Cold Bore Precision

15/10/2026

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT | EUROPEAN BROWN HARE

Did you know? European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) are an introduced species found across much of temperate south-eastern Australia.

Although often mistaken for rabbits, brown hares have some distinct characteristics.

A few interesting facts:

Built for speed: Brown hares can reach speeds of approximately 50 km/h when escaping danger.

Agricultural impacts: They feed on grasses, crops and young vegetation, potentially causing damage to emerging crops, seedlings and plantations.

No underground warrens: Unlike European rabbits, hares generally rest above ground in shallow depressions known as forms.

Signs of activity: Look for distinctive tracks, droppings, feeding damage and well-used movement paths.

Adaptable animals: Hares are commonly associated with open grasslands, agricultural country and lightly wooded landscapes.

Distribution: Their main Australian range extends across temperate south-eastern regions, including Tasmania, with records extending into Queensland.

At Cold Bore Precision, understanding the behaviour, distribution and environmental impacts of introduced species is an important part of effective vertebrate pest management.

Our latest fact sheet explores the European brown hare, including identification, behaviour, signs of activity and Australian distribution.

Check out the fact sheet below!

Cold Bore Precision | Vertebrate Pest Management

11/10/2026

FERAL HORSES IN AUSTRALIA — UNDERSTANDING THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Feral horses, often referred to as brumbies, are one of Australia’s most recognisable introduced animals. While they hold cultural and historical significance for many Australians, unmanaged populations can place considerable pressure on our natural environment.

Why are feral horses a management concern?

Feral horses are highly adaptable, capable of travelling considerable distances and surviving across a wide range of Australian environments.

Where populations are concentrated, their activities can contribute to:

* Overgrazing and loss of native vegetation.
* Soil compaction, erosion and habitat degradation.
* Damage to waterways, wetlands and natural waterholes.
* Competition with livestock and native grazing animals for food and water.
* The spread of invasive weeds through movement and dung.

Recognising signs of feral horse activity

Common field indicators include hoofprints, fibrous dung, well-used trails, disturbed soil, grazing damage and heavily used water points.

Where are they found?

Feral horses have historically occupied areas across northern and inland Australia, particularly the Northern Territory and Queensland, with populations also recorded in Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

Our accompanying fact sheet includes a historical distribution map based on Australian Government reference material.

Professional vertebrate pest management

At Cold Bore Precision, we recognise the importance of responsible, evidence-based management that balances environmental protection, animal welfare and legislative requirements.

Effective management begins with understanding the species, identifying impacts and assessing the most appropriate response for each location.

Protecting Our Land | Our Wildlife | Our Future

www.coldboreprecision.com.au

01/10/2026

FERAL DONKEYS | BIG ANIMALS, BIG IMPACTS

Feral donkeys (Equus asinus) are well adapted to Australia’s arid and semi-arid environments and can travel considerable distances in search of feed and water.

At high densities, their impacts can include increased grazing pressure, competition with livestock and native herbivores, vegetation degradation, soil erosion, damage around water points and the spread of weeds.

Signs to look for:
Distinct hoof prints, well-used pads and trails, dung accumulations, browsing damage and concentrated activity around water.

Key takeaway: Effective pest management starts with knowing what is present, where animals are moving and how populations are using the landscape. Surveillance and monitoring allow control efforts to be better targeted and their effectiveness measured over time.

This week’s Cold Bore Precision species fact sheet takes a closer look at the Feral Donkey — its distribution, biology, identification, impacts and management.

For professional vertebrate pest surveillance, monitoring and control, contact Cold Bore Precision.

Protecting Our Land | Our Wildlife | Our Future

23/09/2026

FERAL GOATS | HARDY, ADAPTABLE & DESTRUCTIVE

Feral goats are highly adaptable and occur across much of mainland Australia, particularly throughout arid and semi-arid rangelands.

Their impacts can extend well beyond competition with livestock. At high densities, feral goats can contribute to:

• Over-browsing and loss of native vegetation
• Soil erosion and land degradation
• Competition with livestock and native herbivores
• Damage around water points, crops and infrastructure
• Reduced regeneration of native plant communities
• W**d spread across the landscape

Understanding the signs of activity is an important part of effective management. Tracks, pellet groups, browsing damage, resting areas, camera surveillance and direct observations can all help establish where goats are active and how they are using an area.

Effective feral-goat management generally requires an integrated approach, combining surveillance with appropriate control methods and ongoing monitoring.

Our latest Cold Bore Precision fact sheet provides an overview of the Feral Goat (Capra hircus), its biology, impacts, field signs and management considerations.

Protecting Our Land • Our Wildlife • Our Future

20/09/2026

18/09/2026

WILD DOGS & DINGOES | KNOW THE SIGNS

Wild dogs can have significant impacts on livestock, agricultural production and native fauna across Australia.

Effective management starts with understanding what is happening on the ground. Tracks, s**t, den sites, livestock impacts, camera monitoring and other field evidence can all help build a clearer picture of wild-dog activity.

Importantly, no single sign should be considered in isolation. Good pest management relies on identification, monitoring and evidence-based decision making before control measures are implemented.

This week’s Cold Bore Precision species fact sheet takes a closer look at the Wild Dog / Dingo, including identification, distribution, impacts, field signs and management considerations.

At Cold Bore Precision, we support landholders, pastoral operations, government and industry with practical vertebrate pest-management solutions tailored to the environment and operational requirements.

Protecting Our Land • Our Wildlife • Our Future

11/09/2026

EUROPEAN FOX | A Highly Adaptable Introduced Predator

The European fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of Australia’s most widespread introduced predators and can have significant impacts on native wildlife, biodiversity and agricultural production.

Foxes are highly adaptable and can occupy environments ranging from pastoral and agricultural land to bushland, conservation areas and the peri-urban fringe.

🔎 Key takeaway: Seeing a fox is only one indicator of activity.

Scats, tracks, den sites, diggings, predation evidence and surveillance data can all help build a clearer picture of where foxes are active and how they are using an area.

Effective fox management is generally strongest when it is planned, targeted and integrated—combining appropriate control techniques with monitoring before and after control to assess results and identify reinvasion.

At Cold Bore Precision, we support landholders, industry and environmental managers with practical vertebrate pest management, surveillance and monitoring tailored to the operational environment.

Protecting Our Land • Our Wildlife • Our Future