Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if there is a snake in or around my house?
Contact the snake call-out number in your area:
- Darwin, Palmerston and rural areas: 1800 453 210
- Katherine: 0407 934 252
- Alice Springs: 0407 983 276
If you find a snake in your house or yard, it is important that you monitor the whereabouts of the snake so that it can be more easily captured.
What should I do if I find moulted snake skins in my garden?
It is possible that the snake will no longer be in the garden, however caution should be exercised anyway. In this event, contact the snake call out number in your local area.
- Darwin, Palmerston and rural areas: 1800 453 210
- Katherine: 0407 934 252
- Alice Springs: 0407 983 276
What should I do if I spot a saltwater crocodile?
Contact the crocodile call-out number in your local area:
- Darwin: 0419 822 859 or 8999 4691
- Katherine: 0407 958 405 or 8973 8888
What should I do if I have bees flying around my tap?
Native bees are very important for the natural environment because they pollinate native plants. For this reason, it is important that we don’t interfere with these insects – native bees will not sting or harm people.
Bees will naturally migrate to water, which they use to cool their hives. The only way to deter them is to offer them an alternative water source. One of the best options is to provide a household bucket containing a log or rock which is partially submerged (for the bees to rest on while they draw water). For the most effective results, place the bucket near to their nest or in the line of their flight – this will also keep them away from your house.
If you are unable to locate the hive, place a bag over the tap to deter them away from the tap – this will also make the bucket of water more attractive to them.
Contact Vicki Similesa at DPIFM - Phone: 8999 2036
What should I do if I have flying foxes (bats) on my property?
Flying foxes are very important pollinators of native trees (particularly Eucalypts) because they fly over much longer distances than many other animals, dispersing seeds and pollen as they feed. Flying foxes are also important for nutrient regeneration and nutrient cycling within the ecosystem.
Flying fox population sizes and distribution in Australia has changed significantly since European settlement. Loss of natural habitat and food supply due to land clearing and human culling has rapidly reduced the numbers of some species. Moreover, flying foxes are vulnerable to loss of feeding and roosting areas as a result of forestry operations, land degradation, and human infrastructure, including fences and powerlines. Flying foxes are protected under Northern Territory Legislation. It is illegal to interfere with flying foxes without a permit.
However, if you have problems with flying foxes roosting in your yard, there are a number of things that you can try to reduce these problems:
- Remove tall trees that may be selected by flying foxes as roosting sites.
- Noise can be minimised by preventing disturbances near flying fox roosting sites (e.g. limit the use of loud machinery such as chainsaws and lawn mowers). This will reduce the noise that flying foxes make when they are disturbed.
- Prune trees to reduce the protection offered to flying foxes. Since flying foxes will select cool and shaded trees, pruned trees are less attractive.
- Reduce the availability of fruit by tying bags around developing fruit on the trees and removing excess fruit from trees.
- To prevent damage caused by bat droppings, cover vehicles with a tarpaulin.
- In the initial stages of flying foxes moving into your backyard, air horns or other loud noises (e.g. banging on pots) may encourage flying foxes to move to another area.
Do not handle flying foxes. If you find an injured animal or an animal that has fallen out of a tree, contact the Wildlife Rescue organisation in your local area (see below).
What should I do if I encounter an injured animal?
Contact the Wildlife Rescue organisation in your local area:
- Darwin: 0409 090 840
- Katherine: 0407 934 252
- Alice Springs: 0419 221 128
Further information can be found on this website.
Alternatively, you can take an injured animal to any arc hospital or veterinary clinic for attention at no cost to yourself.
What should I do if I have a possum in my roof?
In the first instance, try cutting back overhanging trees to reduce access to the roof, grease the posts leading to the roof and plugging any holes to prevent access. If these options don’t work, contact a pest control company and organise to hire a trap.
What should I do if I am repeatedly attacked by a plover?
Masked Lapwings, or plovers, will swoop in an attempt to defend their eggs or young. These attacks are seasonal and will usually cease when the eggs hatch and the chicks are mobile. It is unusual for these animals to strike, and contact is rarely made.
If the problem is minor or rare and doesn’t threaten your lifestyle, consider tolerating these animals. Alternatively, you can:
- avoid the birds during the breeding season by taking a different route,
- travel in groups as plovers will generally only approach individuals,
- wear a hat
- hold or wave a stick or flag above your head,
- if you are on a bike, dismount and walk through this area.
You should not:
- Stare at a bird when being swooped.
- Panic or run.
- Search for the nest or young,
- Remove eggs or destroy the nest,
- Harass, interfere or throw objects at the birds.
What should I do if I find an animal that I am unable to identify?
First, investigate appropriate field guides from your local library.
- In the case that you absolutely can’t identify an animal, take a photo an email it to: edward.dostine@nt.gov.au
- or phone the Wildlife Query Line on 8999 4582
What should I do if an animal is digging up my garden?
All native animals are protected under Northern Territory legislation, making it an offence to interfere with them. However, there are some activities that you could attempt to reduce the effects of these animals. Some of these animals are covered in the ‘Living with Wildlife’ section of this website: http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/animals/living/index.html
What should I do if I have feral dogs attacking my cattle?
Currently, the Parks and Wildlife service provides a free service to assist pastoralists to manage wild dogs outside of townships. Parks and Wildlife undertakes this activity to ensure the preservation of dingoes, which are a protected species under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act. For assistance and further information see the checklist for landholders [include link here]. For bookings or additional information, contact the Parks and Wildlife office closest to you.
- Darwin: 0401 115 702
- Katherine: 0407 934 252
- Alice Springs: 0401 115 725
In Local Government Areas, contact your local government council
I have a pet that I no longer want anymore. Can I release it into the wild?
No. It is not ethical and, in many cases, it is prohibited to release kept animals into the wild. These animals have become accustomed to being provided with food and shelter and as such, the animal has not adapted to fend for itself. Thus, releasing this animal into the wild is placing this animal at a high risk of starvation or predation. In addition, there is concern that many animals that have been held in captivity may have diseases. Releasing these animals into the wild will potentially spread these diseases to wild populations, threatening these populations.
Under, subject to a declaration under section 44 of the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, it is prohibited to release protected wildlife into the Territory. All native animals are protected under this legislation, so it is therefore illegal to release any native animal into the wild. Under this legislation, it is also illegal to release restricted species in the Territory.
Under the Fisheries Act, it is prohibited bring into or release into the Territory any live aquatic life, live fish, or any live eggs, fry, spat, or larva of fish.
However, if for some reason you need to get rid of your pet, consider visiting your local pet store for assistance in finding it a new home.
What should I do if I find eggs in my garden?
If you find eggs from a native animal in your garden, it is important that you don’t touch or move the eggs, as this may damage them. Generally, animals will lay their eggs at the correct depth, temperature and moisture, and if you move the eggs, you risk damaging them. During captive breading of reptiles, breeders ensure that the eggs are not too disturbed and place them back onto the same side that they had been on from the beginning – they never turn the eggs over.
What is the Government doing to support cane toad management in the NT?
The NT Government provides considerable funding to assist FrogWatch in the management of cane toads in the greater Darwin area. This funding assists FrogWatch to maintain a website, 1800 hotline and assistance to the community. For more information on cane toads, to report sightings, to dispose of captured toads, or to become involved in cane toad management, contact FrogWatch:
- Phone: 1800 243 564
What should I do if I find a dead animal with a cane toad in its mouth?
Contact Frogwatch on Phone: 1800 243 564 or http://www.frogwatch.org.au
