HELPING CONTROL PROBLEM WILD DOGS

After reviewing wild dog control activities and impacts across the Central Tablelands region, and consulting with a range of landholders it became obvious that there were a number of wild dogs who through old age, close calls or other reasons, were avoiding baits and general attempts to catch them. These “problem dogs” have serious impacts on livestock production as well as endangered wildlife populations.

As a means of reducing the number of problem dogs impacting landholders, we launched a trial program in the region that was supported by us and key land managers:

• Moolarben Coal Mine (Yancoal Australia Ltd)
• Wilpinjong Coal Mine (Peabody Energy Australia)
• NSW Crown Lands
• Forestry Corporation of NSW
• Water NSW

This program supplemented the current wild dog control work carried out via annual ground and aerial baiting programs and individual landholder controls.

Under the program, professional wild dog controllers were be deployed to areas where problem dogs are active and utilised trapping, strategic baiting, decoy howling and night shooting using thermal optics to remove the problem dogs.

After a rigorous application process, four controllers were chosen and they have worked within the region to control wild dogs in the Bylong, Sallys Flat, Hargraves and Turondale areas. We would like to thank landholders and pest animal groups who supported this program. 

Although this program ceased on 30 June 2022, the wild dog controllers will continue to be available for land managers to engage, as part of their own wild dog control efforts.

The controllers used in the program were:

Ross Garland 
Ph: 0458 010 066 
Email: ross.garland79@icloud.com

Andrew Hawkins 
Ph:0498 495 489 
Email: husky125350@gmail.com

Dan Kingsley
Ph: 0422 699 488 
Email: dktrapping@outlook.com

Nick Patterson 
Ph: 0428 694 158 
Email: nickylie@outlook.com