The following are some frequently asked questions about pest animals. You may be able to find more information about some of these questions from the relevant species page or by searching the database on this site.

General Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why not eradicate pests? After all, we have managed to eliminate many native animals from Australia and New Zealand?

A. Eradication – that is, the complete and permanent removal of each individual of a pest – was the hope behind many past pest control programs. However, despite years of effort no established pest has been removed from the mainland of Australia or New Zealand. Unlike the native animals that have become extinct, most pests are well adapted to human disturbed habitat. Pests are usually widely distributed and common and can quickly recover their numbers after a knockdown from drought or control activities. We now know that except on islands or in some local situations, it is not possible to permanently eradicate established pests with the control techniques that are currently available. The most effective strategy is to reduce the level of damage due to a pest to an acceptable level rather than trying to eradicate them.

Q. Why not put a bounty on an animal to encourage their control?

A. In theory it sounds attractive to use bounties as an incentive to hunt and destroy pests. However, several reviews of bounty schemes have shown that they are an ineffective form of pest control. They have been shown to be flawed both on biological and social grounds. A reduction in pest density may not necessarily lead to a reduction in damage. Bounty hunters usually concentrate their effort where animals are easy to take, not necessarily where they are causing most damage. They also tend to be selective in the animals that they take, often taking the younger more inexperienced animals rather than the older more wary animals that often cause most of the damage. These older animals are also left to breed and ensure future stock. Bounties are also easily rorted. To collect a bounty, hunters are required to present a nominated body part such as a scalp, tail or snout. Often it is difficult for the assessor to determine if the body part is from the pest in question or for example, from a domestic animal. Most successful pest control requires a well planned program based on a good understanding of the biology of the pest and the relationship between pest density and the damage that they cause. The program should have clear outcomes, ideally stated as reduced levels of damage or reduced levels of pest density and incorporate appropriate monitoring and evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.