Spotlight on invasive species: Feral horses

Feral horses, or brumbies, are a major invasive pest in Australia’s alpine landscapes. They trample vegetation, compact soils, degrade fragile bogs and waterways, and compete with native wildlife.

In Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, current management efforts have reduced feral horse numbers to about 3,000, easing pressure on sensitive ecosystems. Numbers were at roughly 17,000 a year ago. Read more about population tracking on the NSW Environment site.

Image credit:  E McCrudden

Early signs show that with fewer horses, vegetation is beginning to regrow and eroded creek banks are stabilising. These changes are giving the landscape a chance to recover after decades of overgrazing. Learn more about these recovery trends in this article from The Conversation last month.

Exclusion fence showing horse impacts on left and healthy habitat on right. Image credit: Parks Victoria

Find best-practice feral horse control on PestSmart, including Codes of Practice (CoPs) and National Standard Operating Procedures (NATSOPs) for humane and effective management, including aerial and ground shooting, mustering, and trapping.