Increased peri-urban wild dog activity

A howl for help

Wild dog debate needs sense and reason

A new five-year NSW Wild Dog Management Strategy that identifies specific actions to minimise wild dog impacts in the State has been released by the NSW Government.

“The NSW Wild Dog Management Strategy 2017-2022 builds on existing wild dog management, planning, research and communication approaches in NSW,” said Department of Primary Industries Manager Invasive Species Quentin Hart.

“It outlines how together land managers can proactively reduce the devastating effects of wild dogs in NSW,” he said.

“Wild dogs maul and kill livestock such as sheep, cattle and domestic pets as well as spreading diseases and parasites.

“These impacts cost our livestock industry about $50 million a year and badly affect the well- being of farmers and their wider community.”

Mr Hart said effective wild dog management requires a well-researched, strategic and proactive approach where private and public land managers are engaged and work together across local areas.

“Our knowledge and understanding of these predators is increasing all the time and is being incorporated into our latest plans and this new five-year Strategy,” he said.

Mr Hart said the new strategy outlines the important framework for policy settings, planning, regional oversight, mapping, research and training for quick and effective action.

“It details the roles and responsibilities of Government agencies, industry and the community, and outlines priorities for managing wild dog impacts and monitoring the effectiveness of the control work,” he said.

“The strategy is a key document that will assist in the development of local and Regional Pest Animal Management Plans in NSW. It describes how wild dog management will be handled under the new NSW Biosecurity Act that commenced on 1 July 2017.”

The Strategy supersedes the inaugural strategy that commenced in 2012. It was produced with input from agencies involved in pest animal management, including Department of Primary Industries, Local Land Services, National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as NSW Farmers’ Association and individual farmers.

See the new strategy at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/vertebrate-pests/wild-dog-management-strategy