The Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, centred at DPI's Orange Agricultural Institute, undertakes research which addresses industry priorities in relation to vertebrate pest management and, increasingly, the management of environmental pests. The aim is to improve agricultural production and enhance conservation values through the reduced impact of vertebrate pests.

The unit’s applied research has direct relevance to the agricultural community in particular. It services the needs of all land managers, be they graziers, farmers, foresters, national parks rangers or personnel of other agencies such as Livestock Health and Pest Authorities.

Key research achievements

• Improvements to rabbit control practices through development of safe and species-specific baiting practices, and biological control through enhanced deployment of rabbit haemorrhagic disease.
• Major contributions to national best practice guidelines, animal welfare, training packages and exotic disease contingency plans for pest animal management.
• Defining the ecological principles underpinning effective management of fox, pest bird, rabbit, feral goat, wild dog and wild pig populations.
• Improved recommendations for humane kangaroo harvesting to allow long-term sustainable yield.
• Key participant in the ‘Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre' (CRC) which has been funded for the period 2005-2017. A major node of this CRC is based at the Vertebrate Pest Research Unit in Orange.

Key research collaborations

R&D (research and development) funders and providers: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences; Department of Sustainability Environment, Water, Population and Communities; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Caring for our Country; Livestock Health and Pest Authorities; NSW Office of Environment and Heritage; Invasive Animals CRC, and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Universities: Canberra, Queensland, New England, Adelaide and Sydney.

International: University of York, UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Landcare Research NZ and and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service US Department of Agriculture

Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre

DPI is a core partner of the new Invasive Animals CRC (IA CRC).

Key publications

Vertebrate Pests Research Unit publications 2002-2012 (42kb)

Scientists

Find a list of Vertebrate Pest Research scientists.

Contact

Glen Saunders
Email: glen.saunders@dpi.nsw.gov.au