Managing local pests and weeds

The non-native or common myna is found along the southeast coast of Australia. Their population increase is closely associated with human habitation as they are scavengers that feed on food scraps, pet food and insects.

They have a significant impact on other native bird species due to their territorial behaviour and exclude native wildlife from prime nesting sites such as tree hollows.

They also cause significant irritation to the community when massed in large numbers.

What you can do

If you are consistently seeing common mynas on your property, you can acquire a trap via our partnered program with the Darebin Creek Management Committee. Call 9490-4222 and talk to a Biodiversity Advisor to organise.

You can discourage common mynas by keeping yards tidy, covering compost, ensuring bins have lids on, and ensuring pet food is not left out.

Check the exterior of your house for any openings that could be used for common myna nesting sites. Block entry points in your roof and eaves and clean your gutters on a regular basis. Common mynas will create nests in downpipes.

Use locally indigenous plants to provide habitat for other bird species. Dense, prickly shrubs provide great habitat for local birds and discourage common mynas.

Vegetation and garden programs

Use our Indigenous Plant Voucher Program to support revegetation of your property.

Register for our Gardens for Wildlife Program for a free garden assessment from a trained garden guide, who can help advise you on what indigenous species are best to plant to support native birds.

What we are doing

We have a partnership program with the Darebin Creek Management Committee to offer residents the use of common myna traps. Our bushland management rangers monitor nesting boxes over spring to identify nesting sites of myna birds and clean them out to limit their reproductive potential.

Deer are emerging as a major threat to Victoria’s natural ecosystems as they cause great damage by trampling indigenous vegetation, damaging waterways, overgrazing, and out-competing local wildlife.

The Sambar deer is the most common of the 4 introduced species. There have been recent sightings in Banyule.

What you can do

Log sightings using the iNaturalist app (which we use to track pest populations).

What we are doing

We are currently in the process of devising a deer control program which will focus on biodiversity outcomes and protection of local flora and fauna.

Introduced European bees and wasps can impact biodiversity in perhaps surprising ways.

An abundance of bees in the landscape can have a detrimental effect on local pollinating insects by out-competing them for their common food source: nectar.

While further study is required, this likely has a negative impact on pollination of locally indigenous flora.

Bee hives also exclude native birds and other wildlife from prime nesting sites in tree hollows and installed nesting boxes.

European wasps are an often-aggressive species which actively predates native insects and spiders. Their underground nests can be difficult to spot in bushland and, if accidentally disturbed, can pose a threat to park users due to the painful sting they can inflict.

What you can do

Log sightings using the iNaturalist app (which we use to track pest populations).

What we are doing

We will respond to reports of hives and assess whether the presence of a hive poses an unacceptable risk to people or the environment. If so, we will safely remove the hive.

Foxes have a devastating impact on our local fauna species and have contributed to the decline and, in some cases, the extinction of a wide range of native animals.

Their numbers have increased in urban environments due to the perfect conditions we are creating for them. This includes pet food scraps, uncovered compost and an increase in backyard aviaries and chicken coops.

What you can do

• Cover compost.
• Remove all uneaten pet food and keep pet feeding areas clean.
• Keep chickens in a secure chicken coop with fox proof fencing.
• Contact a local pest control company is you experience frequent visits.
• Log sightings using the iNaturalist app (which we use to track pest populations).

What we are doing

Our fox control program focuses on biodiversity outcomes and protection of local wildlife. Annual fox control works target known populations primarily found along our major wildlife corridors of the Yarra River, Plenty River and Darebin Creek.

Targeting these bushland areas helps to protect known populations of wombats, echidnas, ducks, and other local wildlife.

The Queensland fruit fly is a year-round horticultural pest for local gardeners and producers. As sunset temperatures exceed 16 degrees in spring, flies begin laying eggs in many commonly grown fruit and vegetables suitable for hosting. Flies remain active during summer and autumn, even surviving over winter by sheltering in buildings and trees.

All stone fruits, apples, peaches, pears and tomatoes are common garden fruits that are susceptible, but so are fruits like capsicums, chiles, loquats, persimmons and pomegranates.

What you can do

Agriculture Victoria provides a full resource guide on the QFF lifecycle, appearance descriptions and host fruits commonly found in gardens.

Make a fly trap: cut 3 coin-sized holes in a 1.5L bottle about 10cm from the cap. Add in 3 cups 100% pulpy fruit juice and 3 tablespoons of cloudy ammonia until bottle is half full. Tie string around bottle neck and hang from a tree 1-1.5m above ground. Change mixture weekly for best effects.

This method is effective year round.

Net your trees: make a frame from PVC tubes or stakes to surround your trees. Drape UV stable mesh over frame all the way to the ground
. Be sure that no fruit is touching the netting as flies are able to lay eggs through gaps.

This method is effective year round.

Bag your fruit: an alternative to netting a whole plant, you can tie recycled plastic bags or sleeves over the fruit you want to keep. Make sure there are no gaps for flies to enter. Remove and destroy any un-bagged and unwanted fruit.

This method is effective in summer to autumn.

Spray and bait: apply a spray or gel (available from a nursery or hardware store) to trunks and foliage of plants, but not the fruit. Flies will be attracted to bait and be poisoned by insecticide.

Spray insecticide onto foliage and developing fruit, or as directed by the product. Always read warning labels of pesticides.

This method is effective in spring to autumn.

Inspect your fruit: Regularly check your ripening fruit for sting marks or discolouration. Remove and destroy any fruit showing signs of infestation, and make sure you keep your garden free from any unwanted, rotten or fallen fruit. Remove any flowers or fruit you are not actively protecting.

This method is effective year round.

Prune your apricot tree: It is important to prune your apricot trees at least once a year.

Removing unhealthy or unnecessary branches

Cutting off dead, diseased, damaged or competing branches.

Removing small sprouts growing out of the trunk or branches.Cutting off branches that grow straight down or towards middle of the tree.

Thinning out branches

Choose a few healthy scaffold branches that you want to keep.

Cut off most of the remaining branches about 0.6 cm above where they connect to the trunk and thinning out the entire tree.

Prune branches located within 20–25 cm of your scaffold branches.

Already affected fruit

Do not compost infested fruit: put it in a plastic bag and leave in the sun for a week, then put it in your garbage bin. Larvae will spawn in your compost if you put it in there.

Alternatively, you can bake, boil or microwave your fruit at high temperature for a few minutes to destroy eggs and larvae.

Rabbits cause damage to plants in gardens, parks and conservation reserves through overgrazing.

They also impact native wildlife by reducing available food sources.

Their impact often increases when food is scarce such as during drought and immediately after fire.

What you can do

• Guard plants in known areas of rabbit activity.
• Engage a local pest controller if there is a population on your property.
• Log sightings using the iNaturalist app (which we use to track pest populations).

What we are doing

Our rabbit control program focusses on biodiversity outcomes and protection of local flora and fauna. Annual rabbit control works target known rabbit populations primarily found along our major wildlife corridors of the Yarra River, Plenty River and Darebin Creek.

Targeting these bushland areas helps to protect known populations of wombats other local wildlife as well as protecting diverse populations of locally indigenous plants (such as is found in the Banyule Northern Grassland Reserve).