Stanley Vale Merino Stud - News & Views

Wild dog control toolbox to expand

10 July 2015

Producers should soon start to see the impact on the ground of increasing recognition, particularly from the Federal Government, of the national significance of wild dogs as a pest, according to Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre National Wild Dog Facilitator Greg Mifsud.

He said it would bolster work by producers and other stakeholders to reduce the $80 million impact of wild dogs on Australia's livestock industries.

Recognition came with the Federal Government’s recent announcement in the recent Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper of a further $1.35 million in funding, over two years, for the National Wild Dog Action Plan.

Greg said the recognition brings new opportunities to source funding through previously inaccessible pathways such as the National Landcare Programme.

“The action plan puts into place higher level strategies to support grassroots’ efforts to ensure wild dog management on the ground is effective long term,”
he said.

Greg said effective wild dog groups, delivering co-ordinated control programs embracing the nil tenure approach, were gaining ground. Find a list of tools on management of wild dogs here.

“We’re beginning to see some real momentum building, with all of our stakeholders now working co-operatively to deliver effective outcomes across community groups, regions and state borders,” he said.

New tools and products

Greg said the additional national plan funding would be invested in supporting the roll-out of new wild dog control tools and products during the next 12 months.

Toxin and injectors

“The new toxin PAPP and canid pest injectors will become commercially available and we need to inform communities and train people in best practice delivery right from the start,” he said.

“We want producers to become confident in the use of these tools as soon as possible.”

Alert system

The Federal Government has allocated a further $1 million for the development of a new wild dog alert system. Also funded by MLA, this project combines automated recognition of camera trap images with real-time messaging to notify producers that wild dogs have invaded their farm before attacks occur.

In future, this system will also have significant uses for other species such as feral pigs, foxes and feral cats

Mapping tool

In another development, Greg said Wild Dog Scan, a national wild dog activity mapping tool, has gone mobile with producers able to view and log real-time wild dog data on their mobile device.

“Recording this real time information will assist community groups to make management decisions based on current activity and wild dog movements,” he said.

“It has the potential to become a vital tool in managing wild dog attacks.”

Producers can access all the tools for wild dog management at http://www.pestsmart.org.au/

Greg Mifsud, National Wild Dog Management Facilitator, E: greg.mifsud@invasiveanimals.com

Read the Australia Government’s Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper 

New regional wild dog co-ordinators (positions funded by AWI)

NSW
Bruce Duncan, western division NSW duncanb@nswfarmers.org.au 
Dave Worsely, north-eastern NSW david.worsely@invasiveanimals.com

Queensland
Brett Carlsson, north-western Queensland carlssonb@agforceprojects.org.au

Victoria
Brian Dowley, Victorian Department of Environment, Land and Water brian.dowley@delwp.voc.gov.au 
David Krajca, Victorian Department of Environment, Land and Water david.krajca@delwp.vic.gov.au 
Tim Enshaw, Victorian Department of Environment, Land and Water tim.enshaw@delwp.vic.gov.au

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