By NICOLE VALICEK
SMART phone users in Hobsons Bay can now access the latest information about pest animals in the area via a new application.
The first ‘Field Guide to Pest Animals of Australia’ app of its kind in Australia gives smart phone users an opportunity to learn about 31 of Australia’s worst pest animals, the damage they cause and how to identify them.
Some of the resources available through the app, produced by the Invasive Animals Corporation research centre (IA CRC), include detailed species descriptions, photo galleries, maps and control techniques.
Pest manager at Twin Bays Pest Services Greg Sykes said the app could be informative as a guide.
He said the only real pests on it that are known in the Williamstown area are rodents, foxes, feral cats, and Indian Myna birds.
“The most trouble we get in this area is definitely rodents especially in the cooler months,” Mr Sykes said.
“The app could be quite useful especially if you live on a bit of land.”
However, he said it should only be used as a guide and a professional should always be called in where there is any doubt and to help eradicate the problem pest.
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries project manager for the IA CRC, Peter West said that the app also contained audio calls and photos of footprints, tracks and droppings.
Mr West said identifying Myna birds was a big challenge in the west and raising awareness was a key with the app helping to overcome these barriers.
“Awareness raising is the key, from that (people can form the) understanding minor birds are a threat and potentially join the community or local council and participate in control.”
He said the app makes it a lot easier to quickly identify pest animals in the local area and learn about some of the emerging pest animal threats to the environment, agriculture and communities.
“All areas of Australia have pest animals, and this mobile phone app will allow us to identify what pest animals occur in their area.”
“If you ever wanted to tell how to tell the difference between the footprints of foxes and wild dogs, what calls Indian Myna birds make, or what colour eye shine feral cats have, this app is for you.”
Download the app from the Apple App Store at https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/field-guide-to-pest-animals/id634197149?mt=8
