Methods of controlling vertebrate pest animals

Pest animals present a biosecurity risk in NSW. You must take action to prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk of these pest animals. This is known as your General Biosecurity Duty.

Planning a pest animal control program

For effective pest animal control, you should use a combination of control methods that reduce the impact and population of vertebrate pest animals on your land. 

Working together with your neighbours in a broadscale approach will give better results. 

By timing your control program strategically, you can target the pests when they are most vulnerable and protect important assets on your land before further damage is done. 

Support and advice

The most effective method of controlling pest animals across NSW landscapes is with coordinated group control programs.

Control programs must be conducted in a way that reduces the negative impacts of these pests while using the most humane, target-specific, and effective techniques available.

The NSW Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures has current information and guidance for the effective and humane management of pest animals. 

Always discuss your individual situation with your local Biosecurity Officer. This is vital for:

• conducting best practice pest control
• finding out about coordinated group control programs
• achieving effective pest management.

Primary and secondary pest animal control activities

Primary control methods should be conducted as a first step to reduce the impact of pest animals. See recommended primary control activities in the table below. This should be followed up with supplementary control methods to further reduce impacts and pest animal populations.

Use of baits and pesticides

Baiting with pesticides can be the most cost-effective option for reducing large pest animal populations once all physical control methods have been applied.

To acquire and use 1080, Pindone, RHDV, or PAPP baits in NSW, you must be accredited (or under the direct supervision of an accredited person) with an AQF3 Chemical Accreditation or Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training (VPIT) course accreditation.

Training and resources

If you’d like to know more, check for events coming up in your region, or contact your Local Land Services office.

Our free online Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training course will ensure you are suitably accredited to use baits products.

Find out how and when you can collect baits for seasonal baiting campaigns.

For resources and more information on pest species, visit PestSmart.

Regional pest management plans

Each region has a strategic plan to manage priority pest animals. These outline the four main goals for best practice vertebrate pest management:

1. Exclude – prevent the establishment of new invasive species.
2. Eradicate or contain – eliminate, or prevent the spread of new invasive species.
3. Effectively manage – reduce the impacts of widespread invasive species.
4. Capacity building – ensure NSW has the ability and commitment to manage invasive species.

For more about priority pests and pest management, view the local plan for your region: Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans