Funnel-webs come with the gardens here
Call 000 for a bite from any big black spider. It's a medical emergency, so don't wait for symptoms. Lie the person down, keep them still, and see our funnel-web spider page for the bandage steps.
What's different in the Hills
A big, mixed area
The Hills Shire Council's list dated 30 June 2022 runs from Bella Vista and Castle Hill out to Maroota, Lower Portland and Wisemans Ferry, and many suburbs are only partly in the Shire. What's true for a Norwest apartment isn't true for acreage at Annangrove.
Termites differ
Council's fact sheet says there are over 350 termite species in Australia, with about 30 of economic importance. Some NSW species only attack living trees, while others are highly destructive in a short time, so identifying yours matters.
Gullies and creeks
Council describes fern-lined gullies at Cattai Creek in Castle Hill, and sandstone cliffs and creeks at Richard Webb Reserve in West Pennant Hills. NSW Health says ticks are common in bushland and long grass, so check kids and dogs after a walk.
Small and native
A Bushcare group at Colbarra Place Reserve in West Pennant Hills goes by Pygmy Possum Patch. It's a fair clue that what you've seen in the garden at night may be protected wildlife.
Termite inspection and treatment in the Hills
Start with an inspection. It should tell you whether termites are active, which species they are and how they're getting in. If you've found mud tubes or damaged timber, don't touch them, because CSIRO says several control options rely on finding active termites.
The Hills Shire Council says any chemical used on termites must be registered for that use, and applied by a qualified pest controller who holds a licence, following the Australian Standards. In NSW that means the timber pest management technician licence for anyone who first got or renewed a licence after 17 December 2021.
Possum removal in the Hills: the NSW rule
Possums are protected under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Without a licence you can't trap one, catch and release one, or relocate one. Someone with a licence releases it at dusk, within 150 metres of where it was caught and near a tree or tall fence it can climb.
That short distance is why roof proofing is the real job here. The department that licenses these handlers says to ask whoever you hire if they hold a current licence, so do.
For acreage and big blocks
- Keep sheds tidy, and stack timber off the ground and away from buildings.
- Have old stumps and sleepers near the house looked at during the termite inspection.
- Store feed and pet food in sealed bins.
- Keep grass short near the house and paths.
If it were our house in the Hills District
A termite inspection first, then the possum gaps. Those two cover most of what catches people out in the Hills. Everything else can wait until you've seen it.
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.
