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In this section

Livestock

If stray livestock are on a public road, you can contact council or the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 19 40.

Animals may be impounded by a council ranger and a fine may be imposed.

If stray livestock are located on a private property it is a civil matter and council has no powers to get involved.  However, you can contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 for assistance.

Stock routes

The Queensland stock route network is used for moving stock on foot, pasture for emergency agistment and long-term grazing.  It covers about 72,000 km and 48 local government areas.

To use the network, you need permits for:

  • Travelling stock on foot
  • Grazing (agistment) of stock
  • Using water facilities

Feral animal baiting programs

Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080) is a target-specific pesticide and is registered for use in the control of wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes, cats and rabbits. It is widely used in Australia to protect farming production and native flora and fauna from the impacts of pest animals and is the most efficient, humane and species-specific pesticide currently available.

1080 can only be handled by licensed operators and cannot be used in urban areas. Coordinated baiting programs are hosted annually and are generally conducted in autumn and again in spring.

  • Wild dog bonus payment

    The payment for scalps is $30.00 each and can be organised at any of our collection centres.

    All scalps must be either singly frozen or salted and dried when presented to the below collection centres. If they are presented in a manner that is offensive due to odour or poor condition that makes it difficult to identify, council reserves the right to refuse the scalp. This includes any scalp that is suspected of poisoning from wither 1080 or strychnine.

  • Scalp collection centres
    Name   Location   Phone 
    Rangers Office  68 Borilla Street, Emerald (booking required)  1300 242 686 
    Wally Peart  Arcadia Valley  4626 7187 
    Springsure Office  Eclipse Street, Springsure    

    1300 242 686 
    Duaringa Office  William Street, Springsure 
    Blackwater Office  Mackenzie Street, Blackwater 
    Capella Office  Conran Street, Capella 

The payment for scalps is $30.00 each and can be organised at any of our collection centres.

All scalps must be either singly frozen or salted and dried when presented to the below collection centres. If they are presented in a manner that is offensive due to odour or poor condition that makes it difficult to identify, council reserves the right to refuse the scalp. This includes any scalp that is suspected of poisoning from wither 1080 or strychnine.

Name   Location   Phone 
Rangers Office  68 Borilla Street, Emerald (booking required)  1300 242 686 
Wally Peart  Arcadia Valley  4626 7187 
Springsure Office  Eclipse Street, Springsure    

1300 242 686 
Duaringa Office  William Street, Springsure 
Blackwater Office  Mackenzie Street, Blackwater 
Capella Office  Conran Street, Capella 
Wild dog fact sheet

Cat trapping service

Free trap hire is available, however, a $100.00 refundable deposit is required to council.

Cat owners’ responsibilities

To avoid cats being trapped, cat owners should first ensure their cats are contained on their property. Cats should also be microchipped.

  • Step 1: Hire a trap

    Call council to make a booking and collect your trap from the ranger’s main office located at 68 Borilla Street, Emerald. Arrangements can be organised at other locations, request this when making your call.

    Traps may be hired for a one-week period from Monday to Friday and must be returned by 5.00 pm on the due date.

  • Step 2: How to set the trap

    The team will provide instructions on how to set the trap. Traps must be set in a shaded area and supplied with water.

  • Step 3: Collection of a trapped cat

    Collection of trapped cats can be organised with the team during business hours, Monday to Friday. Trapped cats can also be brought to the rangers office.

  • Step 4: What happens to a trapped cat

    If deemed safe to handle, a trapped cat will be on our lost, found and adoptions page.
    If an owner can be identified, the cat will be held in the pound for five days.
    If an owner can’t be identified, it will be held in the pound for three days.
    After this period, it will be assessed for rehoming or euthanisation.

  • Important information

    Council will not pick up a trapped cat after hours, on weekends or on public holidays.

    Traps are not to be used for trapping anything else but cats. Anyone with concerns about managing other wildlife should contact ranger services for advice.

    Returning a damaged trap or failure to return the trap will forfeit the $100.00 deposit.

Magpies

The Australian magpie is a native bird and is protected under Queensland Government legislation. The magpie plays an important role in natural pest management as it preys on small insects, such as mosquitoes.

  • Breeding

    Magpies are well known for attacks on humans during the breeding season, which peaks from August to October, however nesting can take place anytime from July to December.

    Magpies only swoop when they have chicks in their nests. This is a natural behaviour, typically performed by the male magpie to ward off perceived intruders.

    Only a small proportion of magpies ever attack people. Magpies will usually only defend area of around 100 m radius; concentrating their activity on the zone around the nest tree. Magpies swoop to scare the intruder away from the nest, not to cause injury.

  • Swooping

    Where magpie swooping is occurring, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection advises the following techniques to avoid or reduce the impact of a magpie attack:

    • Never deliberately provoke or harass a magpie. Throwing sticks or stones at magpies usually makes a magpie more defensive.
    • Avoid areas where magpies are known to swoop. (Remember, magpie aggression lasts only a few weeks and magpies usually only defend a small area of about 100 m in radius around their nest.)
    • Find the bird and keep watching it when entering a magpie territory. If swooped on, don’t crouch in fear or stop. Move on quickly but don’t run.
    • Bike riders – dismount and walk through nesting magpie territory, wear a helmet, and fit an orange traffic flag.
    • Bike riders – turn your helmet into an echidna! Attach a dozen 30 cm ‘quick ties’ to the slots in your bike helmet so that they stick out like spines. These can keep attacking magpies away.
    • Wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect yourself. A magpie will attack initially from behind. When a magpie is tricked into believing the target is alert, an attack is stopped or not even started.
    • Learning to live with magpies can be rewarding. You can observe local magpies, study their behaviour and listen to their songs. We share the same living space. Learning to live together is an important step towards building a better living environment.
  • Magpie translocation

    We are sometimes asked to remove (translocate) swooping male magpies. Translocating the male bird leaves the female and her chicks on their own.

    Studies by Griffith University have shown that when this occurs, an unattached male will often take on the role of male carer by defending the nest site and helping the female to feed the chicks.

    This behaviour suggests that translocation is not a very effective solution to magpie swooping.  If no male appears, the female will struggle to feed her hungry chicks, and they may die – a situation that raises serious ethical questions.

    Translocation is a last resort action used to remove very aggressive individuals – specifically those that have caused injury.

  • Resources

Magpies are well known for attacks on humans during the breeding season, which peaks from August to October, however nesting can take place anytime from July to December.

Magpies only swoop when they have chicks in their nests. This is a natural behaviour, typically performed by the male magpie to ward off perceived intruders.

Only a small proportion of magpies ever attack people. Magpies will usually only defend area of around 100 m radius; concentrating their activity on the zone around the nest tree. Magpies swoop to scare the intruder away from the nest, not to cause injury.

Where magpie swooping is occurring, the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection advises the following techniques to avoid or reduce the impact of a magpie attack:

  • Never deliberately provoke or harass a magpie. Throwing sticks or stones at magpies usually makes a magpie more defensive.
  • Avoid areas where magpies are known to swoop. (Remember, magpie aggression lasts only a few weeks and magpies usually only defend a small area of about 100 m in radius around their nest.)
  • Find the bird and keep watching it when entering a magpie territory. If swooped on, don’t crouch in fear or stop. Move on quickly but don’t run.
  • Bike riders – dismount and walk through nesting magpie territory, wear a helmet, and fit an orange traffic flag.
  • Bike riders – turn your helmet into an echidna! Attach a dozen 30 cm ‘quick ties’ to the slots in your bike helmet so that they stick out like spines. These can keep attacking magpies away.
  • Wear a hat or carry an umbrella to protect yourself. A magpie will attack initially from behind. When a magpie is tricked into believing the target is alert, an attack is stopped or not even started.
  • Learning to live with magpies can be rewarding. You can observe local magpies, study their behaviour and listen to their songs. We share the same living space. Learning to live together is an important step towards building a better living environment.

We are sometimes asked to remove (translocate) swooping male magpies. Translocating the male bird leaves the female and her chicks on their own.

Studies by Griffith University have shown that when this occurs, an unattached male will often take on the role of male carer by defending the nest site and helping the female to feed the chicks.

This behaviour suggests that translocation is not a very effective solution to magpie swooping.  If no male appears, the female will struggle to feed her hungry chicks, and they may die – a situation that raises serious ethical questions.

Translocation is a last resort action used to remove very aggressive individuals – specifically those that have caused injury.

Flying foxes

Flying foxes are a protected species in Queensland and play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health.

Consuming fruit, nectar and blossoms, they travel up to 100 km a night, cross pollinating and dispersing seeds.

  • Flying foxes in the Central Highlands

    There are three flying fox species found in the Central Highlands region:  the black flying fox, the little red flying fox and the grey-headed flying fox. Living nearby to these native animals can be challenging, but armed with the right information and a good ‘bat-itude’ we can learn to co-exist.

  • Living with flying foxes

    There is no reason to be alarmed if flying foxes set up camp nearby. Issues related to smell, noise, mess and damage to vegetation can be quickly addressed or, if necessary, handled with our assistance. Here are some tips for living near flying foxes:

    • Bring your washing in before dusk.
    • Park your cars under shelter.
    • Keep doors and windows closed at dawn and dusk to reduce noise.
    • Remove or cover fruit and flowers on trees on your property.
    • Keep dogs and cats inside at night and away from roost sites. If they become bitten or scratched, contact your veterinarian for advice.
    • Keep pet food and water indoors.
    • Move quietly near roost sites to avoid disturbing the roost – they make more noise when disturbed.
    • Avoid the used of barbed wire fences near flowering plants so that flying foxes don’t become ensnared.
  • Management actions

    Council have developed a Flying Fox Management Plan, which builds on our Flying Fox Statement of Management Intent. This plan provides a framework for managing flying foxes within the Central Highlands local government area.

    Any active management will be done in compliance with the Queensland Code of Practice, supporting the ecological and sustainable management of flying fox roosts.

    Flying foxes and their habitat are protected in Queensland. It is illegal to attempt to disperse flying fox camps without appropriate permits and can attract fines of up to $100 000 or a prison sentence.

    You can assist by reporting unusual flying fox sightings during dispersal activities.

  • Avoid handling flying foxes

    All bats should be viewed as potentially carrying Australian Bat Lyssavirus, although the risk of becoming infected with the virus is very low. Please don’t handle flying foxes, even if dead.  If disposing of a dead flying fox, do not directly touch it. Use a shovel or tongs and place into two plastic bags with your general rubbish. You can’t catch Lyssavirus from living near a roost or a fly-out, or from bat droppings.

    If you have been bitten or scratched seek medical attention as soon as possible from your doctor or the Queensland Health information line 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

  • Other resources
  • Fact sheets

There are three flying fox species found in the Central Highlands region:  the black flying fox, the little red flying fox and the grey-headed flying fox. Living nearby to these native animals can be challenging, but armed with the right information and a good ‘bat-itude’ we can learn to co-exist.

There is no reason to be alarmed if flying foxes set up camp nearby. Issues related to smell, noise, mess and damage to vegetation can be quickly addressed or, if necessary, handled with our assistance. Here are some tips for living near flying foxes:

  • Bring your washing in before dusk.
  • Park your cars under shelter.
  • Keep doors and windows closed at dawn and dusk to reduce noise.
  • Remove or cover fruit and flowers on trees on your property.
  • Keep dogs and cats inside at night and away from roost sites. If they become bitten or scratched, contact your veterinarian for advice.
  • Keep pet food and water indoors.
  • Move quietly near roost sites to avoid disturbing the roost – they make more noise when disturbed.
  • Avoid the used of barbed wire fences near flowering plants so that flying foxes don’t become ensnared.

Council have developed a Flying Fox Management Plan, which builds on our Flying Fox Statement of Management Intent. This plan provides a framework for managing flying foxes within the Central Highlands local government area.

Any active management will be done in compliance with the Queensland Code of Practice, supporting the ecological and sustainable management of flying fox roosts.

Flying foxes and their habitat are protected in Queensland. It is illegal to attempt to disperse flying fox camps without appropriate permits and can attract fines of up to $100 000 or a prison sentence.

You can assist by reporting unusual flying fox sightings during dispersal activities.

All bats should be viewed as potentially carrying Australian Bat Lyssavirus, although the risk of becoming infected with the virus is very low. Please don’t handle flying foxes, even if dead.  If disposing of a dead flying fox, do not directly touch it. Use a shovel or tongs and place into two plastic bags with your general rubbish. You can’t catch Lyssavirus from living near a roost or a fly-out, or from bat droppings.

If you have been bitten or scratched seek medical attention as soon as possible from your doctor or the Queensland Health information line 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).