Pest animals on council land

Report all pest animal sightings to FeralScan. If you see a less common or unusual pest animal, or something you can’t identify, take a photo (if possible) and contact Council through the Online Services Portal or phone 02 9847 6666.

Common pest animals such as wild rabbits, red foxes, cats, common mynas and common carp are already widespread across Sydney. Their populations rise and fall seasonally and with the availability of food, and it is acknowledged that it is not reasonably practicable for one land manager, such as Council, to make a lasting difference to the risk they pose to the environment, the economy or the community.

Instead, Council focuses efforts on protecting valuable assets such as rare and threatened native species, important gardens, sports fields and parkland. Shooting of wild rabbits by professional contractors and cage trapping may be periodically undertaken, however these efforts are effective only in the short term as new pest animals move into vacated areas.

Council, together with other organisations, and led by Greater Sydney Local Land Services, is also involved in broader and more effective initiatives such as the periodic release of biological control agents for rabbits.