Wildlife and Pesticides

There was some suspicious deaths of native wildlife in Ferdinand Street Reserve in December 2024. To ensure the safety of native wildlife as well as children and domestic pets, please read the following information.

The impact of pesticides on native wildlife

Pesticides including insecticides (substances used to kill insects), rodenticides (substances used to kill rodents, such as rat poison), molluscicides (substances used to kill molluscs, such as snail baits), and herbicides (substances used to kill weeds), commonly poison non-target species, including wildlife, through either primary or secondary poisoning. 

Primary poisoning occurs when an animal ingests a pesticide directly – for example, a brushtail possum eating rat bait. Secondary poisoning occurs when an animal eats another animal that has itself ingested a pesticide – for example, an owl eating a water rat that had eaten rat bait. 

Pesticides can kill wildlife, as well as cause illness which increases an animal’s risk of being preyed upon. The exact effect of both primary and secondary pesticide poisoning on wildlife depends on the species, and on the type and amount of poison consumed.

Small mammals including possums and bandicoots often consume poisons such as snail bait, slug bait or rat bait. Small mammals can also be poisoned by insecticides. Despite their size, large mammals such as wallabies can also fall victim to pesticide poisoning. Birds have a high metabolic rate and therefore succumb quickly to poisons. Insectivorous birds will often eat insects sprayed with insecticides and can cause secondary poisoning. In addition, reptiles and amphibians such as blue-tongue lizards have been known to fall victim to rat bait poisoning.

Tips to prevent and deter wildlife deaths from poisoning:

  • Deter rats and mice around your property by simply cleaning up; removing rubbish, keeping animal feed well contained and indoors, picking up fallen fruits and vegetation, and using chicken feeders removes potential food sources.
  • Seal up holes in your walls and roof to reduce the amount of rodent-friendly habitat in your house.
  • Replace palms with native trees; palm trees are a favourite hideout for black rats, while native trees provide ideal habitat for native predators like owls which help to control rodent populations.
  • Set traps with care in a safe, covered spot, away from the reach of children, pets and wildlife. Two of the most effective yet safe natural baits are peanut butter and pumpkin seeds.
  • To control slugs, terracotta or ceramic plant pots can be placed upside down in the garden or aviary. Slugs and snails will seek the dark, damp area this creates, and can be collected daily. They can then be drowned in a jar of soapy water. You can also sink a jar or dish into the soil and fill it with beer. The slugs are attracted to the yeast in the beer, fall in and then drown.

What about pets and children?

Pesticides also pose a risk to children and pets. Roaming pets like cats and dogs are most at risk of being poisoned. Always supervise children and pets, keep poisons locked out of their reach, and be vigilant in public spaces where pesticides may have accumulated, e.g. poisons can accumulate in streams or puddles where herbicides have recently been sprayed. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, seek veterinary help immediately. If you suspect your child or another adult has been poisoned, do not induce vomiting and call the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for 24/7 medical advice, Australia-wide.

This information has been summarised from the WIRES website - the following link provides further information: www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/wildlife-and-pesticides.