Managing pests and nuisance animals is essential for protecting both our community and the environment. Whether it’s swooping birds, foxes, possums, or feral pigs, understanding how to handle these challenges can help minimise their impact. 

At Benalla Rural City Council, we’re here to provide guidance, resources, and practical tips for effective wildlife management and pest control. From handling household pests like ants and mice to addressing agricultural concerns with foxes or managing native animals respectfully, this page offers everything you need to tackle these issues safely and responsibly. Explore the information below to learn more about keeping your property and community safe.

Swooping birds

Swooping birds are often native birds, including Australian Magpies, that are highly protective of their nests. They will often ‘swoop’ if they feel threatened.

In spring, some birds attack to warn intruders they are in ‘their territory’. They can be frightening and even dangerous.

The best strategy is to avoid swooping hotspots. It is an offence to harass or destroy native birds or their eggs as they are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.

If you are swooped, help others to avoid the area by logging the swoop on Victoria’s Maggie Map.

Alternatively, tweet @DELWP_Vic with the location details and #swoopvic

Here are some tips for protecting yourself against swooping birds:

• Avoid the area
• Move quickly but don’t run
• Cover your head
• Don’t harass wildlife or damage nests
• Don’t feed swooping birds
• If you’re a cyclist, ‘eyes’ on the back of your helmet (drawn, or stuck on) can be helpful
• Cyclists should dismount and walk quickly through bird-swooping areas

Possums

Possums are native animals protected under the Wildlife Act 1975.

It is illegal to trap the Common Ringtail Possum without a permit or do them harm in any way.

Whilst it might be frustrating to share your home or garden with a possum, many controls are available to make this an easier experience.

You are allowed to trap a possum to relocate it on the same property or to take it to a registered vet. Trapping can be highly stressful. For information about how to trap possums, visit the State Government’s wildlife website.

Ants

There are more than 4,000 known species of ants in Australia. Very few of these species are considered pests.

Some pest species include:

• Singapore ant
• Argentine ant
• Whitefooted house ant (black ants)
• Black house ant
• Pharaoh’s ant
• Coastal brown ant
• Carpenter ant (pictured)

Ants can carry disease. If you find ants in your home, you may have an ant infestation that you need to manage.

Here are some tips to manage ant infestation in your home:

• Keep your home clean and free of food scraps, both in and outside
• Use surface sprays to protect against entry from outside
• Pest control dusts are available from retailers

For more information about pest ants, visit the Department of Health website.

Foxes

The Red Fox is an introduced species that preys on native animals and other small to medium animals. In Victoria, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are an established pest animal under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (the Act). Under the Act, land owners have a responsibility to prevent the spread of established pest animals on their land.

Foxes are associated with significant environmental and agricultural risk and costs. They kill livestock, can transmit diseases to domestic animals and damage infrastructure. If rabies is introduced to Australia, the vast population of foxes would pose a major biosecurity threat.

There are various management and control measures in place to try to decrease the population of foxes in Victoria. An eradication campaign is underway to reduce fox populations across most of Australia’s mainland.

Effective management requires a joint effort by public and private landowners. A bounty is available to encourage hunting of the red fox and wild dogs. Visit the Agriculture Victoria website to see the terms and conditions.

For information about foxes in, visit the Agriculture Victoria website

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website for more information about controlling foxes on your rural property.

Feral (Wild) Pigs

In Victoria, feral or wild pigs are an established pest animal under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (the Act).

The majority of feral pig populations across Victoria are limited to isolated locations along the Murray River, near Mansfield, Kinglake, the Central Highlands and the Grampians.

Feral pigs cause significant environmental damage. They prey on, compete with and disturb many natural species. They wallow and root on the waterline of swamps and other waterways, destroying the vegetation that prevents soil erosion and is an important food source for many species.

Feral pigs create serious agricultural issues. They prey on newborn lambs, damage infrastructure, compete with livestock for pasture, uproot and trample on crops and foul waterholes. Pig farming is particularly threatened by disease carried by feral pig populations.

Visit the Agriculture Victoria website for information about controlling feral pig populations. 

Common (Indian) Myna

The Common Myna, sometimes known as the Indian Myna or Indian Mynah, is an invasive pest.

The Common Myna has the potential to do significant damage to fruit, vegetable and cereal crops. They are a serious problem for native animal populations as they aggressively attack nesting hollows and compete for food sources.

Benalla Rural City Council works with the Benalla Indian Myna Action Group, which is supported by the local landcare community, the Gecko Group. Read more about the joint initiative.

Common Myna populations are not averse to built-up, artificial environments. Roosting in local infrastructure is a problem. Large populations of the bird build quickly, devastating other bird populations and bringing increased risk of disease and noise issues to residents.

They also live in rooves, which leads to bird mites and can be detrimental to the health of families.

Here are some simple ways that you can help to limit increases in the local population:

• Limit food sources available outside, such as pet food and other food scraps
• Block off any holes in your roof or eaves to prevent nesting in your home
• Plant bushes and shrubs that reduce the amount of open area in your backyard
• On rural properties, cover feedstock and clean up spills

Queensland Fruit Fly

Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) attacks fruit and fruiting vegetables. The Queensland fruit fly is a serious pest and infestations can be devastating to agriculture, rendering total crop losses. 

It’s everyone’s responsibility to help reduce the population of the Queensland fruit fly in Benalla Rural City.

Some tips for home gardeners include:

• Never travel with fruit or vegetables
• Don’t let fruit rot on the tree or ground

More information is available on the Prevent Fruit Fly website.

Advice for Producers

Farms with fruit and fruiting vegetables are particularly vulnerable to significant losses as a result of Queensland fruit fly.

For information about best-practice fruit fly management, visit the Prevent Fruit Fly website.

The State Government’s Agriculture website also has information for managing Queensland fruit fly in your garden.

European Wasps

If you see multiple European Wasps on your property, it is likely that you have a nest. European Wasps are dangerous.

If you are not confident dealing with European Wasps, it is best to call a pest control professional to handle nests.

If you see a European Wasp nest on Council land, such as around the lake, please call us and we will deal with the nest.

For more information about European Wasps visit the Australian Museum website

Mice

Every year, residents in Benalla Rural City contend with rodent damage to their food, property and in the worst cases, fires from electrical damage.

Mice pose health risk to humans through the spread of disease. They also threaten livestock and cause major damage to agricultural crops by eating seeds and grains. They compete with native wildlife for food and habitat and frequently damage nests and eat the eggs of native birds and reptiles.

How do I know if I have a rodent problem?

Evidence of rodents includes droppings, damage to packaging or dropped nesting material. If you see evidence of rodents, there is no need to wait until you see mice or rats in the home. Act immediately to control the pest as mice populations can escalate quickly.

How to control rodent populations

• Make sure all packaged products are clean and in a secure storage room or shed. If this isn’t possible, secure cupboards and rodent proof plastic storage containers help to minimise available food sources.
• Keep your home clean and free of food sources. This includes washing up and both indoor and outdoor cooking and eating areas straight away. Mice are active at night.
• Compost is attractive to mice. Keep compost as far from the house as possible.
• Keep food in thick plastic, metal or glass containers with tight lids. Mice can eat through thin plastic packaging.
• Maintain your lawn and get rid of junk from the yard that could be a nesting site for mice.
• Seal holes in and around the home to prevent entry. You can fix small holes with steel wool.
• Fit pest proof weather strips to external doors.
• Inspect electrical switchboards, under sinks and in all draws for evidence of rodent infestation.
• Use traps if you do have a rodent problem

Stay safe during a rodent infestation

• Keep your own food sources safe from contamination.
• Avoid storing drink cans and packaged foods on contaminated shelves as diseases can be transferred via the packaging.
• All food contact surfaces and equipment need to be sanitised prior to every use until the infestation is eradicated.
• If you have a water tank or private water supply, make sure it is rodent proof and not being contaminated by rodent droppings or dead rodents. This can occur particularly when baits are used, making the dying animals thirsty.
• Mice burrow into the ground for shelter. Block any holes near septic tank trenches and dispose of any litter or other shelter that may be present.
• Steel wool is adequate as a temporary measure to prevent rodent access however this should be replaced with permanent rodent proof sealants and building materials as soon as possible. Most expanding foam is only rodent resistant and they may chew back through easily. Any hole or gap large enough to fit a pen will provide access by a mouse. You’ll need to block access to provide a long-term solution. Check around ovens, fridges and hot water services.
• Inspect electrical switchboards, under sinks and in all draws for evidence of rodent infestation. Fit pest proof weather strips to external doors where necessary and internal doors if further rodent movement restriction might be needed. 
• If you choose to use bait stations, carefully follow the packaging instructions. Note that baits often poison pets and children. It is critical that baits are not accessible to pets or children.
• If you identify native mice, rather than an introduced species, try to block access rather than relying on poisons.
• Pallet baits can be transported by rodents, threatening food products. If you do use pallet baits, monitor them for activity and take extra care with your own food.

Clean up where rodents have been

Mice droppings and urine are potentially infectious. You’ll need to clean up if you see evidence of mice. Cleaning should occur during the problem as well as afterward, to make sure the hazard is eradicated from your home. If you don’t break the cycle, you may end up with the same problem all over again. 

Some simple points to remember when cleaning up include: 

• Use gloves, paper towel, soap and water.
• Use bleach – but safely. Make sure you follow the safety and handling instructions. Make up a new batch of diluted bleach for each use. 
• Clean all surfaces, including benches, shelving, doors, door and cupboard handles, storage areas, sinks, floors and any other areas of possible contamination. 
• Be especially careful in the kitchen and be sure to clean all potentially contaminated food contact surfaces, including utensils, equipment, crockery and cutlery. 

For more information, visit the Department of Health website.

Bees

The Council doesn’t have a beekeeper. If you find a hive or swarm and it’s not on Council land, we won’t be able to do anything to help other than assist you to find local beekeepers who may be able to assist. 

Bees usually become active in spring, as the weather warms and plants begin to flower. During spring, we get a lot of calls from people who have hives or swarms on their property or somewhere in the community. When we receive calls that warn us about bees, we ask the caller to report the matter to the owner of the land. If you are the person who owns the land and you see a swarm or hive, we can help by providing you with a few people who could possibly help you to remove the bees for a fee. 

If the bees are on Council-owned land, we will remove the hive – just give us a call as soon as possible. 

Snakes

The Council doesn’t have a snake catcher. If you see a snake on your property, call DELWP on 136 186 for advice on snake controllers in your area. If someone is bitten, call 000 immediately.

When left alone, snakes present little or no danger to people.

Snakes are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and it is illegal to harm them or capture them without authority.