What's different in Cessnock
Bush in and around town
Werakata National Park and State Conservation Area are sections of bushland in and around Cessnock, at 3336 and 2642 hectares in the parks' 2014 statement. That's a lot of edge between yards and trees.
What lives out there
That statement lists foxes, wild dogs and feral deer in the parks, with feral cats and rabbits recorded too. None of them is a house pest, but they're what you'll see along the fence.
Land managers carry a duty
Cessnock City Council, quoting the Local Land Services Act 2013, says all land managers, public or private, have an obligation to control declared pest species. The list includes wild rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs and European red foxes.
Natives are protected
The council reminds residents that all native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals except the dingo are protected. That covers the possum in your roof and the snake on your path. A snake is a job for a licensed snake catcher.
Creeks to the north
NSW SES says Branxton, Greta and Huntlee can flood from Black, Anvil and Sawyers creeks. If that's you, the first job afterwards is tipping out whatever's holding water.
In the house or over the fence?
| In the house | Over the fence | |
|---|---|---|
| What you're seeing | Termites, rats, mice, cockroaches, wasps | Foxes, rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs, deer |
| Where to start | A pest business | NSW Local Land Services, as the council suggests |
| What helps at home | Sealed food, a dry subfloor, clear walls | Secure bins, sound fencing, nothing left out to eat |
| The rule | Technicians hold a NSW EPA licence | Land managers must control declared pests |
Termite inspection in Cessnock
Termites don't have to start in the house. CSIRO says subterranean termites usually forage within 30 m of their nest and occasionally 100 m or more, so stumps, old fence posts and sleepers near the house all count.
A termite inspection should end in a written report that says what was checked and what couldn't be reached. In NSW, an inspection that uses no pesticides doesn't need an EPA licence, so ask what training and insurance the inspector has. Buying here? Get a timber pest inspection as well as the building report.
Rodent control around town
Droppings are the quickest clue. Mouse droppings are 3 mm to 6 mm long, and rat droppings 10 mm to 18 mm. Photograph what you find, because it tells a pest controller what they're dealing with before they arrive.
What we'd do about pests in Cessnock
Work out whether the problem is in the house or over the fence. In the house, tap it with your postcode. If it's a fox or a rabbit, Local Land Services is the right first call.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
