Manage, control or destroy wildlife
Most native animal species are protected by state laws. This means that generally it is an offence to catch, restrain, injure, take, kill, hunt, interfere with, harass, or molest a protected animal, or attempt to do so, without a permit.
In the first instance, any human-wildlife conflict should consider a living with wildlife approach. However, there are some situations where protected animals may need to be managed, such as if they are, or are likely to:
- damage the environment or property (including crops or built structures)
- cause a safety risk or hazard to people or industry
- be impacted by development or habitat disturbance.
Management activities that require permits may include:
- destroying wildlife on private land (e.g. kangaroos damaging commercial crops)
- trapping and releasing wildlife on private land (e.g. remove possums from your roof)
- being a wildlife control service provider (e.g. snake catching, possum removal, spotter/catcher services).
The department will consider a variety of factors when assessing a permit application to ensure the activity is legal, well planned and considers non-lethal management approaches. Learn more about wildlife management considerations and tools.
If your application for a permit is successful, you must abide by the permit conditions, relevant codes of practice and the Animal Welfare Act 1985.
If you intend to recreationally hunt animals, please refer to the hunting page.
Permit types and application forms
You need a Permit to Destroy Wildlife to kill protected animals, or to destroy the eggs of protected animals.
This permit allows people to reduce the impacts caused by wildlife, but is not a permit aimed to reduce the wildlife populations.
Before you apply to destroy native animals or eggs, consider how you can live with or manage the wildlife in some other way. Using non-lethal methods to reduce the impacts must be considered and where appropriate used before applying for a permit. For more information see Living with Wildlife.
If you’re unsure if you should apply to destroy impact causing wildlife on your property, see the decision tree on the Permit to Destroy Wildlife factsheet.
Protected animals
Protected animals are any native animal not listed as unprotected, this includes animals such as kangaroos, wallabies, birds or wombats. You must have a permit to destroy wildlife for any protected animal.
Unprotected animals
Generally, you do not need a permit to destroy animals listed as unprotected, however the destruction of any animal must abide by the Animal Welfare Act 1985. If you are destroying unprotected birds by shooting you should familiarise yourself with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the humane destruction of birds by shooting.
A permit is required if you intend to destroy unprotected birds by a method other than shooting, such as to trap and use carbon dioxide narcosis to destroy galahs or little corellas.
Before this type of permit can be approved you must have completed the department’s training on trapping and gassing. Please read the Code of Practice for the Humane Destruction of Flocking Birds by Trapping and Carbon Dioxide Narcosis and then email the Wildlife Management Unit to discuss your requirements.
Persons authorised to destroy wildlife
Wildlife must be destroyed using the most humane method to minimise the animals suffering. There are codes of practice to help you with this.
Property owners or occupiers can nominate other persons to destroy wildlife on their behalf on their application. Where a firearm is the proposed method of destruction, the department requires those listed on the permit to hold a valid and current firearms license.
Other persons undertaking destruction on the property must be listed on the permit and have written permission from the landholder to be on their land for the purpose of wildlife destruction. This permission to enter land templatemay be completed by a landowner to provide the written permission.
Permit holders and persons authorised to destroy wildlife under a permit must comply with any permit conditions and requirements of the regulations.
Apply
Download and follow the instructions on the relevant application form.
To apply to destroy protected animals:
To apply to destroy flocking birds by trapping and carbon dioxide narcosis:
You need a Trap and Release Protected Animals Permit to trap or catch and release any wildlife.
This permit is most commonly required for possum species causing impacts. In these cases a permit may be granted if one or more possums are occupying a residential or business premises (e.g. roof space), are causing impacts and alternative methods to solve the problem have not succeeded.
Before you apply for a permit to trap and release possums read our information on Living with possums.
To help guide and inform your trap and release activities, see our guidelines for trapping possums.
If your application for a permit is successful you must comply with the permit conditions, and requirements of the relevant legislation.
If you would like to trap and release a species other than possums, please email the Wildlife Management Unit for an application form.
Apply to trap and release possums
Download and follow the instructions:
Trap and Release Protected Animals Permit (possums) application form
You need a permit to be a wildlife control service operator (whether commercial or non-profit), which enables the catch, release, relocation or destruction of protected animals.
Wildlife Management (Controller) Permits are available to allow ongoing services on commercial and residential properties and project sites as required.
How do I apply?
See below to determine the service type you would like to provide which will direct you to the correct method for applying for a permit.
Service type | Application method | |
1 | Snake catching services (e.g. capture and release of snakes impacting safety) | |
2 | Possum control services (e.g. trap and release of possums causing damage or impacting safety) | |
3 | Wildlife control services for animals likely to be impacted by development or habitat disturbance (e.g.1. capture and relocate wildlife for an infrastructure development project (fauna spotter catcher), e.g.2. relocate and/or destroy bird nests, eggs and chicks due to tree removal) | Request application form by email |
4 | Wildlife control services for impact causing species other than possums or snakes (e.g. birds trapped in an office, kangaroo on a residential property) | Request application form by email |
If your application for a permit is successful you must abide by the permit conditions and requirements of the relevant legislation, including guidelines for activities involving possums and venomous snakes.
Where wildlife controllers intend to only provide a service on their own property or the property of their employer, whether commercially or on a voluntary basis, evidence of landholder permission along with property details may be required with the application.
