Wild dogs left with nowhere to hide following coordinated baiting program
23 Jul 2021
Western Local Land Services and landholders who are members in 22 pest management and Western Landcare groups have carried out one of the largest ever wild dog baiting programs in the Western Division.
The targeted campaign commenced at the start of May, with a fixed-wing aircraft travelling along 6,348 kilometres of predetermined bait lines, dropping 63,480 baits over largely inaccessible country across 155 properties for the control of wild dogs.
Following aerial baiting which took just over a week, landholders in pest management and Western Landcare groups worked with their local biosecurity officers to collect meat baits to strategically distribute on their property, which concluded by the end of May.
In total, 126,827 baits were placed by landholders on 335 properties, covering an area of 10,709,334 hectares.
The ongoing baiting programs targeting wild dogs and other pest animals like foxes and feral cats are hugely important according to Biosecurity Team Leader, Tim Wall.
“The numbers of baits distributed, and total area covered, are incredible, but extremely necessary to help reduce the impacts of wild dogs on individual landholders and the wider agricultural industry,” Mr Wall said.
“By removing wild dogs from the landscape, we are protecting primary production, native animals including many that are endangered species, and increasing biosecurity.
“The participating landholders are to be congratulated and we thank them for continuing to work with us in the fight against wild dogs and other pest animals.
“We strongly encourage any landholder not undertaking any forms of control for pest animals such as wild dogs to join their nearest pest management group as soon as possible.”
Western Local Land Services will continue to offer its Professional Wild Dog Controller Program to landholders looking to engage the services of a wild dog trapper. At present, landholders can arrange for a trapper to visit their property for no charge for a day to investigate wild dog activity and look for wild dog sign.
To organise a trapper to visit your place or get further information on pest animal management, contact Western Local Land Services on 1300 795 299, via our online enquiry form or our Facebook page.
Media contact: Charlie Whiteley, Western Local Land Services, 0428 679 974.