Tried and true pest management

Rabbits and hares are definitely cute, but pose some very problematic threats; overgrazing of crops, devouring and digging up gardens, warrens (burrows/holes) contributing to erosion and threatening native plants and animals by destroying habitats, eating seedlings and preventing regeneration.

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They reproduce very quickly (hence the saying; 'multiply like rabbits'), so it can prove to be a real challenge to effectively control their numbers. By shooting during peak feeding times when rabbits are out in the open, making a dent in the popultation reguarly proves to be the most effective, humane method without using poison or other baits, which can consequently affect other non-target animals and/or the environment. That being said, controlling rabbits is most effective through a combination of shooting, trapping and baiting regularly.

We only offer ground shooting, but we do encourage you to also look into baiting and/or trapping if rabbits and hares are a consistent problem on your property.

Foxes are often viewed as beautiful and playful, cunning creatures, however they have become a major environmental pest since their introduction to Australian soil. Historically and presently, they cause severe declines and even extinctions in native wildlife, especially small-to-medium mammals and ground-nesting birds. They also spread weeds like blackberry through their droppings and impact livestock by preying on lambs, calves, goat kids and poultry, contributing to significant biodiversity loss and economic damage.

Feral cats can be great for mice and rat infestations, however in Australia, they have a devastating impact, having caused the extinction of over 20 native mammal species and threatening hundreds more through intense predation, disease spread, and resource competition, killing billions of native animals annually, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates, and posing risks to livestock and human health through parasites like Toxoplasma gondii.

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Poison baiting and trapping can work depending on the circumstances, however they can often affect other animals or be quite inhumane in our very variable climate. We can't offer those options, but instead offer ground shooting and whistling, which can prove very effective (and more humane) in situations where a few problematic individuals reside, luring foxes (sometimes cats too) in or catching them on the hunt for their next meal.

Wild/Feral Dogs are a mix of pure dingoes, feral domestic dogs and their hybrids. Whilst they can bring some benefits such as helping to regulate grazing pressure by predating on herbivores, these are generally outweighed by the negative impacts. They kill or injure livestock (sheep, cattle, goats, poultry) and native animals, including threatened species, like wallabies, bandicoots, potoroos and koalas. These attacks can devastate small, isolated native populations, especially when combined with threats from other pests and human impacts, like habitat loss. On top of this, they can spread diseases to livestock and can carry other diseases that affect humans and pets, like canine parvovirus.

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Wild Dogs are best controlled through a combination of regular shooting, trapping and baiting. We only offer ground shooting, but we do encourage you to also look into baiting and/or trapping if Wild Dogs are a consistent problem on your property.

Majestic creatures, deer are a large problem in Australian ecosystems. Deer over-browse native plants, trample seedlings and harm (if not kill) trees by rubbing their antlers on their trunks (ring-barking), lowering plant diversity and degrading habitats for native and threatened wildlife - such as the Helmeted Honeyeater - that rely on healthy undergrowth for food and shelter. They also compete with native herbivores (like kangaroos) and livestock for food resources, increasing overall grazing pressure, as well as damaging crops for farmers through grazing and/or trampling.

Deer have hard hooves which compact soil and can lead to erosion in more vulnerable areas. During ruts (breeding seasons), deer create wallows in waterholes for displays or just rolling around in mud to leave their scent for potential mates. These wallows become quite compacted, so water stays trapped or runs into nearby waterways, decreasing the water quality. They also carry weed seeds on the fur and hooves, helping weeds invade new areas and outcompete native plants.

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But all is not lost! We offer ground shooting to help remove the pesky (but beautiful) creatures from your property. Primarily focused on Fallow (Dama dama) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus), but also the slightly more elusive Sambar (Rusa unicolor), we've got you covered. Though there are more feral deer species, these are our focus - if you have a different deer species on your property, let us know and we'll see what we can do!

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are descendents of domesticated livestock that escaped from early European settlers in the 18th century and are now widespread across 45% of Australia. They pose a significant threat to Aussie ecosystems and agricultural land by destroying crops, killing lambs, calves and native animals (e.g. ground-nesting birds, frogs, reptiles, small mammals), degrading soil, spreading weeds and degrading waterways. Pigs also risk spreading diseases to livestock, native wildlife and humans, impacting biodiversity and biosecurity.

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Managing feral pig populations can be difficult as they reproduce very quickly (increases of up to 86% in a single year), so they require repeated, coordinated efforts with care as to not scare them into new areas. Shooting is typically used in conjunction/secondary to poisoning, baiting and/or trapping. Aerial shooting generally proves a very humane and effective method for controlling larger populations however we cannot provide that currently. We instead offer ground shooting, to help you manage smaller populations on your property. 

Rats, depending on who you ask, are cute, however they are absolutely a pest and very difficult to control due to very rapid reproduction. Being the oportunistic omnivores they are, rats will eat bird eggs and chicks, lizards, small mammals and insects, which leads to significant declines or local extinctions of vulnerable native species as well as indirectly increasing predator populations by providing an abundant food source for predators like feral cats, which ends up putting even more pressure on native species.

They also consume native plant seeds, preventing regeneration and compete very aggressively with native marsupials and other small animals for limited food and other resources. They can of course just be a downright nuisance, loudly scampering around at night, eating food left for chickens or pets, getting into machinery and chewing up cables, pipes or other important things.

Invasive birds can be quite aggressive and territorial, displacing and outcompeting native birds for food and nesting sites. They prey on native invertebrates, lizards and some small mammals, spread diseases, damage crops by eating seeds, buds, fruit and grains and alter habitats, ultimately disrupting crucial ecosystem processes and reducing native biodiversity. The typical (invasive) culprits of these things are Indian Mynas, Common Starlings and Feral pigeons (Rock doves).

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We know that controlling these pests can seem like an impossible task; rats infest sheds, machinery, storage containers and silos; birds will fly away at the slightest hint of danger. 

We manage rats on a large-scale as opposed to an infestation within the house (which typically requires poison or traps). Similarly, we manage the invasive birds that have the biggest effect on the environment; Indian Mynas, Common Starlings and Pigeons. We use low-power, non-disturbing (quiet) air rifles, with expert precision in order to prevent any damage to your property. Safety is our first priority, and we know shooting around and often towards infrastructure can be nervewracking, but we are here to keep you in the know, with all of the relevant, up to date information and get rid of the often annoying little critters around your property.

Kangaroos are generally considered to be the Aussie animal, that we all rode to primary school (or that's what we told the Americans anyway), but sometimes their mobs get a bit too big for us to manage on our farms. Indigenous Australian peoples would hunt kangaroos for meat, skin and their bones (among other sources, of course), consequently also helping to manage population numbers.

Presently, kangaroo numbers can often grow unsustainably large due to fewer predators and more abundant resources from agriculture. This leads to severe overgrazing that degrades habitats, damages crops/pastures, increases traffic accidents and causes mass starvation during droughts as a result of fewer resources spread across more individuals.

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Population management aims to humanely maintain healthy, stable populations by balancing ecological needs with impacts on farms, public safety, and animal welfare, using methods like culling, fertility control and habitat management.

We offer fully licensed culling, with the aquisition of the appropriate permits where applicable and required, to help manage the numbers of roos hopping about your property. This consequently helps their mobs survive during droughts, when resources are few and far between.

For more information on management and the requirements/aquisition of permits (for landowners) in NSW click here and for VIC click here.