Invasive, introduced pest animals and weeds, are widespread across NSW. Many are listed as key threatening processes and pose a danger to over 70% of all threatened species.
The proposed NSW Invasive Species Plan 2015–2022 sets out goals, strategies and guidelines to exclude, eradicate or manage invasive species across all lands in NSW.
NPWS has developed specific regional pest management strategies for the control of pest animals and plants within the NSW National Parks Estate.
Pest animals and weeds found in our national parks
Pest animals like foxes, wild dogs, feral pigs, rabbits, feral goats and feral cats are widespread across the state. Other pests, such as feral horses, deer, rats and cane toads, present localised problems in some parks and reserves.
Invasive weeds can include bitou bush, lantana, blackberry, scotch broom, African olive, introduced perennial grasses, such as Coolatai and buffel grass, and exotic vines and scramblers, such as asparagus weeds. All of these weeds are listed as key threatening processes in NSW.
Currently, one of the most important weed programs in NSW is the eradication of two new species, orange hawkweed and mouse-ear hawkweed, from Kosciuszko National Park.