Woolgrowers in Hume to benefit from boost to wild dog programs

Woolgrowers within the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) will benefit following the Hume LHPA’s successful bid for Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) funding to strengthen local wild dog control plans.

The AWI funding initiative will help local growers rebuild their sheep flocks and increase wool production following recent significant wild dog activity. It also aims to increase the mental wellbeing of woolgrowers in the Hume LHPA area whose stock are constantly under threat from wild dog predation.

According to Hume LHPA General Manager Ray Willis, the AWI funding will help build on the Hume LHPA’s financial commitment of employing wild dog trappers, who work in collaboration with landholders and are key to the success of the community based wild dog control plans which the LHPA manages.

"The Hume LHPA manages five active community based wild dog control plans across the region. These plans cover more than 300,000 hectares of National Parks, NSW Forestry, Crown land and private land," Mr Willis said.

"Stock losses from wild dog attacks have been a major problem in the southern area of the Hume LHPA for several years. Compared with stock losses observed in 2000, livestock losses have been reduced by up to 80% as a direct result of the wild dog control plans managed by the Hume LHPA with cooperation of woolgrowers and other agencies using a coordinated and strategic approach to wild dog control.

"The financial support from AWI will complement the wild dog work currently undertaken by the Hume LHPA, to continue to monitor and reduce wild dog populations.

"The best possible result would see sheep being reintroduced to areas where they had to be destocked due to severe wild dog predation.

"Wild dogs carry parasites and diseases which can affect livestock, working dogs, and also people, so wild dog control is important to everyone and we’re hopeful the strengthened wild dog control plans will assist all producers and also the community."

Mr Willis said a requirement of the funding included surveying woolgrowers on the positive impact of the wild dog control work to their enterprise and its effect on their wellbeing. The survey will be out later this year.

For more information on controlling wild dogs contact your local Hume LHPA office or ranger.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378