It is important for us to live alongside wildlife and share our surroundings with them. In some situations, wildlife can be legally managed when they are damaging property, threatening people’s health or safety, or harming local biodiversity.
When managing wildlife impacts, the first step is to identify the species involved and the specific problems they are causing. It is important to think about what might be attracting the animals to the area and whether simple changes, such as preventing access, could reduce the impacts. Consider whether the impacts are seasonal or temporary, and if they can be tolerated for a short time. By taking time to understand the cause of the issue, you can choose solutions that are effective and low impact.
Landowners and land managers must take reasonable precautions to identify and avoid wildlife harm, including disturbance. These reasonable actions may include:
- checking for wildlife or signs of wildlife presence (including nests, large tree hollows, or burrows) prior to activities and waiting until wildlife has left before commencing works
- avoiding activities impacting vegetation during spring (September-November), when wildlife is likely to be breeding
- seeking authorisation if works are considered urgent or necessary and disturbance of wildlife cannot be avoided.
Wildlife management methods
The following fact sheets provide information about wildlife management methods for common wildlife species in Victoria.
- Kangaroo and wallaby wildlife management methods
- Cockatoo, corella and galah wildlife management methods and managing cockatoos
- Brushtail possum wildlife management methods and managing possums
- Common wombat wildlife management methods
- Dingo protection in north-west Victoria
- Living with flying-foxes
- Wildlife and fruit trees, which includes the Bird and Flying-fox Damage to Orchard Fruit Guide to help you identify which animal is damaging your fruit and provides suggestions to effectively manage it.
What activities need a permit?
An Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) is an authorisation issued under section 28A or section 28A(1A) of the Wildlife Act 1975 which allows a person to shoot, wilfully disturb or trap wildlife where it is damaging property, crops or other wildlife habitat or for the purposes of management, conservation or protection of wildlife.
Activities that do not need a Wildlife Act permit include:
- exclusion such as fencing, wildlife gates and tree-trunk possum guards
- deterrents such as bird spikes
- habitat modification to make the area less attractive to the wildlife species - so long as any vegetation management is lawful and does not disturb wildlife.
These controls are passive, can be avoided by wildlife, and interactions are not acutely stressful or likely to result in long term or significant harm, so no authorisation is needed.
Activities that do require a Wildlife Act permit include:
- indirect management, disturbance or scaring – authorisation needed in most circumstances – see ‘What is wildlife disturbance’ for more detail
- lethal control – authorisation needed in all circumstances.
See Wildlife management and control authorisations for more information and how to apply.
What is wildlife disturbance?
Wilful or intentional disturbance of wildlife is an offence under Section 58 of the Wildlife Act. This includes herding or relocating animals out of an area, targeted light or sound use directed towards wildlife, or deliberate chasing of wildlife. Where disturbance is circumstantial to other activities (that is, not targeted towards disturbing wildlife) then generally no offence would apply under the Wildlife Act. You must still take reasonable action to reduce circumstantial disturbance, both for animal welfare and public safety.
If you begin an activity believing it will not impact or disturb wildlife, you may proceed. However, if you later learn, through advice or your own observations, that the activity is causing or may cause disturbance or distress to wildlife, you must stop the activity. You must then put mitigation controls in place or seek authorisation to continue the activity with the disturbance.
In cases where wildlife disturbance is wilful, you must apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife authorisation. These authorities are administered by the Conservation Regulator. More information can be found here: Wildlife management and control authorisations.
The Conservation Regulator may also request application for an Authority to Control Wildlife in circumstances where the disturbance requires additional management measures to protect animal welfare. In assessing these applications, animal welfare is a key concern and, where appropriate, expert advice is obtained to ensure a robust and comprehensive assessment.
Further information
More information can be found on the following pages. Use the tabs along the top to navigate, or the menu in the top right corner.
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