Traps are available for residents to trap and remove possums that have taken up residence in roof spaces.

To obtain a trap please visit the Department of Environment and Natural Resources website.

Rats and mice can multiply quickly if weather conditions are right and food is available. You can help prevent them nesting and breeding on your property by taking a few simple steps. Pest control operators have other methods such as tracking powders, gels and fumigation that can be effective when other methods fail.

Bees and wasps are more prevalent in the warmer months here in Gawler so it's good to know what to do when you see them in the community or around your home.

Safe Removal Techniques:

1. Professional Assistance: If bees or wasps are found on Council property, please contact the Council on 8522 9211 or lodge a request though our Customer Service Portal. Bees and wasps on Council land will be powdered or removed once the nests are found. If you discover a large nest or hive on your property, it's best to seek help from licensed pest control professionals or beekeepers who can safely remove it.
2. Natural Repellents: Certain plants, such as mint, eucalyptus, and citronella, can help repel bees and wasps. Planting these around your home may discourage their presence.

Preventative Measures:

1. Trim back bushes and over-hanging branches from the perimeter of your home.
2. Carry out regular inspections of the perimeter of your building and gardens for wasp or bee activity and signs of early nest building.
3. Ensure rubbish bins are closed and make sure that any composting is carried out in containers (European wasps often build their nests underground).
4. European wasps eat protein (meat) but they are also highly attracted to sugary foods so ensure food is not left unattended, cover exposed food and use clear drink containers or a straw rather than drinking directly out of cans or bottles.
5. Spray the boundary of your home.
6. Avoid leaving uneaten pet food or dog bones outside.
7. Keep your swimming pool covered when not in use.

Dealing with Stings: Despite precautions, stings can still occur. If stung, remain calm and follow these steps:

1. Remove Stinger: Use a blunt object to scrape the stinger out of the skin.
2. Clean the Area: Wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent infection.
3. Apply Cold Compress: Place a cold compress or ice pack on the sting to reduce swelling and pain.
4. Seek Medical Attention: If you experience severe allergic reactions or multiple stings, seek medical help immediately.

By implementing these strategies, you can minimise the risks associated with these insects while fostering a safer environment for you and your family. Remember, when in doubt, seek professional assistance to ensure the safe removal of nests and hives.

Trapping Process

You can trap or catch an unidentified cat, but you cannot enter another person's property to trap a cat.

If a cat is trapped and has a collar or is tattooed with an M in its ear, you must release the cat immediately.

There is a penalty for removing or interfering with the identification.

Booking

Council has traps available to residents for a maximum hiring period of two weeks, with a deposit and daily hire fee (please refer to the fee schedule).

The deposit will be refunded in full if the trap is returned undamaged.

You may book a cat cage by telephoning our Customer Service team on 8522 9211. There is usually a waiting list for the cages, and our Customer Service team will advise the expected waiting time.

Generally the use of baits is the simplest and most effective way to get rid of rat infestations.

Rat bait is available from most hardware stores and pest controllers will have baits they use.

Bait should be placed in locations away from open spaces but where the rats visit. Every care should be taken when placing bait to ensure that small children and pets cannot gain access to the bait.

Once the rat has taken the bait it will begin to take effect. However, it may take up to a week for the rat to die.

If you have any further queries please contact council’s Environmental Health Department on 8522 9211.

At this stage the Town of Gawler does not have any regulations surrounding the keeping of poultry.

However, it is expected that owners have the appropriate care and management to prevent anything becoming a nuisance to surrounding properties such as appropriate waste and vermin management. If a complaint is received, you will be contacted and an investigation will be conducted but should you keep a well maintained and managed coop, this can be prevented.

Depending on the size of the coop, development approval may be required. Please contact council for further clarification.

Here are some good links with helpful information relevant to chicken keeping:

• - Poultry Australia
• - RSPCA Knowledge Base – Backyard Hens

Little Corellas in the Gawler area cause considerable problems including damaging trees, reserves, ovals and disturbing residents with loud squawking and displacing other wildlife. A range of non-lethal management strategies have been trialled with little success. There is significant public contention regarding Little Corella management and, despite the large range and seasonal movements of corellas, management is rarely coordinated at a state and regional level often leaving Council to undertake response programs within their own jurisdictional boundaries with little impacts. Council’s expectation is that the Little Corella Management Plan for South Australia, will help all stakeholders make informed decisions about little corellas based on strategic actions supported and promoted by the State Government.

On 2 March 2017 the research report, Little Corellas, Social and Ecological Research for Management in South Australia was released and is available via http://www.discoverycircle.org...

The report highlighted that there is no “quick solution” to fix the issues caused by little corellas. Most project participants agreed that some form of little Corella management is needed. Few people overall disliked little corellas, but many disliked their destructive behaviours (particularly to trees) and the noise they create.

Little Corellas can cause problems in town areas when their numbers are high. These problems can vary depending on location and the attitudes of observers. Each year Alexandrina Council receives many calls, emails and letters from residents, businesses and groups regarding Little Corellas. These letters include requests for action on the Little Corella issue and reports of the problems the birds are causing as well as opposition to lethal actions against the birds. Correspondence includes issues such as;

• Noise associated with flocks of birds.
  • This includes disturbance to school classes;
  • The inability of some residents to be able to relax at home due to the noise and complaints from customers about bird noise to businesses in affected towns.
• Damage to trees. This includes native trees and ornamental exotic trees.
• Damage to ovals and recreation areas.
• Litter such as pine cones and small branches on roads, footpaths etc.
• Increased cost to Council, businesses, and residents of cleaning up after birds.
• Damage to buildings and infrastructure. Includes damage to TV antennas, window seals, vehicles, roof tiles, fencing etc.
• Impact on human health. Includes reports of depression, anxiety, health issues relating to pollution of water tanks, stress from noise and mess caused by birds.
• to co-develop  an integrated State-wide management strategy for little corellas in partnership with DEWNR.  The outcomes of the research will be utilised in the development of the state-wide strategy.

Council is working towards a long-term approach to reduce the likelihood of large flocks forming and creating issues for residents. Council is working with DEWNR to develop a state-wide coordinated strategy to assist in the management of the issue. More information is available via the DEWNR website: http://www.environment.sa.gov....

Currently Council utilises non-lethal measures such as the use of blank shot gun shells and bird fright shells that scares the birds away. It does not kill birds.

Further information

For further information please contact Council’s Environmental Health Section on 8522 9211 or a reputable pest control company.

The feral pigeon is a descendant of the domestic homing pigeon. The ability of this bird to easily adapt to urban environments has meant that their numbers have persisted and in some areas increased to pest proportions.

Feral pigeons have easily adapted to the urban environment, and take up residence almost anywhere, particularly where there is food and shelter.

Pigeons are capable of breeding throughout the year and do not migrate far from their birthplace; this makes them difficult to remove.

Feral pigeons are a common pest and tend to pose more of a nuisance for residents rather than a risk to health.

Problems associated with feral pigeons may include:

• Attraction of bird mites;
• Odour and noise;
• Damage to buildings and monuments due to the highly corrosive nature of pigeon droppings;
• Damage to air-conditioning units and other roof top machinery;
• Hygiene concerns due to an accumulation of pigeon faeces.

Pigeons are able to roost on very narrow ledges, beams and roof lines. In the urban environment building facades, roofs, bridges and jetties provide plenty of roosting options and human activity provides a variety of food sources.

In Gawler uncontrolled pigeon flocks have become a health and safety issue. Building owners and community members also complain about the mess and destruction these birds create.

Council prides itself on its history, historic and architecturally significant buildings, heritage, Kaurna culture and eco- tourism.

In large numbers, however, pigeons do a great deal of damage to buildings due to the acidic nature of their droppings. Feathers, eggs and dead birds also foul the environment and buildings, sometimes blocking gutters which can lead to flooding in rain events.

Consequently, just as we need to control the rat and mice numbers, it is equally important to control the feral pigeon population. No single method of control offers the ultimate solution, but rather a combination of methods, with the responsibility having to be shared by Council, industry, businesses and residents. In order to control pigeons the following needs to be employed:

The reduction of food sources;

• The reduction of nesting and roosting sites;
• The pigeon proofing of buildings;
• Trapping, where appropriate, to remove small established pigeon populations;
• Management of large numbers - undertaken by a licensed pest controller.

Some businesses in the area, as well as Council, have already undertaken extensive pigeon proofing of their buildings by using spikes and fine wires. These deterrents are effective in reducing the number of birds able to land and roost on building ledges, window sills and roof tops. Along with this, new building work should also look at designs that do not provide roosting points and ledges for the birds. It is unlikely we will ever be rid of pigeons; however, Council endeavours to keep the population under control. To achieve this, all sectors of the community must be willing to assist by limiting harbourage and/or food.

A plentiful food supply encourages year round breeding; therefore, the removal of the food source will result in less breeding and will also encourage the pigeons to move to another location.

Further information

For further information please contact Council’s Environmental Health Section on 8522 9211, SA Health at  http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/... or a reputable pest control company.

Pigeons in the community

Feral pigeons have easily adapted to the urban environment, and take up residence almost anywhere, particularly where there is food and shelter.

Pigeons are capable of breeding throughout the year and do not migrate far from their birthplace; this makes them difficult to remove.

Feral pigeons are a common pest and tend to pose more of a nuisance for residents rather than a risk to health.

Problems associated with feral pigeons may include:

• Attraction of bird mites;
• Odour and noise;
• Damage to buildings and monuments due to the highly corrosive nature of pigeon droppings;
• Damage to air-conditioning units and other roof top machinery;
• Hygiene concerns due to an accumulation of pigeon faeces.

Controlling feral pigeons

If you have a pigeon problem, there are many techniques that can be used to reduce or remove the population. Implementing non-lethal control techniques will provide the most effective long term results. The best way to minimise or prevent the nuisance caused by feral pigeons is to control where they roost, nest and feed.

It is important that other members of the community also adopt pigeon control techniques, otherwise the pigeons may simply relocate to a neighbouring property and the flock size will not be reduced.

Removing Food Sources

The number of pigeons in an area is determined by the availability of a sustainable food source. The most effective way of discouraging feral pigeons from infesting houses and public areas is to remove any potential food source (for example pet food and water).

NOTE: NEVER FEED FERAL PIGEONS

A plentiful food supply encourages year round breeding; therefore, the removal of the food source will result in less breeding and will also encourage the pigeons to move to another location.

Bees should not be kept in those parts of the area which are within 50 metres of:

• Any building in the occupation of another person
• Any street, road or public place
• On any street, road or public place under the control of the Council.

Bees should not be kept in any part or parts of the area where the keeping of bees is or may be a nuisance or danger to persons therein.

Appropriate communications should be given to adjoining neighbours by the person(s) intending to keep bees outlining their intentions. This information should include location, number of hives, and the management and maintenance program to be put in place.

• South Australian Apiarists’ Association