface so a heavier mesh is required they will also breach a fence by going under it. However or use gaps at gullies, they can fit through surprisingly small holes, especially the creek crossings etc or young ones which holes dug by wombats. Anecdotal evidence suggests that can move through Pademelon (rufous) Summary Bennett’s wallabies will use culverts under roads to access some mesh fences • come out to feed on dusk and feed sources. and through many throughout the night Bennett’s wallabies are very trap shy animals, and although gate meshes. Recent • prefer wetter areas and dense smaller individuals have been caught in traps, trapping is research has shown undergrowth especially where not an effective method for Bennett’s wallaby control. that Tasmanian they abut pastures and crops pademelons (rufous Shooting can be a very effective control method for • browse within close proximity wallaby) will readily Bennett’s wallaby when done properly. 1080 poison has to bush edge been very effective in the past for Bennett’s wallabies, but move through 350 • use runways under fencing should be seen as a last resort of limited use. Evidence mm pipe to gain to date from New Zealand and Tasmanian trials suggests access to pasture. • generally leave faecal pellets that are compressed together that Feratox™ could be an effective tool for wallabies Tasmanian and cigar shaped if it is registered for use in Tasmania. Research to date pademelons (rufous suggests that Feratox™ could potentially be a much wallaby) can be • fencing, shooting, trapping and more humane poison option than 1080 poison provided a hard species to poisoning are all viable control it is properly managed. Sen-tree contact repellent, and effectively control methods for this species other various repellent trials, have been shown to have through shooting some efficacy on Bennett’s wallabies, but none have been as they tend to browse in groups, very close to the bush shown to have a sustained, or edge and quickly flee if feeling threatened. However, a reliable effect. Repellents would well implemented shooting strategy can control them. be more suitable for small area Activities such as laying out grain lines can help shooting control, eg. gardens, where Approx 1.5 cm of this species. Poisoning is very effective for Tasmanian alternative nearby food sources pademelons (rufous wallaby), as after brushtail possums, are available. they tend to be the next species to eat from poison An example of Bennett’s wallaby faecal pellets. bait piles. Trapping can be an effective niche tool for this species. Sen-tree contact repellent, and other various Tasmanian pademelon (Partly Protected) repellent trials, have been shown to have some efficacy on this species, but none have Tasmanian pademelon, rufous wallaby or wallaby (Thylogale been shown to have a billardierii) sustained, or reliable effect. This species is common on mainland Tasmania and the Repellents would be more Bass Strait islands, although only patchily distributed on suitable for small area Approx 7 cm King Island. control, eg. gardens, where Tasmanian pademelons prefer wetter areas, with thicker alternative nearby food undergrowth than do Bennett’s wallabies. They mainly sources are available. feed on herbs and grasses in their natural habitat but An example of a Tasmanian pademelon (rufous wallaby) have readily adapted to non-native species such as clover, faecal pellet. Page 5 Brushtail Possum (Partly Protected) meat to possum meat. Brushtail possum summary Providing recreational The brushtail possum (possum) (Trichosurus vulpecula) hunters with incentives • come out after dusk and is abundant and to shoot brushtail feed throughout the night widespread possums, such as • are often more abundant throughout Tasmania providing them with fuel than is realised and the Bass Strait or ammunition, can be islands. an extremely effective • are present wherever there strategy for getting are suitable den sites Possums occur possum damage under • preferentially browse clover in most habitats control. including rural and • trapping, shooting and urban areas. They are Possums are very poisoning are best control particularly abundant along the edge of native bush and curious and bold options. Possums will breach improved agricultural lands and throughout cleared areas creatures, and hence most fences, and are highly with suitable nest sites. Preferred nest sites include tree are usually very easy resistant to repellents hollows, timber heaps, buildings or holes in the ground. to trap and poison. Trapping is a particularly • leave groups of cylindrical In their natural habitat possums eat mainly plant-based good strategy where faecal pellets each approx 2.5 material such as leaves, fresh gum tips and flowers, and a property’s main cm long and several mm in have been recorded to take half of their diet from ground problem species are diameter. vegetation. They are opportunistic feeders that have brushtail possums and adapted well to agricultural species such as clovers and Tasmanian pademelons (rufous wallaby). fruit. Although it takes 12 possums to eat as much as a 50 kg sheep, their effect on pasture can be substantial Brushtail possums appear to have either an extremely because they preferentially graze on high quality pasture strong stomach or very poor taste buds. Even repellents species such as clover. such as bitrex (an extremely bitter product) are largely Poisoning trials have also clearly demonstrated that ineffective against possums, possums can be much more numerous than a landowner though again, repellents might realise through spotlighting and hence their impact can play a role in niche significantly underestimated. protection of gardens where Approx 2.5 cm other alternative food Control Options and Issues sources are readily available. Possums will travel long distances over the ground. An example of brushtail possum faecal pellets. Possums will preferentially try and go under fences where there is sufficient clearance, and they can fit through Forester Kangaroos (Protected) remarkably small gaps. Barbed wire at the bottom of the The Forester kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) is the largest fence will not stop or slow them. They easily fit through marsupial in some mesh styles and are able to climb over most fences. Tasmania and the There are adaptions that can be done to standard wallaby second largest fences such as using electrical outriggers at the base and in the world. also near the top of the fence or the use of ‘floppy tops’, Their preferred but these adaptions are generally quite expensive to habitat is open run and maintain, and possums are remarkably adaptive, grassy forests and learning to use nearby trees, stumps or even corner posts woodlands of to breach fences. northeastern and Brushtail possums have not been heavily shot on many central Tasmania. properties, as they are not seen as a sporting animal Foresters often to hunt, and most recreational hunters prefer wallaby feed during the day, but mostly in the early morning and evening. Grasses and forbs comprise the diet. Forester kangaroos are social animals that are usually seen in family groups of three or four, but may occur in loosely associated mobs of more than ten.

Control Options and Issues Kangaroos can damage crops and pastures where local populations are high. Due to their large size, they can also damage fences. As a result they can come into conflict with landholders. The Forester kangaroo, due to its protected classification have more stringent requirements Electrical outriggers placed near and/or on top to be met before permits will be issued. Given their of the fence will help deter possums. more limited abundance and day time browsing activities, Page 6 shooting is the most logical control for managing local The aim of QDM, introduced to Tasmania in the 1990s, populations causing damage. Landholders are required is to promote a healthy deer population in balance with to justify a culling quota at the time of seeking crop the habitat in which the deer reside. This usually equates protection permits for this species. Forester kangaroos to deer herds being kept at lower densities than under are a desirable game species in Tasmania, and many traditional management practices and also increasing the recreational hunters are willing to provide crop protection number of trophy animals within these smaller herds. services to landholders in exchange for access to Forester This provides a benefit to the landholder by reducing any kangaroo tags and this provides opportunities for potential crop or pasture damage caused by deer, and landholders to increase control effort on their properties. provides the hunting groups on the property a higher quality herd. Like the other macropods, Foresters prefer to go under a fence than over it, but they will leap at or over fences, QDM is total herd management involving the especially when they feel in danger. Because of this a management of males, females, and fawns, habitat, hunters typical wallaby fence will not generally stop Forester and hunting experiences. The reasons for adopting the kangaroos, though taller principles of QDM vary between properties, and from fences may. In considering hunter to hunter. Hunters are encouraged to show such a design landholders restraint in the harvest of young male deer combined with should consider the welfare an increased harvest of female deer. impacts of animals becoming Approx 1.5 to 2.5 cm Furthermore, hunters and hunting clubs, often enter into entangled in fences. agreements with landholders to provide agreed levels of Trapping and poisoning are shooting control for other wildlife species, in return for not options for this species. property access rights and deer hunting privileges during An example of Forester faecal pellets. the deer season and if crop protection permits are sought. These agreements can save landholders thousands of dollars. Fallow Deer (Partly Protected) When well implemented, this can be one of the most Fallow deer were brought into Tasmania in 1836 and wild effective control strategies for a property, especially on populations were established about 20 years later. properties that undertake principally larger dryland Fallow deer are a highly extensive agriculture practices. mobile species and There is no requirement for landowners to implement don’t respect property QDM in Tasmania and all landowners inside and outside of boundaries. They can also the core deer range can apply for crop protection permits. cause swift and severe damage to pasture areas There are no approved trap designs for deer, and it and crops when moving in is illegal to poison them in Tasmania. There are deer large numbers. fences which can be used to stop deer, and the Forestry Commission of Britain have an excellent “Forest Fencing” Fallow deer are herbivores technical guide which can be downloaded for free from and graze all types of www.forestry.gov.uk which covers many of the issues with ground vegetation. They deer fencing. can cause a great deal of damage to young plantations by pulling seedlings out Rabbits (Vermin) of the ground, and they also like to feed in arable fields on root crops such as carrots, sugar beet, parsnips or Rabbits are classified as vermin under the Vermin Control potatoes. Male deer can also damage vegetation with Act 2000 and may be hunted at any time on Crown land, their antlers during the breeding season when marking State Forest and on private land with the permission territories. of the landowner. There is no bag limit and rabbits are Wild fallow deer are highly valued by sections of the normally taken with shotguns Tasmanian community as a hunting resource. Annual and rimfire rifles, although any seasons are proclaimed for the taking of male deer and non-prohibited firearm may be antlerless deer. Outside of the seasons, deer may be taken used. Hunters are encouraged under Crop Protection Permits by landowners who are to harvest rabbits whenever suffering browsing damage from deer. possible because they have the potential to become a major Control Options and Issues problem in the future if not With the desirability of properly managed. wild deer as a hunting There is a much broader range resource, many properties of control options for rabbits have managed wild than for the other species, deer according to the including the use of 1080 poison, Approx. 6 mm principles of Quality Deer pindone, myxamotosis, calicivirus diameter Management (QDM). Approx. 1 cm long and burrow fumigation. An example of fallow deer faecal pellets. An example of rabbit faecal pellets. Page 7 Control Options and Issues as much as a standard sheep. If rabbits are a significant problem on a property, as well as other species, then it is worth considering those control The main issues options which might target multiple species. landholders generally have Rabbits can of course be shot when undertaking control with wombats of other species, but the major consideration to think is the burrows about when looking at combined control options is the they dig in use of rabbit wire to exclude both rabbits and wallabies pasture areas, as rabbits will pass through wallaby mesh. The addition of particularly the resulting instability in sandy banks, their rabbit netting, preferably buried 150 mm into the ground, ability to dig under wallaby proof fences creating highways will not only slow the reinvasion of rabbits, it is also for the other species to travel through and undermining very effective in increasing a fence’s effectiveness against building foundations. possums and wallabies as this is their typical preferred breach point. An effective wombat gate design has been developed which allow wombats to enter and exit pasture areas, Rabbits are very neophobic, that is they fear anything new but preclude most wallabies, possums and other smaller or strange, therefore cage traps are largely useless for their species from doing so. A brochure is available to explain control, and leg hold traps and snares are illegal to use in how to build such a gate, and how and where best to Tasmania. install it. Other species Whilst landholders are strongly encouraged to live with wombats, and most are happy to do so, it is recognised Hares (Not Protected) that there are situations where small numbers of wombats need to be culled due to the damage or risk Hares, while not classified as they are causing, and in these circumstances the Wildlife vermin, have no legal status and Management Branch do issue crop protection permits for can be hunted under the same the removal of a set number of wombats from a property. conditions that apply to rabbits. The presence of wombats is a negative Wombats (Partly Protected) when it comes to Wombats are infrequently a trapping, as they can significant problem with pasture easily destroy traps losses, though six wombats can eat set for wallabies and possums should they Approx. 4 cm long enter and get caught. An example of wombat faecal pellets.

ShootingTrapping and 1080Hunting Poison MonitoringFencing and A Niche Management Tool for Browsing WildlifeAn Effective Management ToolRightUnderstanding for Approach, 1080 Poison Use Description, EffectivelyPademelons - and Brushtail Possums SpeciesMeasuring - Wallabies PastureRight and Pademelons Gear, Right People Status, Distribution,Losses Dietto Wildlifeand Control Options and Issues

Mesh extended onto the ground to deter digging and fence breaches.

Electrical outrigger positioned at the A wallaby proof fence paying for itself on King Island. top of the netting to deter brushtail possums from climbing over the fence.

Page 3 Page 9 Wildlife Management Branch Wildlife Management Branch Page 15 Wildlife Management Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and EnvironmentPage 23 Wildlife Management Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Page 31 Wildlife Management Branch Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Page 39 Wildlife Management BranchDepartment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

When fencing it is important to Further Information and Contacts understand species Game Services Tasmania you are trying AgriGrowth to manage. For example, rabbits Level 7 can breach even 1 Franklin Wharf, Hobart the smallest wallaby Phone: 03 6165 3225 meshes. Email: [email protected] Page 8