Damage mitigation permits

The purpose of this permit type is to allow a person to lawfully remove native wildlife from property that is causing a threat to human health or well being, in a safe and humane manner.

Applicants for this permit type must demonstrate knowledge and experience in the biology and safe handling of wildlife and undertake activities in a competent and ethical way.

In order to demonstrate this, the following information must be provided with an application:

• Certificates showing completion of a training course concerning the keep, relocation, and safe handling of relevant wildlife. Examples of training courses may include removal and relocation of possums, swooping birds or nuisance birds, or reptile handling which covers the identification, care and safe handling of snakes (including large pythons and dangerous snakes) and large monitors.
• A current first aid certificate issued by an approved first aid provider.
• Referee reports from two (2) suitably skilled and qualified persons.
• Statements outlining the ability to handle wildlife, including safety procedures that will be applied when handling or moving wildlife and access to appropriate equipment.
• Statements outlining wildlife identification skills.
• A resume including details of qualifications provided with the application.

If an applicant does not have any experience, it is recommended that they contact a local damage mitigation permit holder for guidance about possible endorsement under this permit type.

Maximum duration of this damage mitigation permit type is three (3) years.

From 1 July 2023 the phase-out of flying-fox damage mitigation permits will commence.

Only a person who has held a flying-fox damage mitigation permit between 1 September 2012 and 30 June 2023 may continue to apply for a flying-fox damage mitigation permit. No new damage mitigation permits for the ecological sustainable lethal take of flying-foxes for crop protection will be granted after 1 July 2026.

More detailed information about flying-fox damage mitigation permits for crop protection is available.

The purpose of this permit type is to manage protected animals which are:

• causing damage or loss

or

• are a threat to human health or wellbeing.

The holder of this permit may:

• lethally take protected animals including harvest macropod species

or

• if lethally taking a protected animal, also tamper with the breeding place of the protected animal

or

• disturb or interfere with a protected animal.

Applications must include the following information:

• The proposed wildlife species, quantities to be taken and a statement which describes their relevant knowledge and experience that enables them to correctly identify the requested species.
• Statements which outline why a damage mitigation permit is required and what economic loss has been experienced; or details about a threat to human health or well being caused by the wildlife.
  • For economic loss, examples may include that economic loss is being suffered by damage to crops, pastures, fencing or water points. To support an application, an estimate of income lost due to reduced stocking rates; costs incurred to replace damaged irrigation or fencing by wildlife; or expenses incurred to pay employees to deter wildlife from crops is required to be provided.
  • For human health and wellbeing, applicants may provide details about what threat is occurring. Examples may include illness from a zoonotic disease (disease capable of being transmitted between wildlife and humans); or injury or a risk of an injury from aggressive wildlife.
• Advise of at least two (2) non-lethal methods which have been attempted to prevent or minimise the damage or loss.
• A landholder statement which allows for the lethal take of wildlife on the land (not applicable if the applicant is the landholder).

Where an application includes a harvest macropod species Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus), Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus) or Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), in order to ensure these species are conserved and any take is sustainable, the department assesses all damage mitigation permit applications against the requirements of the Assessment guideline for applications for damage mitigation permits (culling and dispersal) for lethal take of harvested macropods (PDF, 460.1KB) .

For a second or third application made in the same harvest period with a reduced quota, additional information is required to justify additional take. Refer to the application form for this permit type for details.

More detailed information regarding harvest macropod species under a damage mitigation permit is available.

Maximum duration of this damage mitigation permit type is:

• one (1) year

or

• three (3) years if an applicant operates under an ‘approved property management plan’.

An approved property management plan is defined in the regulation as a plan that is about the management of the land, provides for the conservation of wildlife on the land and is approved by the department.

The purpose of a property management plan is to provide an accredited wildlife management framework which accommodates land management activities, while protecting and conserving wildlife, and operates as an ‘approved property management plan’ as defined in the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 (the Animals Regulation).

To apply for a property management plan, please download the property management plan template under the forms section on this page to accompany your application.

Commercial airports identified as a strategic airport under the State Planning Policy are exempt from requiring a damage mitigation permit under section 42 of the Animals Regulation.

Operators of these airports may carry out lethal take without any approval, provided the take is consistent with the criteria set out in section 42 of the Animals Regulation.

Reasonable attempts must first be taken to prevent or minimise the threat and any action that is taken must not adversely affect the survival of the animal in the wild.

• For more information see the Operational policy Issue of lethal damage mitigation permit approvals for birds on airports.