Feral Animals

Feral animals are animals that were originally domesticated and escaped into the wild, or were brought from their native environment into a foreign one. With few or no natural predators, feral animals have successfully flourished in Australia, out-competing native species for food and shelter.

Feral animals are a declared pest and have contributed to the dramatic decline in native species populations, and in the worse case scenarios, extinction. In Australia most feral animals were brought in deliberately and include the European Rabbit, European Red Fox and the Cane Toad.

The main feral animals of concern in Warringah and the northern Sydney area are:

• Foxes
• Rabbits
• Cats
• Common Mynas

These invasive pests impact environmentally, socially and economically. To combat the damage they cause, local authorities in the Sydney-North region carry out coordinated regional feral animal control programs.

Environmental Impacts

• Feral animals compete with native animals for food and shelter. For example, Indian Mynas are known to displace small native birds by taking over nesting habitats.
• They destroy native animal habitat.
• Larger feral animals such as cats and foxes prey on ground dwelling mammals and birds. Young animals are particularly vulnerable, such as baby birds and possums.
• They cause soil erosion, especially rabbits.
• They can spread disease - foxes are known to carry tuberculosis and toxoplasmosis.

Social Impacts

• Feral pests such as rabbits destroy suburban gardens.
• Indian Mynas are responsible for noise pollution and leaving droppings.
• Local shopping areas, particularly food outlets and cafes, have been inundated with Indian Mynas, which have become a nuisance to the local community.

Useful links

• Sydney-North Region Feral Animal Control Program
• Caring for your Rabbit (PDF, 288KB)
• Feral Animals - Rabbits (PDF, 1.78MB)