Reserve Management

Management of the Reserve aims to conserve and enhance the natural values within and around the property.  With the help from volunteers and neighbours, the Bush Heritage Australia uses integrated approaches to managing the plants, animals and soils of the reserve, by reducing the impacts of wildfire and introduced animals and plants.  

Over 30 species of introduced weeds have been identified on the reserve.  The weeds have mostly established in the more disturbed parts of the reserve, and are a legacy of the history of cropping and grazing, and the unmanaged movement of vehicles, people and animals throughout the property.  Though most of the weeds on the reserve are restricted in their distribution, they threaten to compete with native plants and can alter the ecology of native animals that rely on the native plant species.

Feral animals also have significant impacts on the reserve.  Managing the reserve involves actively monitoring and controlling introduced predators and grazers.  Many of the station bores and wells are maintained to help with trapping goats during the summer period. 

Fox baiting is carried out over the reserve four times a year.  The baits contain a poison called 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) which occurs naturally in numerous native plants of the south west of WA (the toxin is particularly high in the Gastrolobium family.)  Many of our native animals have evolved to be tolerant of the 1080 toxin.  1080 is extremely effective in controlling foxes, but will also readily kill dogs and cats