WILD dog baits have been dropped across more than 10 million hectares in one of the largest baiting exercises in New South Wales’ Western Division.
Western Local Land Services and landholders who are members of 22 pest management and western NSW Landcare groups have carried out one of the largest ever wild dog baiting programs in the division.
The campaign from early May this year, involved 126,827 baits being placed by landholders on 335 properties covering 10,709,334 hectares.
Fixed-wing aircraft flew along 6348 kilometres of predetermined bait lines, dropping 63,480 baits over largely inaccessible country across 155 properties for the control of wild dogs.
Following aerial baiting which took just over a week, landholders in pest management and Western Landcare groups worked with their local biosecurity officers to collect meat baits to strategically distribute on their property by the end of May.
Western LLS biosecurity team leader, Tim Wall said the ongoing baiting programs targeting wild dogs and other pest animals like foxes and feral cats are hugely important.
“The numbers of baits distributed, and total area covered, are incredible, but extremely necessary to help reduce the impacts of wild dogs on individual landholders and the wider agricultural industry.
“By removing wild dogs from the landscape, we are protecting primary production, native animals including many that are endangered species, and increasing biosecurity,” he said.
“The participating landholders are to be congratulated and we thank them for continuing to work with us in the fight against wild dogs and other pest animals.
“We strongly encourage any landholder not undertaking any forms of control for pest animals such as wild dogs to join their nearest pest management group as soon as possible.”
Western Local Land Services is offering its Professional Wild Dog Controller Program to landholders looking to engage the services of a wild dog trapper. Landholders can arrange for a trapper to visit their property for no charge for a day to investigate wild dog activity and look for wild dog sign.
To organise a trapper to visit your place or get further information on pest animal management, contact Western Local Land Services on 1300 795 299, www.lls.nsw.gov.au, or via social media.
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