Pest Animals

European Rabbits and European Hares are among Australia’s top pest animals. They breed quickly, overgraze land, compete with native wildlife and livestock for food, and prevent natural vegetation from regenerating. They are most active from late afternoon to night.

Controlling rabbits and hares:

• Assess the problem first – understand where they feed and where their warrens are.
• Use a combination of control methods – warren destruction, baiting (outside populated areas), fumigation, rabbit-proof fencing, and biological controls. No single method works on its own.
• Work with neighbours – coordinating control across properties improves results.
• Be persistent – long-term control takes time and regular follow-up.

Tools and resources:

• Agriculture Victoria – guidance on integrated rabbit control. Learn about behaviour and rabbit management techniques. 
• Apps like RabbitScan help map rabbit populations and plan control across multiple properties.
• PestSmart - resources including the Glovebox Guide for Managing Rabbits.
• Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) run workshops and programs to increase rabbit control knowledge. Their Rabbit Control Cycle will help you understand when to start your control and how to use the seasons and rabbit activity to your advantage. 
• Information on smoker nuggets to identify warren entrances 
• Council have a list of contractors to help support pest control. We are not endorsing any contractor or business over another on this list.  
• Apps like RabbitScan help map rabbit populations and plan control across multiple properties.

All control methods should be regularly reviewed and adapted to your property’s situation.

The Fox was introduced to Australia in the late 1800s for recreational hunting. Today, they cause significant agricultural and environmental damage, estimated at over $200 million per year nationally.

Foxes are opportunistic predators. They adapt easily to different environments and have varied diets, behaviours, and population densities. The Fox is the only fox species found in Australia.

Predation by the Fox is listed as a key threatening process under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act).

Agriculture Victoria have more detailed information about the control of foxes.

Safety note: Use caution with control methods like poison baits. These can harm native wildlife such as Brush-tailed Phascogales, Antechinus, possums, and birds of prey, as well as domestic dogs and cats. Always consult an expert before using poison.

Protecting chickens from foxes

Foxes will eat chickens if they can access them. To keep your chickens safe:

• Use a secure coop made from strong galvanised wire mesh.
• Add a wire mesh floor or bury the sides of the coop to prevent digging.
• Ensure the coop and chicken run have a roof, as foxes can climb fences.
• Install sensor lights to scare foxes away.
• Family dogs can act as a deterrent.
• Do not let chickens roam without secure fencing.

Cats, whether pets or feral, are a major threat to native wildlife in the Macedon Ranges. They can kill birds, reptiles, and small mammals, damage habitats, and compete with native animals for food.

Understanding the difference between domestic cats and feral cats is key, because what you can do to reduce their impact depends on which type it is.

Domestic cats are owned pets. Their behaviour can be managed by their owners. They may roam at night and prey on birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

Feral cats live entirely in the wild. They are unowned, hunt freely, and breed without human control. Feral cats are declared pests in Victoria and eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects. There is no effective way to control them on a large scale.

It is estimated that one roaming cat may kill about 110 native animals per year.

Tips for domestic cats:

• Keep cats indoors at night.
• Fit cats with a collar and a triple bell.
• It is illegal for cats to roam outside your property, there is a sunset‑to‑sunrise cat curfew.

For more information on responsible cat ownership, visit Owning a Cat.  

Rats are a common pest in homes and the natural environment. They can damage crops, gardens, stored food, and property, and they pose a health risk by spreading diseases to humans, pets, and livestock.

Rats are highly adaptable and breed quickly. They eat a wide range of foods and can live almost anywhere, including burrows, buildings, sheds, and compost heaps.

Controlling rats

• Remove food sources such as uncovered compost, pet food, and stored crops.
• Seal gaps and holes in buildings, sheds, and fences to prevent access.
• Keep vegetation and garden waste away from buildings where rats may shelter.
• Use traps and bait carefully, following all label instructions and safety guidelines.
• Coordinate with neighbours where possible to reduce rat populations across the area.

Native vs Pest rats and mice

Rats and small native mammals can look very similar, but it’s important to know the difference. Native species play a vital role in the ecosystem and are shy, avoiding humans and nesting in logs, rocks, or under leaves. Introduced pest rats are active day and night, can damage property, and compete with wildlife.

Here are some tips to help you identify which species you are seeing.

Native species

Shy and bush-dwelling:

• Antechinus  (Antechinus stuartii) - grey-brown, long nose, large thin ears, tail is body length, hops on ground.
• Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes) - grey-brown, round body and ears, tail less than body length, eats insects, fruit, fungi.
• Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) - variable colour black to grey-brown, long blunt nose, flat head, small ears, tail is thick and white tipped, webbed hind-feet. Found near permanent bodies of water.

Introduced pests

Bold and human associated:

• Black Rat (Rattus rattus) - brown, large ears/eyes, pointed nose, tail greater than body length, often in houses and gardens.
• Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - brown, small ears/eyes, blunt nose, tail less than body length, larger than Black Rat.
• House Mouse (Mus musculus) - small, large round ears, big eyes, chisel-shaped front teeth, tail similar to body length.

For guidance on the differences between native and pest species, visit Museums Victoria.

Feral pigs are an established pest animal in Victoria under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act).

Feral pigs damage both the natural environment and farmland. They root and dig in soil while seeking food, which destroys native vegetation, disturbs waterways and wetlands, and can lead to soil erosion.

They also prey on native animals including small mammals, ground‑nesting birds, reptiles, frogs and eggs and compete for food and habitat, and can spread weeds and diseases.

Because feral pigs breed fast and adapt to many environments, small populations can expand rapidly under favourable conditions.

What you can do if you suspect pigs on your land:

• Watch for signs including rootings in soil, mud wallows near water, unusual tracks, damaged fences or crops, or disturbed waterways.
• Report sightings to Council or local Landcare networks.
• Consider coordinated control via integrated pest‑management methods such as trapping, baiting, fencing or authorised shooting — depending on suitability, property type and safety regulations.

For more information on feral pig biology, threats and control in Victoria, Pigs (feral or wild).

Wild deer are not native to Victoria. Several deer species have established wild populations across the state, including areas near and within the Macedon Ranges region.

Deer can damage bushland and farmland by eating native plants, ring-barking young trees, and trampling vegetation. Their hooves can compact soil, disturb waterholes, and harm wetlands, which affects plants, frogs, and reptiles. They can also spread weed seeds and reduce biodiversity.

Deer pose risks to agriculture by browsing crops and damaging fences, and they can be a road safety hazard, with collisions becoming more common.

Residents can help manage deer by watching for signs of their presence, such as damage to trees and understorey, hoof prints, wallows, droppings, or soil disturbance.

For more information on deer management in Victoria, see the Victorian Deer Control Program.

Feral goats are wild descendants of domestic goats that live freely in bushland and farmland. They are declared a pest animal under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

Goats browse on native plants, strip bark, and eat seedlings, which can prevent regrowth and reduce biodiversity. Their hooves trample soil and vegetation, causing erosion and disturbing waterways, wetlands, and habitat for native wildlife.

Because they breed quickly and roam widely, populations can expand if not managed.

For more information, see Agriculture Victoria's Feral or wild goats.

European wasps are an invasive pest in Victoria that can threaten native wildlife, damage crops, and pose a sting risk to people. They are aggressive, especially in late summer and autumn, and compete with native insects, including native bees, for food. European wasps often build nests in trees, underground, or in wall cavities, and they can be difficult to control without professional help.

Found a wasp nest on Council land?

If you find a wasp nest on Council land (e.g. parks, gardens, sportsgrounds, nature strips or Council buildings), and it may be a risk to the public, you should report it by calling(03) 5422 0333 or report the issue online.

Council does not treat nests on private property.

If you find a nest on your property it is recommended you contact a licensed pest controller to treat the nest. If you choose to treat it yourself, you can buy products from hardware stores - just be sure to follow the instructions carefully. 

Differences between native and european wasps

Macedon Ranges has many native wasp species that are usually harmless or even beneficial. European wasps, however, are a pest.

European wasps are bright yellow with black bands and black markings on the abdomen. Their legs are yellow, antennae black, and they fly quickly with legs close to their body. Nests are papery and often hidden underground, in walls, logs, or soil, and can contain many wasps.

Native wasps are slimmer and more delicate, often with lighter coloured antennae. They may hover or move slowly while flying, and their nests are usually exposed, open-cell “umbrella” shapes hanging under eaves or in trees.

Native wasps help pollinate plants and control pests. European wasps are aggressive, can sting repeatedly, and threaten people and wildlife. If you’re unsure what type you have, treat it as a potential European wasp and act with caution.

Resources and further reading

• EnviroSafe Australia - A wasp identification guide.
• ClimateWatch - Information and a field guide.
• City of West Torrens (South Australia) - Images showing differences between the nests of the European Wasp, Mud Wasp and Paper Wasp.
• Victorian Department of Health - Information on the differences between honey bees and native wasps.