Wildlife management and control authorisations

How to manage wildlife and apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW). In some areas, wildlife can damage property, farmland or the environment. Wildlife can also pose a threat to human safety, or suffer in areas where the species is over-abundant. Wildlife control may be needed to manage the problem.

Wildlife control must be lawful, thoughtful and well planned. It must consider the needs of people to protect their land, property and safety and it must also ensure animal welfare and environmental values are protected.

Landholders or land managers may apply to the Conservation Regulator for an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW).

Apply now(opens in a new window)

Frequently asked questions

Open all

What is an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW)?

An Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) is an authorisation issued under section 28A or section 28A(1A) of the Wildlife Act 1975 which allows a person to shoot, wilfully disturb or trap wildlife where it is damaging property, crops or other wildlife habitat or for the purposes of management, conservation or protection of wildlife. In Victoria, all wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Act. It is illegal to disturb or destroy wildlife without an appropriate authorisation, licence or exemption.

Land managers must exhaust all practical non-lethal control options before applying for an ATCW for lethal control, which is a last resort. Some non-lethal control options may require an ATCW.

What activities don’t require an ATCW?

The use of fencing to exclude wildlife from an area or compliant netting to protect fruit trees does not require an ATCW. Routine activities such as mowing, driving through paddocks to check on stock or other activities which may cause wildlife to be unintentionally disturbed do not require an authorisation under the Wildlife Act.

If you would like more information about non-lethal control methods that do not require an ATCW please refer to the fact sheets at wildlife.vic.gov.au or call DEECA on 136 186.

There are also other exceptions when an ATCW is not required, including:

shooting Eastern or Western Grey Kangaroos if you are using an authorised harvester as part of the Kangaroo Harvesting Program
if you engage a DEECA licensed Wildlife Controller for reptiles that are posing a safety risk to humans
where a species of wildlife has been declared by Governor in Council Orders as unprotected (noting only in the circumstances specified in the order).

What activities do require an ATCW?

You need to have an ATCW before:

shooting wildlife
wilfully disturbing wildlife (for example relocating wildlife)
removing nests with eggs and/or birds sitting on the nest
trapping wildlife.

When should I apply for an ATCW

Before applying for an ATCW, you must identify the species causing the problem and considered all practical non-lethal wildlife control methods, including:

exclusion techniques (e.g. fencing or compliant netting)
techniques to modify the animal’s behaviour (e.g. habitat modification)
modifying agricultural practices (e.g. avoiding aerial seeding or spillages or grain). Often a combination of methods is required. To effectively resolve a problem, plan ahead and be persistent.

All practical non-lethal control methods must be considered before you apply for an ATCW for lethal control.

How do I apply for an ATCW?

Applications for an ATCW must be made on the form provided by the Conservation Regulator. The application form is available below or can now apply online.

ATCW Application Form April 2026 PDF 437.62 KB (opens in a new window)

Applications must be complete and include all required information.

Further information to assist you completing your application is available in the Guide to applying for an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW).

How are ATCW applications assessed?

The Conservation Regulator undertakes a rigorous assessment of all ATCW applications to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Wildlife Act 1975. Your application will be assessed by a Forest and Wildlife Officer who may also contact you to organise a time to inspect your property to confirm the wildlife issues, including any damage being caused and any steps you have put in place to try to manage the issue.

The Conservation Regulator will assess what is practical on a case-by-case basis, considering what is achievable for individual landholders.

These include, but are not limited to:

the wildlife impact to the landholder
the impact on wildlife, including animal welfare and potential population impacts
the extent to which non-lethal control methods have been undertaken and their effectiveness
the impact of the proposed control, including on non-target species, local environmental values and neighbours
timing of the control (particularly in relation to non-lethal control options)
other management options being undertaken in the area that might impact the local wildlife population. In considering an application, the Conservation Regulator needs to be assured that there has been adequate assessment of the management options available and that any authorised control is consistent with the requirements of the Wildlife Act. In some cases, the Conservation Regulator may seek independent expert advice or require the property owner/manager to submit a Wildlife Management Plan to support the application.

Can I move wildlife to a new location?

All ATCWs are assessed individually by the Conservation Regulator. The translocation of wildlife is rarely supported because of the potential for negative animal welfare impacts, risks to the environment and limited locations to where wildlife can be moved to. The costs associated with translocation of wildlife can also be significant.

Sadly, there are animal welfare risks associated with capturing and/or translocating wildlife, including:

capture myopathy in which muscle damage occurs (even when an animal is sedated) which can be fatal
injuries or death as a result of fighting with existing populations;
increased road safety incidents as a result of animals attempting to move back to their original location or not settling into their new location;
starvation and disease risks in the medium to longer-term resulting from over-population; For more information, visit Translocation of Wildlife page on the DEECA website.

What other requirements need to be considered before controlling wildlife?

There are other requirements you might need to consider before controlling wildlife:

Anyone shooting wildlife must also comply with the Firearms Act 1996.

Depending on the location, you may need to obtain a Public Place Permit from Victoria Police before shooting wildlife in accordance with an ATCW. Penalties apply for non-compliance. For more information about matters regarding firearms please visit the Victoria Police website or call 1300 651 645.

It is your responsibility to check:

with your local councils’ bylaws to see if any of your proposed control methods require approval or have conditions of use
whether the proposed control methods or the disposal of any carcasses do not breach any restriction from the Environment Protection Act 2017 or regulations made under the Act such as Environment Protection Regulations 2021.

What happens if the conditions of an ATCW are not complied with?

All ATCWs include strict conditions to ensure that animals are controlled humanely. It is the responsibly of the landowner or manager, or anyone acting on their behalf, to comply with the conditions.

The Conservation Regulator undertakes proactive compliance activities to ensure permit holder comply with the conditions of their licence.

Failing to comply with these conditions is a breach of the Wildlife Act 1975 and could result in cancellation of the ATCW, as well as financial penalties and/or prosecution.

Applying for an ATCW

You can now apply for an ATCW online. The online form can be completed on your mobile device. Using the online form:

will ensure that all required information has been included before you submit your application
provide instant acknowledgement that your application has been received
will email you a copy of your application form for your records
help us process your application more efficiently.

Please note that if using the online form, you cannot save a draft – please make sure you have all required information before you start.

You can still apply by downloading a copy of the ATCW application form from the Conservation Regulator website and emailing it or posting to the address specified on the form.

All applications will still go through the same rigorous assessment to ensure they meet the requirements of the Wildlife Act 1975.

Apply now(opens in a new window)

Application for an Authority to Control Wildlife (March 2026) Word 435.91 KB (opens in a new window)

Help with your application

Download our guidance document to help you fill out your application form. It also shows how we assess applications and what can and cannot be authorised under an ATCW.

Authority to Control Wildlife application guide

Wildlife Management Plans

A wildlife management plan is a strategic plan developed to address a wildlife issue in a holistic way. It describes the species causing the issue, the location and site of the problem, and the management actions required to manage the problem. It may be required to support an application to control wildlife.

Find more information on Wildlife Management Plans and when they may apply.

Wildlife management fact sheet

The following fact sheets provide information about wildlife management methods for common wildlife species in Victoria.

The Kangaroo Harvesting Program

Under this program, landholders can use authorised harvesters to control Eastern and Western Grey Kangaroos on their property at no charge and do not need to apply for an ATCW. Unlike an ATCW, where landholders control and dispose of the kangaroos themselves, the harvesting program allows landholders to engage professional harvesters who will undertake the control and will remove the carcasses for commercial use.

Find out more about the Kangaroo Harvesting Programand how to contact an approved authorised harvester.

Updated 8 April 2026

Economic Growth Statement

Mini vic.gov.au

Wildlife management and control authorisations

Frequently asked questions

Applying for an ATCW

Help with your application

Wildlife Management Plans

Wildlife management fact sheet

The Kangaroo Harvesting Program

About the VIC Government

Grants and programs

Jobs and careers

Arts, culture and heritage

Business and the workplace

Communities

Education and training

Environment, water and energy

Finance and economy

Housing and property

Law and justice

Safety and emergencies

Science and technology

Sport and recreation

Traffic and transport

Working in the Victorian Government