Pest animals

Canis familiaris, C. familiaris dingo, C. lupus familiaris, C. lupus dingo

Wild dogs are a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Wild dogs refer to pure-bred dingoes, domestic dogs that have escaped or been deliberately released and resulting hybrids that are now living in the wild. Dingoes and wild dogs are common in our region and can impact our native wildlife and cause substantial losses to owners of domestic livestock. Control options include shooting, trapping, baiting, exclusion fencing and the use of guardian dogs such as maremma’s.

Biosecurity Officers can assist landholders with the provision of information and advice on effective control methods.

For further information on Council's co-ordinated baiting program and other assistance available to landholders, visit the Landholders Assistance page or call 1300 883 699.

Sus scrofa

Feral pigs are a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Feral pigs can cause major ecological damage to habitats through soil disturbance, trampling of vegetation and the spread of weeds. They are also known to consume a range of native animals including reptiles, small mammals and marine and freshwater turtles. Pigs also contribute to crop damage, and are known to carry many diseases that can infect other livestock or be transmitted to humans.

Biosecurity Officers can provide advice on control options including baiting, hire of traps, or exclusion fencing. Any successful baiting or trapping programme requires pigs to be pre fed to encourage them to enter traps or take baited materials. Shooting and hunting with dogs can also provide control of feral pigs.

For further information on the assistance available to landholders, visit the Landholders Assistance page or call 1300 883 699.

Vulpes vulpes

Fox is a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Foxes were introduced to Australia from England in the 1860s as a sport animal. They are wide spread throughout our region and prey on native animals and can cause losses to poultry and small domestic animals. Foxes also pose a major threat to nesting sea turtles in coastal areas. Highly adaptable to a range of habitats from deserts to urban environments foxes are usually active at night and rest during the day.

There are a range of control methods including shooting, trapping, exclusion fencing and baiting. Contact Biosecurity Officers for assistance with control options suitable for your property.

For further information on the assistance available to landholders, visit the Landholders Assistance page or call 1300 883 699.

Fox den detection

Landowners along the Woongarra coastline are being asked to help protect endangered marine turtles by reporting any fox dens or fox sightings on their properties.

With turtle nesting season approaching, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), Bundaberg Regional Council and the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) are working together to track down fox dens between 1 – 25 July 2025.

It's all part of the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program which this year will focus on an area of coastline from the Kolan to the Elliott River.

Landowners who see signs of foxes such as tracks, scat or suspected dens are encouraged to fill out a fox sighting report form and email it to parksadministration@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.

With permission, trained contractors will visit the property, inspect the area and carry out agreed control measures at no cost to the landholder.

Find out more here.(PDF, 2MB)

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Rabbit is a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. It must not be kept, moved, fed, given away, sold or released into the environment without a permit. Pet rabbits can be surrendered to the RSPCA which is permitted to re-home illegally kept rabbits interstate.

Rabbits cause severe environmental damage by feeding on native vegetation and preventing it from regenerating. They compete with native animals for food and space and degrade water through overgrazing. Rabbits also reduce the quantity and quality of pasture for grazing animals, and are a primary cause of soil erosion.

Rabbits can breed from 4 months of age with females capable of five to six litters in a good breeding season with an average of three to four kittens per litter.

Hares are sometimes confused with rabbits but are considerably larger, have longer ears with black tips, larger hind legs and tend to live alone except when breeding, unlike rabbits which live in groups.

An integrated approach to controlling rabbits is the most effective land management strategy. Methods include destroying rabbit warrens, rabbit proof fencing, trapping, baiting, shooting, fumigation, habitat modification and by the use of biological controls such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (also known as rabbit calicivirus disease).

Landholders can purchase commercially manufactured bait products from suppliers of agricultural products to control rabbit numbers. Rabbit populations tend to increase over winter and during extended dry periods.

Once rain falls during spring and summer an increase in biting insect activity helps with the spread of biological agents that have been released for control of rabbits.

If no decrease in rabbit numbers is observed following spring rains Council may make further releases of biological controls such as rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus.

Feral deer are classed as restricted invasive animals under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

All sightings of Sambar deer must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of the sighting.

There are a number of species of introduced deer in Australia including Fallow deer (Dama dama), Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis, Cervus timorensis), Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor syn. Cervus unicolor), Chital deer (Axis axis), Red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Hog deer (Axis porcinus).

Deer contained within a deer proof fence are not restricted invasive animals. Deer not contained are considered feral or wild and are subject to control. Deer that escape farmed situations can quickly revert to a wild state.

Deer impact on the natural environment by eating native vegetation, damaging trees, spreading weed seeds and fouling water. Deer can also damage agriculture and horticulture crops, commercial flower crops, ring bark orchard trees, damage fences and irrigation systems and compete with cattle for pasture during dry times.

Deer are also considered a traffic hazard and can cause vehicle accidents.

Fallow deer and Red deer stags can be aggressive towards humans.

Deer control is often most effective between land managers, Councils and State agencies. Control methods range from shooting, trapping and exclusion fencing.

To report sightings of deer, please contact Council on 1300 883 699.

Felis catus

Restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Feral cats must not be moved, fed, given away, sold or released into the environment without a permit.

Feral cats are domestic cats living in the wild. They are able to live in a wide variety of climates and habitats and are generally active at night. Feral cats eat a range of native animals and compete for prey with native predators.

Females can breed from seven months of age and can produce up to three litters a year with two to seven offspring per litter, with an average of four per litter. Breeding is highest during spring and summer.

Feral cats can carry Toxoplasmosis causing blindness, respiratory disorders paralysis and loss of young in marsupials and transmit disease to domestic cats.

Successful control programs require a range of approaches including shooting, trapping and fencing.

Council officers can provide information on control options for trapped feral cats.

For further information on the assistance available to landholders, visit the Landholders Assistance page or call 1300 883 699.

Acridotheres tristis

Indian Myna birds were first brought into Australia from India around 1862 for the control of insect pests in market gardens in Melbourne, and later in North Queensland to control insects in sugar cane.

The birds were found to be unsuccessful in reducing insect pests and soon colonised many urban areas. Indian mynas are very territorial and will quickly force native birds out of their traditional nesting sites. They can also carry potential health risks to humans through mites and lice.

Indian Mynas have colonised in and around the township of Childers where they have had a major impact on native bird populations, due to their aggressive and territorial habits. In 2009 in an effort to reduce bird numbers, Council implemented a trapping and awareness programme.

Using specially designed cage traps the programme has seen a marked reduction in Indian Myna numbers in and around Childers.

Additional sightings of the Indian Myna have been made in other areas of the Bundaberg Region.

How you can help

Residents can assist the programme by reporting all sightings of Indian Mynas to Council’s biosecurity officers.

Indian Mynas will be attracted to food and residents can ensure all rubbish and pet and poultry feed bins are covered and not accessible.

Indian Mynas prefer disturbed habitat. Where possible, keep native vegetation or re-plant native species.

Remove palms and dead palm fronds to reduce nesting sites.

Residents interested in participating in the programme can contact Council's biosecurity officers.

Approved landholders will be supplied with a cage trap and assistance with their setup and use.

Trapped birds will be collected by Council's biosecurity officers and humanely euthanised.

Call 1300 883 699 for further information or to register your interest.

Trachemys scripta elegans

Classed as a restricted invasive animal under the Biosecurity Act 2014. Animals must not be kept, fed, given away, sold or released into the environment without a permit.

All sightings of Red-eared Slider Turtles must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 within 24 hours of the sighting. Please also report any sightings to Council's animal control team on 1300 883 699.

The Red-eared Slider is a freshwater turtle from the USA and is named for the distinctive red stripes behind its ears. The species is highly aggressive and can out compete native turtle species for food and space.

Red-eared Sliders also use native waterbird nests for basking sites and can prey on eggs and young birds. The turtles carry pathogens and diseases that can kill native turtles and other aquatic wildlife.

This species has been found in South East Queensland including Bundaberg and are believed to be eradicated from these areas. Mature turtles are aggressive and can bite.

Control involves netting of waterways, drainage of small waterbodies and detector dogs.

Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique Tilapia)
Tilapia mariae (Spotted Tilapia)

Tilapia are restricted noxious fish under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Tilapia are a freshwater fish introduced in the 1920s as an ornamental fish. Females carry eggs and small fry in their mouths which can survive for a long time after the adult fish dies.

The majority of new infestations are caused by humans releasing fish (alive or dead) into waterways. Tilapia can survive temperatures between eight and 42ºC including high-saline waters and low-dissolved oxygen.

Tilapia impact native fish by competing for habitat and food and can quickly outnumber native fish creating a mono culture of fish impacting favoured fishing sites.

Mozambique Tilapia grow to 36cm and are usually dark grey or almost black but can be silver with two – five blotches or spots on their sides. Breeding males are recognised by red tips on their fins. This species feeds mainly on plankton, insects and weeds.

Spotted Tilapia range from dark olive-green to light yellow, have eight or nine bars or blotches on their sides and grow to 30cm. Spotted Tilapia mainly eat plants.

Control includes poisoning in ponds and small dams but not for rivers and streams where native fish may also be killed.

Targeted fishing can assist in reducing numbers in small enclosed waterbodies but this is not considered a long term strategy. Any fish caught must be humanely euthanased and not returned to the water.

For information on household pests including mice, rats and mosquitoes please visit Council’s Public Health page.

FeralScan App and website

The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions has created a website at feralscan.org.au and a free App allowing the community to help map feral animal sightings.

The App can be used by farmers, community groups, local government, individuals and pest control companies to not only enter pest sightings but print maps, view and export pest records and see where other people in the local area are also reporting pest animals.

FeralScan is available as an Apple iOS from the App store or Android mobile app on Google play.

For more information on invasive animals visit the Business Queensland restricted invasive animal site.

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are aggressive pests that pose a serious threat to Australia. They can have devastating impacts on our health, environment, economy, and outdoor way of life.

These ants swarm in large groups and deliver painful stings when their nests are disturbed. Their stings can cause severe or even fatal allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, in humans and animals.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) is working to detect, contain, and eradicate fire ants in South East Queensland, with the goal of eradicating them from Australia by 2032.

Why fires ants matter locally 

Although the Widebay Region is outside the fire ant biosecurity zones, fire ants remain one of Australia’s most invasive pests. They can spread undetected through human-assisted movement of vehicles, equipment, machinery, and materials that can carry fire ants.

Occasionally, fire ants are detected outside the NFAEP’s containment boundary. These outlier detections are treated as a priority to prevent further spread.

Identify fire ants 

Fire ants vary in size from 2 to 6 mm within a single nest and are copper-brown with darker abdomens.

Nests appear as mounds or flat patches of loose soil with no clear entry or exit holes. They can be found:

• in warm, open areas such as lawns, garden beds, and along footpaths or driveways
• under objects such as timber, logs, rocks, pavers, and bricks
• near utility pits and infrastructure such as water meters, gas meters, and power poles.

On rural properties, nests can be found near dams, farm edges, irrigation lines, fence lines, crops, and piles of organic matter.

Report fire ants 

If you find suspect fire ants or nests:

• report online
• call 13 22 68 (132 ANT)

Please report sightings within 24 hours.

Help stop the spread of fire ants 

There are simple actions you can take to help protect Queensland from fire ants:

• Complete free fire ant training to learn how to identify, report, and manage fire ants.
• Regularly check your property and local area for fire ants, and report any findings.
• Ensure that any high-risk equipment and materials you move or receive if coming from a fire ant biosecurity zone risk has been properly mitigated.

Follow biosecurity requirements 

In Queensland, the Biosecurity Act 2014 sets the rules for managing biosecurity risks. Everyone has a role in protecting Queensland from these risks. The rules include:

• Biosecurity Regulation 2016
• the general biosecurity obligation (GBO).

Under the GBO, you must take reasonable steps to prevent or reduce biosecurity risks in your activities.

Learn more about fire ant biosecurity legislation.

Know high-risk equipment and materials 

Certain equipment and materials can carry fire ants and spread infestations. You must check and manage these items carefully, especially if they come from a fire ant biosecurity zone.

High-risk equipment and materials include:

• soil
• hay and straw
• mulch or compost
• manure
• mining quarry materials
• turf
• potted plants
• soil attached to vehicles, machinery, and equipment
• non-traditional carriers such as pallets, shipping containers, portable buildings, and building materials stored on the ground.

Check your supplier

Before accepting equipment or materials, ask your supplier:

1. Could it carry fire ants?
2. Is it coming from within a fire ant biosecurity zone?
3. How does your supplier comply with fire ant biosecurity requirements?
4. Has your supplier followed fire ant-safe practices during purchase and delivery?

Stay informed 

• Visit the National Fire Ant Eradication Program website.
• Check the latest fire ant biosecurity zones.
• Subscribe to the Fire ant news eNewsletter.