Living Here
About invasive pest animals
Report sightings
Landholders obligation
1080 Baiting Program
Calicivirus Baiting Program
Invasive Pest Animal Trapping Program
Indian Myna Bird Control Program
Wild Dog (scalps)
About invasive pest animals
Feral animals or invasive pest animals pose a major economic, environmental and social threat to the Gladstone region. The main invasive pest animals of concern in the region are:
Feral cats
Feral deer
- A feral red deer is a red deer that is living in a wild state and is not being kept in a deer-proof enclosure, for farming or other purpose.
- Feral red deer are listed as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- Feral deer damage the natural environment by eating native vegetation, damaging trees, spreading weed seeds and pathogens, and fouling water.
- Feral deer populations can increase by 34-50% per year. A small herd of 30 deer can potentially increase to 500 in ten years.
- They damage forestry seedlings, agricultural and horticultural crops, commercial flower crops, orchards, irrigation systems and fences.
- Australia-wide annual agricultural production losses were estimated to be $55.8 million in 2021.
- In dry seasons, they compete with cattle and sheep for pasture and supplementary feed.
- Motor vehicle and train collisions involving feral deer were estimated to cost $3.3 million and $1.2 million per year, respectively.
- Several motor vehicle collisions with deer have occurred on the Dawson Highway.
- More information about Feral deer.
Gladstone Region Feral Deer Control Program
Council engages a professional contractor to humanely reduce the feral deer numbers by thermal ground-shooting. Prior to undertaking the control program, Council will inform nearby residences of the control activity. Signage will also be placed around all entrances to control sites.
Report sightings
Help map feral animal sightings in the Gladstone Region. Feral Scan allows the community to map sightings of feral animals and assists Gladstone Regional Council in improving its pest management programs.
Alternatively, complete and submit an online form or phone Council on (07) 4970 0700.
Landholders obligation
Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), all landholders have a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO) to manage the risks that invasive pest animals pose. To assist landholders in meeting this obligation, Gladstone Regional Council provides a number of invasive pest animal programs (listed below).
For further information on any of these programs, please contact Council.
1080 Baiting Program
Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a very useful pesticide for the control of pest animals and has been used throughout Australia since the early 1960s. 1080 is the most efficient, humane and species-specific pesticide currently available for declared animal control in Australia. In Queensland, 1080 is registered for use in the control of wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and rabbits.
Council offers rural landholders the opportunity to participate in 1080 baiting campaigns to control invasive pest animals such as wild dogs and feral pigs on their properties within the Gladstone Region. These campaigns are generally conducted in April/May (early Winter) and again in August/September (early Spring).
Council can also provide 1080 baits to rural landholders outside of the baiting campaign dates if the landholder can demonstrate a 'justifiable need'.
Landholders may apply to Queensland Health for general approval to obtain poisons to control invasive animals. As an Approved Person, landholders may purchase and store premanufactured baits and Canid Pest Ejectors without the need to contact Council.
Calicivirus Baiting Program
Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (VHD), or Calicivirus, is a virus specific to rabbits which works by infecting the lining of the throat, lungs, gut and liver. The virus relies primarily on direct rabbit-to-rabbit contact in order to spread, and therefore, best results are achieved on properties with high rabbit numbers.
Resistance to Calicivirus depends primarily on the age of the rabbit. Therefore, it is better for the virus to be introduced to a population after the rabbits have bred and the young are old enough to be affected by the virus.
Council offers rural landholders the opportunity to participate in a Calicivirus Baiting Program to control wild rabbits on their properties within the Gladstone Region. These campaigns are generally conducted in March/April and again in September/October and are free to participate.
Invasive Pest Animal Trapping Program
Council offers rural landholders the opportunity to loan invasive pest animal traps to control invasive pest animals on their land within the Gladstone region. Trapping is an integral component in invasive pest animal control and can provide suitable control all year round.
Council's invasive pest animal trapping program provides landholders with traps to control:
- Feral cats (cage traps)
- Wild dogs (foot hold and cage traps)
- Indian Myna birds (cage traps)
- European fox (cage traps)
- Rabbits (cage traps)
- Feral pig (cage traps).
Indian Myna Bird Control Program
Indian myna birds are an invasive species that threaten native wildlife by competing for food, nesting sites, and spreading disease.
Indian myna identification guide
Invasive Indian Myna (Target for Control!)
✔ Brown body, black head, and yellow eye patch & legs.
✔ Aggressive towards native birds and mammals.
✔ Listen to the Indian Myna call.
Native Noisy Miner (Do Not Trap!)
✔ Grey body with a yellow patch behind the eye.
✔ Native and protected under Australian law.
Egg identification
Breeding season is from October to March. Indian mynas lay blue eggs - if found in nesting sites, please contact Council for safe removal.
Always wear gloves when handling Myna birds and their nests.
View the Biosecurity Queensland factsheet for more information on the Indian myna bird.
How you can help
You can play an important role in controlling Indian mynas by:
- Report Indian myna bird sightings – report to Feral Scan
- Trap Indian myna birds – participate in Council’s Indian myna bird control program
- Discourage Indian mynas from visiting or nesting in your home or property by following the below control and prevention tips:
- Limit food availability
- Do not leave pet food outside
- Secure compost bins and garbage
- Remove uneaten livestock feed or poultry feed.
- Modify nesting areas
- Block holes in roofs, eaves and building structures where mynas may enter
- Keep palms well-trimmed and remove dead palm fronds
- Avoid planting clumps of exotic species such as Cocos Palm, Slash Pine, Radiata Pine and Umbrella Tree, as these are all preferred Indian Myna roosting trees.
- Remove unused hollows and old nests
- Plant a variety of local native plant species, especially with a dense understory to encourage native birds.
- Limit food availability
By participating in the Indian myna control program, you can help protect our environment and biodiversity.
Council's trap loan and bounty program
Collaborating with our community
Council’s Indian myna bird control program is a community-driven initiative in partnership with:
- Gladstone Men’s Shed Association – skilled volunteers help build high-quality, humane bird traps.
- Choice Passion Life (CPL) Disability Services – provide meaningful employment and skill development through trap construction.
By working together, we build Indian myna cage traps to help residents and landowners take action against this invasive species.
Council’s trap loan program
Council provides free traps on loan to residents who wish to participate in Council’s Indian myna bird trapping program. Traps are easy to use and designed to capture Indian mynas safely and humanely.
The traps are basic cage traps and require bait/feed to be placed inside the trap.
If you would like to participate email or phone Council on (07) 4970 0700.
Bounty program
To encourage community participation, Council offers a $5 bounty for every Indian myna bird humanely captured and handed in provided it is alive.
Download and complete an Invasive Animal Payment Form.
Hirer responsibilities/animal welfare
Council is committed to humane and ethical control of Indian myna birds. All participants in the trap loan and bounty program must adhere to the following responsibilities:
✔ Use traps to only capture Indian Mynas, not native birds.
✔ Ensure the trapping is humane - no bird or animal should be harmed on entry; birds should only be in the trap for a minimum amount of time.
✔ Trapped birds must have access to fresh water, food and adequate shade (e.g., use shade cloth, plywood).
✔ Monitor and report captured birds immediately to Council for the prompt collection and humane euthanasia of the birds.
✔ Release non-target species immediately.
✘ DO NOT expose trapped birds to prolonged distress, extreme weather, or unnecessary suffering.
Failure to comply with animal welfare laws may result in removal from the program.
For more information on The Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (the Act) visit: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/animal/health/welfare/qld/act
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