Predator control 101
what you need to know about making a plan for your farm
Farmers have been carrying out pest and predator control and enhancing biodiversity outcomes on farm for years. John Bissell from Backblocks Environmental shares his advice for how to work smarter, not harder, when it comes to making a plan for predator and pest control.
Farmland is full of biodiversity potential – bush blocks, bird life and lizards – but where do you start? The key is good planning and good advice from the outset.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT AND WHY?
First and foremost, work out what you want to protect and achieve, and think about why.
“This is the key. Otherwise, it’s like driving without knowing your destination,” John says.
2. GET GOOD ADVICE
John is big on SMART goals (SMART standing for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). “Figure out where you are going to get to, and the easiest way to get there.”
3. DECIDE WHAT TO TARGET AND REMOVE
Decide what you need to target and remove to achieve that. For example, if you want to protect kiwi, ferrets and stoats are your biggest enemy. If you want to protect the dotterel at Herbertville Beach, feral cats and hedgehogs (believe it or not) are the targets.
You also need to consider what is eating your habitat – deer and goats, or rats taking the seed?
So, ask yourself, what’s eating them, and what’s eating their home? John explains that birdlife can have a direct correlation to deer and goat numbers, so it’s about a holistic approach.
4. MONITOR FIRST
Everyone is keen to race out and kill stuff, but you need to carry out monitoring before starting control, to establish your baseline. In pest control, it’s not about what you kill, it’s about what you leave behind that counts. “Trap and know, don’t trap and hope.”
5. COST
Decide on the most effective and cost-effective method to achieve your goals, sometimes old school is better.
“High tech is cool, but it may not necessarily deliver best bang for buck when you look at cost per animal to remove it.”
John explains it’s about quality, not just quantity – a poorly set trap will not only not catch animals, it will teach them to avoid it.
“Trap and measure and test. Don’t trap and hope. Landscape pest control is achieved one pest at a time, think detail as much as size. Predators are naturally cautious, and they are looking for a reason not to enter a trap.”
6. HOW WILL YOU DO IT?
- You?
- Volunteers?
- Contractors?
- A mix?
It’s a big job, and it’s hard work. Understand what you can physically achieve on your own – burnout is a risk.
“You are better doing less, doing it well and doing it for a long time. There are organisations out there who can help with funding, resources and people. People want to back catchment groups.”
Conservation is a team sport and you don’t have to do it alone.
In summary, get good advice early, understand what it is you need to protect or grow and what’s threatening it and, most of all, have fun.
