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

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