What makes Castle Hill its own place
Near the edge of the range
The Australian Museum says the Sydney funnel-web's main range reaches as far west as Baulkham Hills near its southern end, and that's right next door. Males wander on humid nights over summer and autumn, and often end up in pools.
Don't trust a floating spider
Funnel-webs have been known to survive 24 to 30 hours under water, the museum says. Keep your hands out of the skimmer and don't assume one's dead.
Heritage Park
Castle Hill Heritage Park covers about 21 ha in a west facing valley, The Hills Shire Council says, and holds Critically Endangered Blue Gum High Forest. Blocks that back onto bush tend to get more wildlife visits, so keep gaps closed.
Mynas in the palms
Council says Indian mynas nest in tree hollows, roofs, exotic trees and the dead fronds of palms. The Australian Museum adds they breed from October to March and favour the walls and ceilings of buildings.
A spring list for Hills homes
- Trim palms well, and stop putting out birdseed if mynas show up.
- Don't leave pet food outside.
- Check roofs and eaves for holes, and repair them once you're sure nothing's living inside.
- Keep rockeries and leaf litter away from doors, where funnel-webs like to shelter.
- Keep gardens clear of the house walls so a termite inspector can see the edge of the slab.
Termite and building and pest inspections
Plenty of Castle Hill homes were built decades ago, and timber decks, retaining walls and additions all deserve a look. NSW advice says a building report won't tell you whether termites are around, so buyers should arrange a pest inspection too. The building side comes from a separate trade.
Bought your home a while ago? Book a termite inspection rather than waiting for a sign. If you've found mud tubes, keep your hands off them until an inspector has seen them.
If it were our house in Castle Hill
We'd do the spring list, then book the termite check. Spiders, rats and birds can wait until you've seen them, and then it's a matter of telling us what they are. Your postcode finds someone nearby.
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.
