Living with wildlife

In South Australia, we’re lucky to see a wide range of native animals on a day-to-day basis. Protecting and conserving our native animals is vital to ensure we maintain healthy, biodiverse ecosystems that support agriculture, tourism, culture, and human health and wellbeing.

Native animals are considered wild and un-owned, whether they live on rural properties, in our backyards, or in natural areas such as national parks. Regardless of where they live, most native animal species are protected by state laws.

Due to urban expansion and human land-use, some wildlife are competing with people for space, shelter, food or water. Co-existing with people is not possible for many native animal species, and some populations are in decline or have become extinct since colonisation. Some wildlife species have developed new behaviours to help them survive in cities, suburbs and towns. There are also certain species that have learnt to take advantage of the benefits of living near people, enabling their populations to grow to high densities.

Although many people enjoy seeing native wildlife, sometimes interactions can cause unwanted impacts on people and the environment in both urban and rural areas. Impacts may occur to industry, property or safety, or to natural ecosystems, biodiversity and other native animals.

It is important to understand that it should be the impacts that are the concern, not wildlife in general. Landholders, community and industry have a range of wildlife management tools available to assist them with keeping impacts to an acceptable level.

As most native animals are protected, any management must be consistent with relevant laws and sometimes a permit may be required.

Common wildlife impacts

Threatening human safety

swooping birds defending nests
strike risks to aircraft
venomous snakes inside a building
burrows creating hazards for vehicles

Damaging crops, produce and horticulture

eating crops
trampling crops
eating fruit, vegetables and flowers
eating stock feed

Affecting buildings, infrastructure, assets or development

damaging fencing or irrigation systems
digging or burrowing in turf, paddocks or vehicle tracks
chewing external building surfaces
fouling products, goods or water sources
nesting on transmission towers
nesting in habitat planned for removal
living in habitat planned for earthworks

Impacting the natural environment

overgrazing and damaging native vegetation
unsustainable grazing of revegetation sites
competition for nesting hollows and food sources

Wildlife management considerations

Take a 'Living with Wildlife’ approach to dealing with any issues caused by wildlife by considering the below points and reading further information provided on this page.

Assess the impacts

Are the impacts serious or just a nuisance?
Is the issue temporary, seasonal or ongoing?
What is the cost of the impact compared to the cost of managing the impact?

Understand the native animal

Is the behaviour related to breeding or a threat?
Are there attractors such as food, water or shelter?
Is it a threatened species?

Consider non-lethal methods first

What ways can I lessen the impact without killing the animal?

Consider animal welfare standards

Does your management method cause unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal?
Is there a code of practice for humane destruction available?

Non-lethal wildlife management methods

There are many options for managing wildlife impacts that do not cause harm or injury to animals. Non-lethal tools often reduce impacts by deterring or excluding native animals or providing alternatives for them.

Most non-lethal methods do not require a permit, unless they include activities such as catching, trapping or moving native animals.

Non-lethal options

Modify habitat or remove food or water resources

Create alternate roosting sites for displaced animals

Provide nest boxes as alternative refuge for hollow-dependent animals

Scare animals with the use of lights or lasers

Scare animals with the use of firearms

Modify fencing or create gates for wildlife

Net high value crops

Plant decoy crops

Install tree collars to restrict access

Block access points to buildings

Install signage to advise people of wildlife hazards

Trap or catch and release or relocate the animal (permit required)

Lethal wildlife management methods

Humane destruction (killing) of native animals or eggs may be an appropriate tool to manage wildlife impacts.

In most cases, you need to get a permit to destroy native animals or eggs and they must be destroyed in line with a code of practice for humane destruction.

Lethal tools

Trap or catch animals and destroy with humane methods

Oil, prick or break eggs

Use firearms to destroy some animals

Wildlife management permits

Most native mammal, bird and reptile species, and their eggs, are protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (NPW Act).

This means to catch, move or kill protected animals or the eggs of protected animals you require a permit. Activities to deter, exclude or scare native animals do not require a permit.

There is a small number of native animals in South Australia that are classed as unprotected animals under the NPW Act. In most cases, for these species you do not require a permit kill them.

For permit information and how to apply, see manage, control or destroy native animal permits.