A pest animal is an animal that has been declared as a prohibited, controlled, regulated or established pest. Pest animals are also often referred to as “exotics” or “exotic pest animals”.
Pest animals cause great harm to the natural environment and primary industry and are considered one of the most significant threats to economic productivity and environmental values in Victoria. Apart from dingoes, pest animals are generally animals that did not occur naturally in the wild in Australia before European Settlement.
Different penalties apply for importing, keeping, selling or releasing these animals without a permit, depending on the classification of the pest (see Owning or trading pest animals below).
Land owners are also responsible for managing pest animals on their land under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (see Controlling and eradication pest animals below).
For more information on pest animals than provided on this page, visit:
What type of pest animal is it?
Pest animals are classified into four categories depending on the threat they pose to primary production, crown land, the environment or community health:
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Prohibited pests: these pests are prohibited in Victoria. Importing, keeping and sale of prohibited pests are banned. These pests pose an unacceptable risk because of their ability to adapt to and breed abundantly in Australian environmental conditions and their release could cause significant environmental and economic damage as well as threaten public health and safety. Prohibited pests include raccoons, stoats, weasels, mink, skunks, porcupines and cane rats.
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Controlled pests: these pests can only be kept in approved high security collections. Controlled pests include European hedgehogs, gorillas, pumas, American alligators, puff adders and cane toads.
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Regulated pests: these pests can only be kept in collections or at approved premises. Regulated pests include spider monkeys, Californian sea-lions, common iguanas, Bali cattle, American bison and water buffalo.
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Established pests: these pests should be eradicated or controlled, or their spread in the wild should be prevented. Established pests include European rabbits, feral goats and pigs, red foxes, feral dogs, dingoes and their hybrids in the wild (except for recognised canine breeds such as the Queensland heeler and the Australian kelpie).
A pest animal is classified into one of these four categories by a declaration published in the Victorian Government Gazettes. The declaration of pest animals includes mammals, reptiles and amphibians not indigenous to Australia, with the exception of the dingo and its hybrids. The declaration does not include any birds, or any non-indigenous animals such as livestock, domestic pets or species that do not pose any threat.
For a full list of pest animals under each category see the DPI ‘A guide for the control over the possession, trade and movement of declared pest animals’ at www.dpi.vic.gov.au.
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