What are feral animals?

Feral animals are animals which have been introduced to an area where they do not occur naturally and which have become wild. Many feral animals were once domestic pets, for example cats and dogs, that have now become wild. Many feral animals in Australia originally came from other countries.

In Australia many feral animals are out of control. Some of these animals were released on purpose. For example, early English settlers released rabbits. The rabbits were soon breeding out of control with no natural predators or disease to control their numbers in Australia. Soon after, foxes were introduced to reduce the rabbits but then became feral themselves.

Many feral animals were originally domesticated (pets), such as cats and dogs, which have escaped or been dumped and have become wild hunters.

A host of smaller creatures have been accidentally introduced such as garden snails, Argentine ants, some slaters, urban rats, house mice and even many earth worms.

Not every feral animal has a major impact, but many do and it is often very difficult to gauge the real impact of most of them.

How do feral animals affect native wildlife?

Feral animals can cause many problems for native Australian wildlife, including:

• Killing native wildlife
• Out-competing native wildlife for nesting sites, shelters and food
• Introducing new diseases to which native wildlife are not immune

The animals most affected over the past 200 years in Australia, are the smaller ground dwelling mammals. Many ground dwellers that lived in woodland or semi arid areas have become endangered or extinct. Most of Australia’s threatened mammals are these smaller ground dwelling creatures.

Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary must also battle with problems caused by feral animals, which is why we must build a fence (discussed later). These are some examples of the kinds of feral animals that may be found at the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary and the impact these animals have on native wildlife.

Rabbits

Rabbits became a major problem soon after they were released. There were no diseases or other natural ways to control the rabbits’ numbers. The resulting plagues of rabbits stripped the landscape of ground cover. The native mammals lost both their food and their shelter. Rabbits have had a serious impact on much of Australia’s vegetation and wildlife.

Foxes, cats and dogs

Foxes, cats and dogs hunt small mammals. Foxes were introduced to control rabbits but often prefer to hunt the slower native mammals. Foxes are common in many urban areas as well as in the countryside. Cats are skilled hunters. Even domestic cats let out at night can kill a lot of native wildlife before returning home.

European Honey Bees

The common honey bee is actually a feral animal. The honey bees create problems for the sugar gliders at the Sanctuary. At first only one or two bees enter the nest box and annoy the gliders until they leave. The swarm of bees then invades and builds a hive in the nest box. The rangers must then remove the bees and clean the nest box so that the sugar gliders can return.

Indian Mynas

Many birds have also been introduced. These are common around our homes and farms. Feral birds have a significant local impact, but have not caused the devastation that has resulted from foxes, cats and rabbits.

The webcams in the nesting boxes have shown Indian Mynas invading the Kookaburra’s nest box. Not only do Indian Mynas take nesting hollows from our native birds and mammals, but they also pollute the nests with their messy droppings. Consequently no self-respecting native bird or mammal will want to use the nest until it is cleaned.

How can sanctuaries like the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary help?

While we do not have a solution to the feral cats, dogs and rabbits in the Australian environment, we can create habitats free from these environmental pests. Sanctuaries like this can protect the last of our endangered species while we find solutions to the bigger problems.

The Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary aims to reintroduce animals that were once common around Melbourne. Native endangered mammals can thrive when placed in a habitat where the feral foxes, cats and rabbits have been eliminated.

Before endangered mammals can be released into Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary, the foxes, cats and rabbits must be removed and kept out. To achieve this, a new, specially-designed electrified fence is required. This fence will stop cats and foxes from climbing over the fence or digging their way under. It will also prevent any new invasions of rabbits into the area.

Once the new fence is completed and operational, all foxes, cats and rabbits currently living within the Sanctuary will be removed. Not only will this provide a safe haven for native wildlife to be reintroduced but it will make it much easier to revegetate the area and the native flora will survive more successfully.

See Also:

Reintroducing Indigenous Animals
Dealing with Pests in your Garden or Nestbox

Credit
NSW EPA Glossary