Feral app generates book

19 Apr 2018

Peter West holds a copy of the guide.

In a modern-day twist, a popular app is now available as a book to help land managers and community groups identify and manage introduced pest animals.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) researcher and author, Peter West, said demand for a hard-copy version of the Field Guide to Pest Animals of Australia app drove publication of the new Guide to introduced pest animals of Australia.

“This handy, practical book identifies 60 introduced pest animal species, including 27 mammals, 18 birds, nine freshwater fish, four reptiles and two amphibians,” Mr West said.

“The guide contains descriptive information to identify each species in the field, including distinctive physical characteristics, size, weight, colouration, diet, breeding behaviour, habitat preferences, and information about footprints, dung and animal calls.

“Each species profile is accompanied by practical management options, maps and high-quality photographs.

“Readers can learn about pest species in their local area, the problems they might cause, and control options which exist for managing the pests.

“The guide also contains a number of emerging high-risk pest species, which may pose a significant threat to our natural environment, economy, agriculture and human health.

“We expect farmers, land managers, pest animal controllers, teachers, students, field naturalists and wildlife ecologists to benefit from the guide.”

The new guide, developed through a Centre for Invasive Species Solutions project, is available for purchase from CSIRO Publishing, with the still-popular app free to download for iOS devices.

Photographs available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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Media contact: Bernadette York (02) 6938 1664, 0427 773 785