Units

This resource offers four themed units of work.

Whole units can be worked through progressively by the student or alternatively teachers can select individual activities to support specific curriculum requirements.

Unit 1: What is a pest?

The word 'pest' is generally used to describe an animal that causes serious damage to a valued resource. Such a pest may be destructive, a nuisance, noisy or simply not wanted. A pest may be an animal that was originally introduced by humans to new lands - this is particularly the case in Australia. Or, it may be a native animal such as a kangaroo, possum or parrot.   More...

Unit 2: Risky business

Risk assessment guidelines for keeping and importing exotic animals play an extremely important role in assessing and reducing the likelihood of an introduced animal establishing a wild population and causing a negative impact on the environment, people and the Australian economy.    More...

Unit 3: Exterminate!

Despite improved understanding and a greater number of effective pest control methods, we have still been unsuccessful in completely eradicating existing pest animals from mainland Australia. Every year it is necessary to destroy hundreds of thousands of foxes, rabbits, mice, carp, cane toads, feral cats, feral goats and feral pigs because of the harm these animals can cause to the environment and industries.   More...

Unit 4: Sustainable management

Effective pest control is not easy. There are many factors that influence a result including economic circumstances, animal welfare issues, public perceptions and the availability of suitable control measures.  More...