Wildlife disease and hazards
Environmental pests and diseases can pose a threat to South Australia’s native flora and fauna. Biosecurity measures are designed to safeguard animals, plants, and people against the introduction or spread of harmful organisms.
In collaboration with the Department for Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), Wildlife Heath Australia (WHA) and Landscape Boards SA, we help manage risks posed by exotic environmental pests and diseases, focusing on disease and health issues in native animals and plants.
Your contribution matters. Learn how you can play a vital role by preventing the entry and spread of non-native pests and diseases in South Australia.
If you're looking for information about what to do if you find a sick, injured or orphaned native animal, visit helping native animals.
Reporting and assistance
Native animals
If you observe unusual signs of disease or deaths of groups of 5 or more native animals, please contact:
- Emergency Animal Disease hotline: call 1800 675 888 (24-hour free call) or
- South Australia’s Wildlife Health Coordinator: to assist with your report and help determine the level of response please complete a Wildlife Incident Submission Form as found on the Wildlife Health Australia reporting factsheet.
Plants
If you locate plant pests or diseases that could be a national threat, even if you are unsure of the disease, please contact:
- the Exotic Plant Hotline on 1800 084 881 or
- submit a report on plant pests threatening SA
Biosecurity and animals
Avian influenza (AI) is an infectious disease found in many bird species worldwide, including waterfowl, shorebirds and gulls. It has also been recorded in some terrestrial and aquatic mammals, including seals.
Outbreaks of high pathogenicity AI (HPAI), both in poultry and wild birds, have been recorded in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America, and occur from time-to-time in Australia.
Australia is currently the only continent not affected by a new strain of HPAI (H5N1 2.3.4.4b). This strain has devastated many bird and mammal species overseas and could gravely affect many Australian species.
Signs of HPAI include a lack of coordination, unusual posture and/or an inability to fly or stand. You can see these signs of HPAI in this video of a sandwich tern with HPAI.
It is possible for HPAI to affect humans, so you should avoid contact with sick or dead birds if you suspect they may be infected.
Reporting requirements
AI is a nationally notifiable disease, so you must notify animal health authorities if you suspect an animal is infected.
Contact the Emergency Animal Disease hotline on 1800 675 888 (24-hour free call) if you suspect animals are affected by avian influenza.
Learn more
- Visit the WHA website for more information
- Read WHA’s advice for people who encounter sick or dead wild birds.
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the chytrid fungus, is an infectious disease that affects amphibians worldwide.
First recorded in South Australia in 1995, the effects of Chytridiomycosis can vary – it may cause sporadic deaths in some amphibian populations and 100% mortality in others.
Signs and symptoms include slow and uncoordinated movement, abnormal sitting posture, spasms and paralysis, and sometimes abnormal skin shedding. Death may occur rapidly.
Reporting requirements
Chytridiomycosis is a nationally notifiable disease, which means you must notify animal health authorities if you suspect an animal is infected.
This can be done through the contacts listed above.
Learn more
- Read the WHA fact sheet for more information.
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease, potentially fatal to insectivorous (eats insects) bats that hibernate in caves. No outbreaks have been detected in Australia.
Symptoms include:
- white or grey powdery fungal growth on the face or other parts of their body
- dehydration and loss of body condition
- wing damage
- abnormal behaviour such as day flying or increased activity during a period of hibernation
- death
Reporting requirements
If you suspect a bat has been infected with white-nose syndrome, report it immediately through the contacts listed above.
Learn more
- Visit the Department for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s white-nose syndrome webpage for more information.
Bats may transmit diseases through bites or scratches. Don’t touch or handle sick or injured bats. Instead call a wildlife rescue professional if a bat needs help.
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is closely related to the rabies virus and causes similar symptoms in affected people and animals. It occurs in both flying foxes and microbats.
ABLV can be transmitted from bats to humans, where it causes an acute fatal neurological disease. While ABLV should be taken seriously and any bat in Australia may be infectious, infection is rare and there is no risk if you avoid touching bats.
Any contact with bats requires urgent medical attention. Please follow the SA Health guidelines.
Learn more
- See more information from SA Health on staying safe around bats.
- Please see the WHA fact sheet for more information.
- See living with grey-headed flying-foxes for more information about bats.
Psittacine Beak and Feather disease (PBFD) is a potentially deadly disease that predominantly affects parrots, cockatoos and lorikeets. It is caused by the highly infectious Beak and Feather Disease Virus (BFDV).
The virus can affect a bird’s feathers, beak and claws and suppress the immune system, with symptoms varying depending on the bird.
BFDV is easily spread from contact, which means birds can contract the virus while feeding, roosting, nesting and watering.
There is no treatment available for PBFD. Unfortunately, eradication of the disease is not possible because the virus is widespread in Australia. Instead, the preferred management strategy is preventing and slowing down the spread.
It doesn’t cause disease in humans, however, people can spread the disease to other birds through their clothing and hair.
Feeding and watering wildlife can encourage the spread of disease by encouraging them to cluster around a food or water source. For more information visit the feeding wildlife webpage.
Reporting requirements
Birds infected with PBFD generally do not need to be reported, however, if you see 5 or more sick birds other than parrots, cockatoos or lorikeets with suspected PBFD, you should report it to us.
Learn more
- Read our fact sheet and the WHA factsheet.
Aquatic pests are exotic (non-native) species that can damage the natural balance of our environment.
Aquatic pests can include plants or animals such as fish, crabs, molluscs or invertebrates. They can be found in freshwater, estuaries and marine waters. Once transported to a new area, they can spread rapidly.
Detection and containment is important for limiting the spread. South Australia is currently free from most invasive marine pests.
Reporting requirements
If you see an unusual freshwater or marine plant or animal, report it through the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 065 522.
Learn more
- For more information and to submit a report with PIRSA, visit aquatic pests.
Biosecurity and plants
Phytophthora is a water mould carried in plant roots, soil and water and is not native to Australia.
Phytophthora causes dieback (gradual deterioration and death) of many native and introduced plants, which also threatens the survival of animals that rely on them.
Once an area is infested with Phytophthora it can’t be eradicated, but we can control its spread. You can make sure localised infestations aren’t spread by adhering to track closures and utilising boot cleaning stations where provided.
Learn more
- See the Phytophthora factsheet and management guidelines for more information.
Myrtle rust is a disease that attacks the leaves of plants. Trees and shrubs in the Myrtaceae family of plants are especially susceptible, including bottlebrush, tea tree and eucalypts.
Myrtle rust is not known to have established in South Australia. It is present in all other states and territories in Australia and is easily transported through movement of contaminated plant material, vehicles, and equipment, as well as by animals, wind or water.
The disease can cause deformed leaves, heavy defoliation of branches, reduced fertility, dieback, stunted growth and plant death.
The first signs of rust infection are tiny, raised spots or pustules on infected tissue which turn a distinctive egg yolk yellow.
Reporting requirements
Early identification of this rust is vital for effective management. If you suspect plants may be infected with Myrtle rust, immediately notify the Emergency Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
To avoid spreading the disease, do not touch, move or collect samples of the suspect plant material, and do not go to another site with any host materials after handling any suspect material.
Learn more
- For more information, visit PIRSA’s website.
