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Pests are common in urban environments and can become a nuisance in our community without the appropriate prevention and control. Property owners are responsible for the eradication of pests on their own private property. Information on the management of specific pests can be found below.
Feeding Feral Pigeons
Feeding non-domestic or feral pigeons that may cause a nuisance is an offense under the South Australia Local Nuisance and Litter Control Act 2016. Abatement Orders can be issued direct the person to cease the activity and expiation notices for any breaches of the Abatement Order.
If you believe a resident is feeding feral pigeons/birds and is causing a nuisance please contact customer service and a Community Safety Officer will investigate the matter.
Holdfast Bay businesses that offer outdoor dining can collect table stickers or signage from Council to remind patrons not to feed the birds, especially pigeons – and put food scraps into the bin straight away. (see contact details below)
Visit the SA Health website for more details on feral pigeons
Swooping Birds
Swooping birds (for example, magpies and noisy miners) are most active during spring when they're breeding because they're protecting their babies. Breeding season is usually complete by early October. Unfortunately, some birds, such as noisy miners, will swoop all year round.
Here is the best advice from the Department of Environment and Water:
- Avoid the area where the magpies are nesting
- Wear sunglasses and a hard hat such as a bike helmet
- Carry a stick above your head or an open umbrella
- Travel in a group if possible
- Walk, don’t run
- Cyclists and skateboarders should dismount and wheel their bikes/skateboards through magpie territory.
Please do not throw anything at magpies as they will attack more vigorously.
Bees
On occasion, particularly during the warmer weather, bees may form a colony, or 'beard', outside of the hive. This is their way of trying to get cool and can be quite frightening due to their size and the amount of bees present. Bees at this time of year can also relocate their nest and will go into a resting phase for approximately two days. Generally during these situations, the bee colony is not aggressive as they are trying to protect the queen.
If you have a bee colony on your property that is causing a nuisance, you will need to call an apiarist who may come and collect the bees or a pest controller to remove/destroy the bees. We do not provide this service.
The City of Holdfast Bay will remove bees from council land if it has been identified that the bees are causing a risk to public health and safety.
Our pest contractors will attempt to relocate the bees without destroying them. However, at times this may be difficult and destruction is the only option.
Please note, if the bees are swarming but have not settled into a hive (clump) for at least 48 hours, we cannot arrange for their removal as this is likely to be a temporary hive to protect the queen bee.
Bees that have formed a hive at a safe height i.e. high up in a tree, may not be removed as generally, this does not pose a health/safety risk.
If you have any questions or concerns about our services please contact one of our Environmental Health Officers.
Our pest contractors will attempt to relocate the bees without destroying them. However, at times this may be difficult and destruction is the only option.
Please note, if the bees are swarming but have not settled into a hive (clump) for at least 48 hours, we cannot arrange for their removal as this is likely to be a temporary hive to protect the queen bee.
Bees that have formed a hive at a safe height i.e. high up in a tree, may not be removed as generally, this does not pose a health/safety risk.
If you have any questions or concerns about our services please contact one of our Environmental Health Officers.
European Wasps
European wasps are attracted to sweet food/ drink and meat.
If left undisturbed, the European wasp is not aggressive to humans or other animals. They may, however, become aggressive when their nest is disturbed, releasing a chemical that signals the other wasps to defend their nest. Unlike bees, wasps can sting multiple times.
We do not remove wasps from private property. Please contact a pest control company that will remove wasps for a fee.
We will remove wasps from council land if it has been identified that the wasps are causing a risk to public health and safety. Please call our Customer Service.
- Keep pools covered.
- Avoid leaving pet food out.
- Do not leave fallen fruit or scraps in the yard.
- Ensure your rubbish has a tight-fitting lid.
- Cover exposed food at picnics.
Rats
Common signs of rat activity are rat droppings, partially eaten food (e.g. half-eaten fruit and empty snail shells), gnawing, burrows, and greasy rub marks along pathways (commonly the fence line).
How to remove rats from your property:
To reduce rat activity you need to deprive the rodents of food, water, and shelter; coupled with rat baiting and or trapping.
Council recently banned the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) from being used on its own properties by staff and contractors, in order to protect our wildlife and our community's pets. These particular chemicals remain in the body of dead rodents for many months after they die and any animal that eats the dead rodent will also become poisoned and is at risk of dying. This can include pet cats and dogs as well as wildlife such as birds of prey. It is recommended to consider other non-poison controls such as traps. If you need to use baits consider using 'natural' or first-generation alternatives. For more information go to the link below.
Some simple steps you can take:
- Place all food scraps in a container with a close-fitting lid. If compost bins are used, keep the base of the bin clear of any vegetation, and don't throw meat or dog faeces into the compost bin.
- Keep fowl yards clear of all waste products.
- Keep poultry and animal food in metal bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Where there are fruit and nut trees, regularly clean up any fallen fruit or nuts.
Mosquitoes are generally a nuisance insect, however, in some regions can carry diseases. Fortunately, in the Holdfast Bay area, the disease carriers have not been detected.
The most effective way to control mosquito populations is to eliminate breeding sites. Mosquitoes like to breed in stagnant and undisturbed water bodies. Therefore it is important that stagnant water bodies, such as the base of pot plants, birdbaths, and ponds are emptied or water replenished on a regular basis to prevent mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes will not breed in chlorinated waters, for example, swimming pools, or well-stocked fish ponds as the fish will consume the mosquito larvae before they hatch.
In addition to eliminating breeding sites, people can protect themselves from mosquito bites by implementing self-protection measures. These may include:
• Wear loose-fitting light-coloured clothing that covers the majority of the body.
• Use insect repellent sprays, coils, candles, or similar products.
• Fit insect screens (1mm) to all windows and entry points on your home.