Group takes aim at pests
Wimmera Mail Times, Page: 17. Friday, 24 April, 2009
Our native flora and fauna is under threat from dangers such as land clearing, fires, thought and climate change.
Another threat to the continued survival of our native plants and animals comes from introduced pests, such as rabbits, foxes, hares, cats, goats and deer.
Most of the small mammal species have disappeared from Australia’s desert regions due to foxes and cats.
In the Wimmera, many small mammals such as pygmy possums, sugar gliders, feathertail gliders and fattailed dunnarts have declined markedly again largely due to foxes and cats.
Plant life has suffered due to grazing pressure from rabbits, hares, feral goats and deer.
In the Grampians National Park, several species of native plants are in decline due to constant browsing by red deer, while in the Little Desert National Park mobs of feral goats and Fallow Deer are having a severe impact on native flora as it regenerates after fire.
While government bodies such as the Department of Primary Industries and the Department of Sustainability and Environment are doing what they can to combat the problem, there is a limit to what they can achieve over such a vast area.
Thankfully, they are well supported by Landcare groups and farmers who all do their bit to control pest species.
The Nhill branch of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia has also been doing some great work in controlling pests.
While many people would find it hard to believe shooters could be conservationists, it is certainly the case for many members of this group.
For the past 15 years, branch members have taken part in fox drives in many of the Parks Victoria conservation reserves in the Nhill area.
They have also conducted rabbit shoots in the Telopea Downs area.
Four years ago, branch members were the first in the state to embrace a new joint venture between Parks Victoria and the SSAA the conservation and pest management accreditation course.
Twenty three members completed the two-thy course, covering topics such as ecology, conservation, animal ethics, navigation and first aid, as well as a demanding marksmanship test.
Those who complete the course can apply to Parks Victoria for a permit to carry and use firearms in national parks during organised pest control programs.
Nhill branch members have since culled 1870 feral goats and 67 foxes from the Murray-Sunset National Park, 15 fallow deer and seven feral goats from the Little Desert National Park.
Last year members removed 155 foxes, 13 rabbits, seven hares and three feral cats from Parks Victoria conservation reserves.
Branch members have also culled rabbits, foxes, cats, goats and pigs on Trust for Nature properties in western Victoria.
To further help the conservation cause, the group last year gained a $10,000 grant to build a post and rail fence at the Pink Lakes entry point to the Murray-Sunset National Park.
The fence not only enhances the park entry but protects native plants and fragile soils from illegal off-road driving.
In recent weeks, the group has been busy building nest boxes for wildlife recovery in areas ravaged by the disastrous February 7 bushfires.
The good work of branch members has not gone unnoticed. In 2007, Parks Victoria awarded them the prestigious bi-annual Kookaburra Award for community partnerships.
at the SSAA 2008 annual awards night, the Nhill branch won six of the 13 awards.
The honours included 2008 branch of the state award and CPM branch of the year.
Individual awards were also won for branch administrator of the year, CPM member of the year, disabled shooter of the year and hunter and conservationist of the year.
This dedicated and enthusiastic group has done great work in controlling pest animals and they thoroughly deserve their many awards.
But while they say that winning awards is great recognition, their biggest reward comes from the positive results gained for the conservation of native species such as seeing the regeneration of native plants where goats have been removed and seeing endangered species like Mallee fowl and the Mallee emu wren recolonising those areas.
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