Tablelands wild dog program already a success

Rangers from the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority have reported early successes with their wild dog and feral pig control program in the Bannaby/Barrallier areas.

The program is conducted in conjunction with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority, and aims to reduce the impact of wild dogs and feral pigs on the environment and domestic livestock.

Tablelands LHPA ranger, Grant Eccles, says the first half of the program has just been undertaken and it’s already proving worthwhile.

"We engaged a professional trapper, Andrew McDougall, who has already caught nine wild dogs, as well as a number of feral pigs and foxes.

"Trapping feral animals in open country that has a long history of control can be extremely difficult. This is why detailed planning and the use of professionals such as Andrew are required to achieve any success," he said.  

The program has been enhanced by local landholders undertaking 1080 baiting to reduce fox populations to enhance the likelihood of success of catching wild dogs and feral pigs.

"This is a proactive program involving the Tablelands LHPA, Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA, the contractor and the landholder to help reduce the impact of wild dogs and feral pigs," Mr Eccles said.

"The Tablelands LHPA has a long history of undertaking successful projects with the CMA in conjunction with landholders, and we will continue to work collaboratively on controlling pest animals."

For the second half of this program, local wild dogs and feral pigs will be monitored via remote camera to determine where another round of trapping with the professional trapper will be conducted in January and February 2011.

This project has been jointly funded by the LHPA and the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMA with funds from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.

For more information on wild dog or feral pig control contact your local office of the Tablelands LHPA.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378