Minister for Agriculture and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall is encouraging landholders to sign up for the spring wild dog control program.
Monday, 27 July 2020
FOLLOWING the success of the State Government’s 2020 autumn aerial wild dog baiting campaign, Northern Tablelands MP and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall has today called on local landholders to sign up for the spring wild dog and fox control program.
Mr Marshall said it was important landholders capitalised on the achievements of the autumn campaign, which saw the largest aerial baiting program in the southern hemisphere.
“Just as wild dogs are persistent in their hunt for prey, so too must landholders and government if we wish to reduce the numbers of these dangerous and costly pests,” Mr Marshall said.
“North West Local Lands Services is now offering landholders free meat baits to undertake their own strategic programs during August and September.
“The key to these control programs is co-ordination and ensuring properties nearby are also baiting and proactively trying to strike down wild dogs.
“Having farmers register their intention to participate in the spring baiting provides Local Lands Services with the information it needs to be able to plan and define its coverage areas, while also ensuring there are enough baits to go around.”
So far in 2020, 25 group baiting events have occurred with 231 Landholders participating. The autumn program saw 200,000 baits deployed from the sky along lines tallying 3,590 kilometres
“It’s staggering to think wild dog attacks in NSW contributes to around $22 million in lost production for farmers and with livestock prices so good at the moment farmers should use this opportunity to protect their assets from attack,” Mr Marshall said.
Key principles of these programs include:
• Broadscale – to get as many people involved as possible to decrease the time for re-invasion;
• Co-ordinated – implement regional control programs at the same time to achieve the greatest knock-down rate;
• Co-operative – wild dogs and foxes don’t just impact sheep producers, so participation of landholders regardless of land use is crucial; and
• Integrated – a baiting program should be followed up with shooting & trapping.
To be involved and find out more about your pest animal control options, contact your Local Land Services office and ask for the Biosecurity Team – 1300 795 299.
The North West Local Lands Services region covers Goondiwindi, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri, Walgett and Warialda.