Major feral animals
Pigs and feral horses are the main pests of the Mitchell
Grasslands as they impact on both pastoralists and natural
ecosystems. They occur in low to high-density pockets across large
sections of this region. Feral cats are also a problem here and can
have severe impacts on native marsupials and bird numbers.
Rabbits have a noticeable impact on the natural ecosystems and
pastures of the south and eastern sectors. When seasonal conditions
are favorable their populations increase greatly and the area over
which they cause problems also expands. As rabbit numbers rise, the
fox population which feeds on them grows too.
Feral species, in the Mitchell Grasslands, that have the most
potential to significantly impact on the natural environment or
pastoral activities include the following:
- Natural environment:
- cat, pig, horse, rabbit, fox, goat
- Pastoral:
Distribution and density
- Donkey: marginal infiltration in the north-west
- Horse: patchy distribution of low to high densities in the
northern and central zone
- Pig: low densities found in the northern regions but is more
prolific in the east
- Cat: distributed throughout the entire region
- Rabbit: isolated pockets but also with seasonal intrusions into
the eastern sector
- Fox: seasonal in south-eastern areas
- Cane toad: may be found along the northern boundary
- Goat: pockets established in the south-east in
Queensland
