Feral Herald archives - Invasive Species Council

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Feral Herald Archives

Our Blog Archives

Before the Feral Herald became a blog it was a good old-fashioned newsletter. Delve into our archives below:

Issue 29, July 2012

Wildlife corridor planners cautioned
State of the Environment report card
Pacific seastar discovered at the Prom
Fear factor may increase feral damage
Antarctica, the last invasion

Looking Back: Quarantine Act 1909
Meet our new patron, John Landy
Invasives twice as deadly for seabirds

Issue 28, November 2011

Biosecurity: when one size does not fit all
Invasive animals research at a crossroads
No more KTP listings for invasive species?
TAP plan for northern pasture grasses

Pigeon virus outbreak
Managing exotic fish invasions in Australia

Issue 27, June 2011

Overseas incubators
Myrtle rust poses more questions than answers
RIRDC bites the bullet
Deer damage in our sites
Asian honeybees, a national biosecurity risk

Cattle and weed spread
$4 million fox bounty a waste of tax dollars
WA turns up the heat on northern palm squirrels
Exporting misery when plants for aid turn weedy
Frontline stories: Eradicating despoilers of Lord Howe Island

Issue 26, December 2010

Climate crops risk weedy date with destiny
Myrtle rust continues its spread
Australia’s new biodiversity plan
Northern mammals face fire and ferals
Down the rabbit hole with our new CEO
Ombudsman backs ISC complaint

Australian biosecurity should be a team effort
Rinderpest delt mortal blow
QLD deer strategy released
Weed control in Daintree Lowlands

Issue 25, September 2010

Exotic species sold online inherently risky
Australian biosecurity should be a team effort
Kakadu mammals in deadly decline
How many invaders are there?
Asian house gecko love affair needs rethink
How weeds endanger your health

Exotic species sold online inherently risky
Australian biosecurity should be a team effort
Kakadu mammals in deadly decline
How many invaders are there?
Asian house gecko love affair needs rethink
How weeds endanger your health

Issue 24, April 2010

Hawke review warns hefty reforms needed
Monkey business in Darwin cause for alarm
South Australia puts an end to trials of weedy biofuel
ISC ready to build on strong track record
‘Salinity solutions’ sow seeds of destruction
Feral horses run riot in Australian Alps
Weeds a key threatening process

Australia’s track record on pest eradication
Feline threats: Australia caught cat napping
Abbott proposes green army of weeders
Abalone virus threatens Victorian industry
Sambar deer numbers rising
Sometimes it takes a thief to catch a thief

Double Issue 22-23, October 2009

Invasive species blamed for ecological disaster on Christmas Island
Shooters’ Party takes pot shot at NSW national parks
National debate lifts profile of feral deer threat in Australia
QLD declares deer pests
NSW hunting council pits spin against science
Genetic boosters a shot in the arm for super weeds
Invasive species dominate grants
No signs of slowing cane toads
CRC lands $1.5m for rabbit project

Glyphosate resistance spreads
Data shows big pig kills barely pack a punch
ESC pushes biosecurity reforms
QLD eliminates tilapia from private dams
Figures reveal size of agricultural footprint
Phytophthora gets a stranglehold on WA
Draft invasives framework out
Online database of marine pests

Issue 21, April 2009

ISC takes climate change and invasive species warning to the world
“Fox Stop” no barrier to foxes
Hunters, first in conservation?
Senate report deafening on invasives
Jatropha the “blunder crop”
Bushfires spark warning of weedy enemies within
Garden escapees on the run
Too much risk in new ventures
Invasives coalition first task for new team member
Europe – a plodder when it comes to pest species

Foxes confirmed in Tasmania
Exotic species, our new frequent flyers
International Biodiversity Day – turning the spotlight on invasives
Invasives a major threat to Ramsar wetlands
Leaf litter – time to turn over a new leaf
Australian snails cop a shell-lacking from weeds and feral animals
Weeds centre lands $2.5 million for research
States could lose quarantine power

Issue 20, January 2009

Victorian recreational deer hunting mistake
NT gamba ban
No to bumblebees
Hunting deal for new reserves
Crazy ant update
Asian honeybee battle
Quarantine report out
Federal Act weak on invasives
Tilapia threat to Gulf of Carpentaria

Mosquitofish or Plague Minnow?
Invasives threaten a third of rare birds
Worms away
Overview of marine invasives
High invasion rates
Weeds keep going… & going
New federal money for control

Issue 19, September 2008

Savannah cat ban
ISC weed book
Crazy ants
Grant givers
ISC alone
Qld biosecurity review
Federal EPBC review
Salinity project
Asian honeybees
What deer do

Brine shrimp
New weed guide
Phythphthora dieback
Aquatic invasions & climate
Trade & invasives
Botanic gardens
Wildlife research special

Issue 18, July 2008

QLD bans gamba
Quarantine enquiry
Savannah cats
Fodder follies
Climate change and invasive species report
Northern Territory failings
Queensland state of invasives
Victoria avoids reforms
Weeds CRC
Flora database

Drought weed
Australian mammals
Weed costs
Christmas Island plan
Indian ringnecks
Global strategy
New bee
New bird list
Fire ants

Issue 17, February 2008

Biofuels in the spotlight
Jatropha plans revealed
Gamba grass update
Horses for courses
Crazy ant hopes rise
Weeds CRC future
Arowana rejected
Climate change and weeds

Cane toads
Ant nomination
Deer threat listing
Threatening our trees
Climate change and allergenic weeds

Issue 16, September 2007

Gamba grass, a looming national disaster?
Annual General Meeting
Crazy ant progress
President moves on
Introducing Steve Mathews
Warning about biofuels
The weedy truth about biofuels

Invasive fungus
A focus on banteng
Know your ant
Pest or guest
Macquarie Island success
Asian honeybees
Aussie moth in California

Issue 15, April 2007

ISC begins tramp ant campaign
Biosecurity mergers
Macquarie Island rabbits
Weeds after the Tsunami
Camels in NSW
Objecting to Asian arowana

Shipping containers
Ants on Ashmore
Rock snot
Quarantine on Mars
Turbina goes wild in Qld

Issue 14, January 2007

Peak weed body killed
Weed Risk Assessment loophole closed
State of the Environment Report
Christmas Island crazy ant update
Pastures as weeds
Weeds and catchments

Bitou bush research
Weed Society seminar
Biosecurity Queensland
Pests and birds
Bumblebees
Biofuels

Issue 13, August 2006

Tramp ants – our worst pests?
Director’s report
2006 ISC award
Biofuels: not so green
Bumblebees update

Argentinian bumblebees
Sika deer
Cecropia felled
Genetic engineered weed

Issue 11-12, May 2006

Bumblebee action call
ISC CD launch
Tropical grassy weeds
Aid for ailing frogs
Qld campaigning
Collared doves rejected
Starfish ousted

Precautionary principle
Hymenachne
Ferret fears
Aconophora

Issue 10, August 2005

New ISC director
Annual General Meeting 2005
Siam weed national survey
National hymenachne management group
Tiger mosquito

Global Warming and pests
Flies ousted from Antarctica
Collared doves

Issue 9, March 2005

Win on weed risk assessment
Cecropia to be banned
ISC wins funding for campaigner
Garden weeds jumping the fence
Senate inquiry report
Feral antelope

ISC Froggatt Award 2004 – Seastar Team
Invasive species forum
Marine threat
Precautionary principle project

Issue 8, September 2004

SPECIAL ISSUE on Weed Risk Assessment and the failure of the national import quarantine process

Issue 7, August 2004

Senate submission
Fire ant update
Tilapia win
Pests are costly
How many weeds?
Attack of the pines!

Aconophora update
Ferrets in Queensland
Invading turtles
Review of email information services

Issue 6, March 2004

Spotlight on cecropia
Inaugural ISC awards
Lantana bug escapes
Ballast invaders

Senate inquiry
New Bird Atlas

Issue 5, December 2003

The year in review
Escapes from zoos
Marine invaders

Protecting the Subantarctic
Global biodiversity forum

Issue 4, July 2003

Bumblebees and native bees
Democrats invasive species bill
Weed risk assessment update
Court action over olive hymenachne

Tramp ants
Bushland friendly nurseries

Issue 3, April 2003

Gaping holes in weed screen
Tilapia
New shrew
Ballast
Fouled hulls

Marine database
Weed alert
Sandbox tree
National weeds conference

Issue 2, April 2003

New salt-tolerant grass proposed
Tilapia in the Gulf
Foxes in Tassie

Prolific flowers equals prolific weeds
13th annual weeds festival

Issue 1, September 2002

What is the ISC?
Profiles of committee members

New toad intercepted
Wet tropics weeds top 500

Dear National Deer Management Coordinator,

Please accept this as a submission to the National Feral Deer Action Plan.

[Your personalised message will appear here]

I am very concerned about the spread of deer and am pleased that a national plan has finally been developed. Without urgent action, funding and commitment from all levels of government it is clear that feral deer will continue to spread and damage our environment.

The feral deer population in Australia is growing rapidly and spreading across the country, damaging our natural environment, causing havoc for farmers and foresters and threatening public safety. Unlike much of the world where deer are native, our plants and wildlife haven’t evolved to deal with these heavy hard hooved animals with a voracious appetite.
With no natural predators and an ability to adapt to almost all environments, they could occupy almost all of Australia unless stopped. Despite this, state and territory governments have been slow to respond and in Victoria and Tasmania they are still protected by law for the enjoyment of hunters.

This plan should be adopted by all governments but must also be underpinned by dedicated funding and clear responsibilities. A plan without funding or accountability is a plan that will fail and Australia cannot afford for this to fail.

In order to prevent the spread of feral deer and reduce their impact on our native wildlife, ecosystems and agriculture, I ask that the following recommendations be adopted for the final National Feral Deer Action Plan:

1. All federal, state and territory governments should adopt the National Feral Deer Action Plan and declare feral deer to be a priority pest animal species.

2. All federal, state and territory governments should commit to:

Contain deer to the existing large population areas.
Reduce and eradicate smaller and isolated populations.
Protect important environmental assets such as world and national heritage areas.
Develop and fund regional plans and strategies to manage deer populations which involve land managers across all tenures.

3. In order to drive action and the success of this plan, there should be dedicated Commonwealth funding and support for:

A permanent national feral deer coordinator position.
A permanent federal feral deer action committee with representatives from the commonwealth and state and territory governments and the environmental and agricultural sectors.
An ongoing public education campaign on feral deer.
A network of regional feral deer coordinators to drive local action across tenures.

4. The expected outcomes for the plan need to be more ambitious, with clear interim targets including:

Within one year, all States and Territories should have in place arrangements to implement the National Feral Deer Action Plan, including allocating dedicated funding for implementation.
Within one year, feral deer management plans should be developed for key environmental assets of national significance, including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the Greater Blue Mountains, the Australian Alps, the Gondwana Rainforests and the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Within five years coordinated landscape scale management should be in place where land owners, land managers, government and community are demonstrably working together.

5. A national feral deer containment map with three zones should be adopted. It should be more ambitious than the zone map in the current draft plan and there should be greater clarity in the naming of the zones. Improvements that should be adopted include:

Renaming the zones to better reflect the management intention to ‘Containment Zone 1’ (the current large population zone), ‘Containment Buffer Zone 2’ (the current buffer zone) and ‘Eradication and prevention Zone 3’ (the current small isolated population zone).
The NSW northern rivers area should be in the eradication and prevention zone as there are few feral deer currently in this region and eradicating isolated populations and preventing spread into this area is still possible.
The whole of South Australia should be in the eradication and prevention zone as eradication is the goal of the SA Government.
The Tasmanian region in the containment zone should be smaller to reflect greater ambition and potential for eradication of deer populations.
In eastern Victoria areas such as Wilson’s Promontory, Westernport islands and the Mornington Peninsula should be in the eradication and prevention zone.

6. There should be consistent laws and regulations across all states and territories that:

Recognise feral deer as a pest animal and treat them as such.
Establish a clear responsibility for all landholders and managers to be involved in feral deer control programs.
Set clear penalties to stop the wilful or negligent release of feral deer.
Prevent new deer farms in areas where no feral deer are present and phase out all deer farms in the eradication and prevention zone.
Enable enforcement of compliance, including on government land.

I support the follow principles being adopted in the final National Feral Deer Action Plan:

Feral deer are a pest and should be treated as such on all tenures, except on approved deer farms.
Federal, state and territory governments have a responsibility to fund the outcomes under this plan.
All land managers in areas where feral deer are present have a responsibility to be involved in feral deer control programs.
The focus of management efforts should be on eradication of isolated, satellite populations, protection of key environmental assets currently impacted and stopping the spread to new regions.
Feral deer control should be undertaken humanely, safely and professionally according to agreed protocols and all tools which meet this criteria should be adopted, including aerial control.
Funding for coordination, regional planning and community engagement is necessary for effective feral deer management.
Ongoing management and follow up control efforts are required to achieve long lasting results.
Rules and regulations should be consistent across jurisdictions and land tenures.
Recreational hunting is not an effective strategy for feral deer control and should not be relied upon.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

[Your email address]
[Your suburb], [Your state]