Wild dogs
Wild dogs refer to all wild-living dogs including dingoes, feral domestic dogs and the hybrid descendants of these.
Impact of wild dogs
Wild dogs generally operate individually or in a small group, but rarely as a pack. They prey on livestock and native fauna, and spread diseases that affect livestock, pets, native animals and humans. They also pose a direct threat to domesticated pets and animals, as well as humans.
Wild dogs can be extremely cunning which can make control of their populations very difficult. Attacks on livestock can have significant financial and emotional impacts on landholders.
The primary focus of wild dog management is reducing the negative impacts of wild dogs on livestock across the region.
The NSW Wild Dog Management Strategy 2017-2021, promotes a balance between managing wild dogs in areas where they have negative impacts and preserving the ecological role of dingoes.
Control of wild dogs
Poisoning with 1080 baits, trapping with soft jaw leg hold traps and shooting are effective control measures, particularly when they are part of an integrated control approach.
These control techniques, along with GPS tracking using collars and monitoring with motion cameras, are frequently used to control wild dogs.
Wild dog management plans should be landholder driven, developed to ensure recognised best practice control techniques and build on previous local control programs.
A focus on strategic rather than reactive control, increased accuracy of reporting and increased interaction between land managers is critical.
Landholder reporting of all sightings and stock loss is imperative. Sightings and wild dog attacks should be reported to your Local Land Services office.
For more information on pest species and biosecurity, visit Pestsmart and the Department of Primary Industries.
Otherwise, please contact your local Biosecurity Officer if you require wild dog pest animal management advice.
Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans
We've worked with regional pest animal committees and the community to develop regional strategic pest animal management plans in each of our 11 Local Land Services regions.
Your Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans will tell you what priority pest animal pest animals you need to manage and how.
Read your Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan: