North West helps to catch problem wild dog
A wild dog estimated to weigh 20 kilograms which had been attacking livestock in the Carinda area has been caught with the help of the North West Livestock Health and Pest Authority.
Gerard O’Connor, senior ranger with the North West LHPA, said landholders in the Carinda area had been attempting to catch the wild dog for nearly 5 years.
"The Carinda wild dog caused in the vicinity of $15,000 worth of losses through lamb and sheep attacks over the past two years," he said.
"Despite having good information in relation to the wild dog’s area of activity and its predation habits, the wild dog had proven to be very difficult to trap."
North West LHPA wild dog specialist ranger Andrew Phillips, as well as local LHPA ranger Heidi Mackay, recently attended a Carinda property with expert pest officer John Ward from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
"Together with the landholder George Caton, they carefully analysed the situation and set about deploying traps and motion sensor cameras on several private properties," said Mr O’Connor.
"Two nights later the dog which had been evading capture was trapped and humanely destroyed."
Mr O’Connor said wild dogs are an emerging pest in the North West LHPA district and one that the authority is committed to assisting landholders control.
"We have introduced a number of initiatives to help landholders tackle this pest, such as the provision of 1080 bait and traps and assistance with individual wild dog problems through on-site assessments.
"Another initiative is the provision of funding towards the contracting of professional dog trappers where wild dog attacks occur.
"We are also increasing our skills and capacity to provide up to date advice to affected landholders and to this end we have appointed a designated wild dog ranger who is up-skilling in the wild dog control field."
Landholders who are experiencing problems with wild dogs should contact their local North West LHPA ranger.
Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378