Wild Dogs Issue Action Responsibility Resources Priority 1. Reduce the impacts 1.1 Public land managers and private land managers to undertake ‘general  All land managers  Within existing High What is a wild dog? All wild-living dogs including dingoes, feral dogs and hybrids are included as wild dogs under the WW iilldd DD oo gg MM aa nn aa gg ee mm ee nn tt PP llaa nn AA rree aa 11 of wild dogs on destruction obligations for wild dogs as per Pest Control Order under resources (WER) Rural Land Protection Act 1998 ( RLP Act ). A feral dog is a wild-living domestic dog . Hybrid dogs result from agriculture and RLP Act 1998; Clause 27 (1) of Schedule 7 and Part 11 in respect of wild crossbreeding of a dingo and a domestic dog, and hybrids include descendants of crossbred progeny. biodiversity dogs’ by assisting and participating in the implementation of strategic and reactive control programs as detailed below: What is a dingo? The dingo is 's wild dog. The scientific name of the dingo is Canis lupus dingo and it has a  Undertake strategic wild dog ground control programs including baiting  Land managers with  WER High relationship to the white-footed wolf of South-East Asia. The domestic dog is named Canis lupus familiaris . Whereas twice yearly at: Tyalgum, , Nobbys Creek and Limpinwood. assistance from LHPA barking is typical of domestic dogs, dingoes generally communicate over long distances with howls - like other wild NNoorrtthheerrnn RRiivveerrss  Due to inaccessibility issues, NPWS will not undertake strategic wild dog  NPWS  WER dogs and wolves. Dingoes mate only once a year (unlike domestic dogs which mate twice per year). This usually monitoring and control programs on the following Schedule 2 lands: happens between March and June. In its natural habitat it plays a vital role in maintaining the balance in ecosystems. Limpinwood, Numinbah and Wollumbin NPs and Wollumbin SCA. Dingoes are declared pests in NSW. However, dingoes are conserved in some areas of public land, including a number 2012 - 2017 Support will be sort from adjoining land managers if issues arise. of national parks and state forests . 2012 - 2017  Undertake reactive wild dog ground baiting programs in response to the  Land managers with  WER High presence of, or damage by, wild dogs on a case by case basis eg. at Mt assistance from LHPA What is a roaming domestic dog ? A roaming domestic dog is one that is owned by humans but is not restrained and Burrell, Numinbah, Duroby and Piggabeen. so is free to travel away from their owner’s property. Under section 22 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 , a farmer or  NPWS will undertake reactive monitoring and control programs in  NPWS  WER High their employee may lawfully seize and detain a dog on a property if they reasonably believe the dog may injure or kill Mebbin NP. livestock being farmed on that property. This includes injuring or destroying the dog in order to prevent the attack and Legend  All control programs undertaken in accordance with Standard Operating  All land managers High 1 Procedures and Codes of Practice (refer to NSW DPI (2005)). loss of stock. a (! re A 2 Plan Area 1  Undertake trapping (softjaw and cage) where appropriate and necessary.  All land managers  Additional resources Medium What are the impacts of wild dogs? Wild dogs have a number of impacts. They: a re  Opportunistically collect wild dog scats and arrange analysis.  NPWS for purchase of traps Medium  cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector, A (! Strategic control area  Liaise with Queensland Government and relevant agencies, including  LHPA, NPWS  WER High  carry diseases and parasites, local government, regarding cross border control programs. Area 6 (! )  hunt native animals and may compete with native carnivores, such as quolls, and (! Reactive control area 1.2 Public land managers to undertake conservation risk assessment (CRA)  Relevant land managers  WER High  breed with purebred dingoes causing the hybridisation of this native species. Area 3 for proposed Wild Dog control programs within public managed lands in Schedule 2 land accordance with EP&A Act 1979 , TSC Act 1995, EPBC Act 1999 and (! Wild dogs cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector as a result of production losses from animal (! NPW Act 1974 etc. predation, veterinary bills from injured stock and farm animals, transmission of disease, implementation of wild dog Lismore NPWS estate 1.3 Review CRA as required. Casino 2. Conserve dingo 2.1 Recognise the following areas of core dingo habitat (Schedule 2 lands)  NPWS High control campaigns and other indirect costs such as de-stocking and change of enterprise. Wild dog control requires Gold C State Forest ² oast Hwy populations within within Area 1 (refer to Map): resources to undertake baiting, stock controls, additional fencing and movement of stock. Although estimates of the Area 4 impact of predation on livestock are difficult to quantify, annual economic loss including costs associated with wild dog 0 5 Tweed Heads core habitat  Numinbah, and Limpinwood NRs and Mebbin and Wollumbin NPs and (! (! Town G Schedule 2 lands Wollumbin SCA control are estimated at $66 million (West and Saunders, 2007). oat Trl v y D 2.2 In Schedule 2 Lands in Plan Area 1: Kilometres Piggabeen ned In addition to the impacts on the agricultural sector, wild dogs also prey on native wildlife, including small to medium Area 5 Road ) Ken  Where possible, remove wild dogs which threaten the genetic integrity of  All  WER Medium sized mammals and birds, hybridise with dingoes and compete with native wildlife for food. The control of wild dogs Tweed Estuary NR Ukerebagh NR dingo populations. ki Rd Rd Coba Cook Island NR  Where dingoes pose a safety risk to the public, a site specific action plan  NPWS  WER High and dingoes is more difficult than the control of other feral animals because of the need to conserve dingoes in een Tweed Heads HS gab ig v is to be developed which may identify a range of strategies such as identified core areas in public lands such as some national parks and state forests. These core areas are known as P d D R c restricting public access and relocation of dingoes. Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act and are listed under Pest Control Order Number 17. Although the dingo is not i l n a e g  Undertake tissue sampling and scat collection from wild dogs within  NPWS  Additional funds Medium c n protected under Schedule 11 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 , it is a native animal and there is an i ! S ( F these areas for DNA analysis to determine the degree of hybridisation. required for DNA expectation that it will be conserved in NSW (Dickman & Lunney 2001). Grafton d sampling ns R B Hoga ila 3. Minimise impacts 3.1 Ground baiting to be the preferred control technique for wild dogs in the  All land managers  WER High Where are wild dogs in the Northern ? Wild dogs are known to occur throughout the region. mb d il R on non-target plan area, to minimise risks to all non-target species. The abundance of wild dogs is greatest surrounding town centres including Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, R d in K i w Duroby ra Rd n species e Terrano , Nimbin, Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Busby’s Flat, Copmanhurst, Baryugil, Pikapene, Urbenville, ) g Numinbah NR m T s o w c 4. Increase public 4.1 Reduce the incidence of wild dogs and improve the success of wild dog  Additional funds Medium P T Woodenbong and Kyogle, and in areas adjoining forested lands. e l i o f B e f r awareness of wild control programs by: required for awareness r d S o t y S e o W C t u r Concentrations of wild dogs in Plan Area 1 are known to occur in Tyalgum, Brays Creek, Piggabeen, Mt Burrell, k s Duroby NR y t dogs and  Developing and implementing a community education and awareness  LHPA, NPWS, local program e o h rl e ll R a T r a e s s d s r associated issues program regarding domestic/wild dogs with emphasis on responsible dog councils d V Duroby, Nobbys Creek and Limpinwood. The existence of forested ranges adjoining reserves in Queensland provides ' l k t a ic R R d R h ayes e R n C d Ln e r ownership and dingo conservation. d d corridors for the movement of wild dogs from one area to another. w a

R T

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T i n t  Encourage landholder participation in coordinated baiting programs.  LHPA, NPWS  WER Medium od v

a d e s d Stotts Island NR Cudg en Rd g R r Numinbah R  Support relevant local government, including Council in the  All land managers  WER Medium d s ) o n i d

B d y u i R e Companion Animals Act 1988 L Couchy Creek NR l implementation of the in NSW and Gold n d i r l m a W D U ig p u O a Coast City Council in the implementation of the Animals Protection Act i lg v n u n w i Wild Dog Management Responsibilities D r o Nobbys Creek 1925 to minimise roaming domestic dogs from urban areas. o (! a d d Unna u R me s R Creek d_NR 4.2 Increase community awareness of dingo ecology and encourage land  LHPA, NPWS  WER Medium pkins 44 a Background d Ho 1 D C u managers to utilise best practice baiting control techniques in areas (! Limpinwood rm) Creek ra d A n R adjacent to Schedule 2 lands. Wild dogs including dingoes are regarded as pests and their control in is legislated by the Rural h b t t nor a ns( s kso P h Jac d a 5. Participate in Support and encourage the development and implementation of research  All land managers  WER Medium Lands Protection Act 1998 (RLP Act ). This Act requires owners and occupiers of land to eradicate and to continuously R a R Limpinwood NR o Zara Rd c d i C research programs programs regarding the effectiveness of dog control eg. Invasive Animals y f suppress and destroy wild dogs on their property. The management of wild dogs in the Northern Rivers of NSW is the W i

d d inbah ey c l R l ) e s Va H Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) projects ng um d e responsibility of all land managers. The North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (NC LHPA) assists land ou N e w Y Murwillumbahwe d Cudgen NR w T R R y 6. Monitor and 6.1 Compile and maintain a database of records to ascertain the level of stock  LHPA  WER High (! es k T managers to manage wild dogs by: B B erv ree S u ox e C s C (! to t se re ier evaluate the loss and injury from wild dog attacks. d le ll ek oth  providing advice, d r Ro d Ro Cl Clothiers Creek ar s ad R ad effectiveness of d R s le  supplying baits, R d og d y d the Plan r K d k A m Tweed R Road R e e Ri ain  assisting with coordinating baiting programs, re dl ve al d Mount Tyalgum C id r tr Round s 6.2 To assist in the development of ongoing and future wild dog control  LHPA  WER High M R d r is Rd S R (! e  involvement with the use of other control techniques such as trapping programs, and Tyalgum r M y H m n programs, encourage landholders to: e e e l a Reserve Creek l i g l v w Tyalgum d i rt Tr a s id R o h  by working with private land managers and agencies to develop wild dog management plans. (! d t  report the presence of wild dogs on private lands to the LHPA;  Private land managers d V R a d R T e R C e e d d H l T g i n p a e R (! b y n  report dingo sightings on public lands to NPWS;  All land managers l o n d o (! a e V r The LHPA also provide advice and assistance for other species such as wild rabbits, feral pigs, and certain migratory pe r w d s l d a a T e d g n m L r Palmvale n  document baiting programs (date, bait numbers, location bait take, and  All land managers R l u u o in l a a P e e (! m k C Hastings Point locusts. l Hattons Bluff NR Mt Nullum K h c y d t a T W r R opportunistic sightings) and forward information to the LHPA; r u l (! pu o n R d R S S in Mount Nullum NR vale P i R d lm d a  document stock loss information (date, location, and number of animals  Private land managers Primary responsibilities of each major stakeholder n Dunbible P g i (! e b Wollumbin NP killed or injured) and forward to the LHPA;

R m lu  North Coast LHPA : implement the RLP Act , and assist private land managers and public land managers to d l d d  document other control programs e.g. trapping and shooting (date,  All land managers o ning Rd Brays Creek ount War R Mooball NP d R M R ! W a e ‘continuously suppress and destroy’ wild dogs. ( d k l location, and number of animals killed or injured) and forward to the l e l Rd l i d h s i e t R (! ker r v r to C R S d s  RLP Act o s a t LHPA; and Private land managers : undertake wild dog control in compliance with the 1998. a er t k e Valdis r d N i Rd g o d W d e o K R s R u P e  complete annual Land and Stock Returns to ascertain the levels of stock  Private land managers e m lle  Public land managers (FNSW, NPWS, DPI/Lands, local government): implement actions identified in the ipp o C k r R a he e C C m b rs e R r u b o loss and injury from wild dog attacks. Regional Wild Dog Management Plan for the North Coast (NCLHPA, 2011); and implement National s r Cudgera Creek NR C a a y Uki d k d B a R Sm R   c r ie (! iths 6.3 Review Wild Dog Management Plan by 2016 and amend as required. LHPA, NPWS and all Additional funding High Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for effective pest management outcomes. d a w P C d B o ree d B nd a k R R o d R C land managers may be required l m t p s o e a o r d s o L Public land managers of core dingo habitats (Schedule 2 lands) Wollumbin SCA R

R C a d d t R B t ifts y D w r a ri il a r d The RLP Act 1998 through the Wild Dog Pest Control Order Number 17 allows for the general destruction obligation S d ll C a rl d R r m T a r k R ree T ot R ba Wooyung NR n k n o B ng Control Programs on NPWS and FNSW Estate Ta R go b n ri for publicly managed lands listed in Schedule 2 of the Order to be satisfied through the Wild Dog Management Plan. d a W um ur Mooball err G a r B T a w pe (! t l Mt Chowan o p The Plan has both control and conservation objectives that have been approved by the local LHPA. Schedule 2 land n l h  U u ) Mebbin NP o l T (! C B The NPWS Northern Rivers Region (NRR) wild dog control program is carried out using the following methodology and undertaken using SOPs: M r r h u T l

Rd t managers have a difficult task balancing two objectives: r

r Plot Rd t G o ne r Pi s M s i Crabbes Creek d l a i w n N d n n R g d e a s R rl ) ng 1. Determine the presence/absence of wild dogs within NPWS estate, using the sand padding technique, g R R n h d yu

i T o b s W R 1. preventing attacks on livestock from wild dogs moving out of reserved areas; and r o r s d d e W

l u a p p R l c e 2. Conduct 1080 baiting in the identified area if wild dogs have been recorded, l l a r S S a l l n

r

l y e U T t n o

H a 2. conserving dingoes in core areas (listed Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act ). r n T d n a r J o a i m F ed W l e e C b _ 3. Reassess the presence/absence of wild dogs post baiting, and NR i g r b 3 57 r st d e e rl i T The Wild Dog Management Plan is an approach to balance these objectives that has been endorsed by government Border Ranges NP a W al Midginbil l Rd entr 4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice per year in autumn and spring. M Un R Mount Jerusalem NP ine C n l am d ) C y Inner Pocket NR ed_ l C Sk d NR3 l agencies, LHPAs, and the NSW Pest Animal Council. Management plans are developed for localised areas within the 5 i 8 R o R r O'Briens Rd m Billinudgel NR k y S s M M e m c (! each LPHA . B h S id a k d e r H t y d Forests NSW maintain a reactive control program which generally follows the same methodology as described in points 1 - 3 above. k i u i l le e r s i in n (! P re R d s b u a e o C r R c C l i g l d k ) l R o A e r r R l E t l h I a te Mt Burrell e i d n s R r vd u d c t d Bl s r e e a b R m Shar The presence/absence of wild dogs is measured using the sand padding technique which involves binary counts of footprints on sandpads placed across roads and e ) r h R r o s c s M u g in y d c g T e d C k T (l B n g o f R R a r tracks. A GPS location of all sandpads is recorded. These binary methods have been identified to provide a reliable measure of changes in activity. Sandpads are Doon Doon r r T k t u l he id L e c l M Pock Marshalls Creek NR c h n e et R n d a K ) e ) (! o u M e R a o k b n monitored for three consecutive days. This technique also allows for the evaluation of baiting success post-baiting. R o i d i Wild Dog Management m o R n ) g u M P d Main Arm The Pocket ll D A n i i W r O g rw n il m ra

o (! s n n u a Nig o R This plan has been developed for Area 1 in the Northern Rivers region of the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest W o htc n R a M ap R s Jinangong NR il d d d li e D H a R m h Nightcap NP Jerusalem Mt i Authority (NC LHPA) control area. This plan identifies wild dog management issues and proposed management s T v Rd er actions. Brunswick Heads NR Further Reading Control programs are designed to target wild dogs prior to breeding in order to reduce increases in wild dog numbers. Companion Animals Act information: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_index.asp Domestic/wild dogs have the capacity to breed twice per year under good conditions. Contact Details – Wild Dog Issues Dickman, C.R. and Lunney, D. eds, (2001) A Symposium on the Dingo. Transactions of the Royal Zoological Society of the New South Wales. In Press. In contrast, the dingo only breeds once per year. Control programs on the perimeter of key Schedule 2 lands are Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address Fleming, P., Corbett, L., Harden, B. & Thomson, P. (2001) Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and Other Wild Dogs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. designed to reduce hybridisation of dingoes. Dean Chamberlain, Senior Ranger North Coast LHPA (02) 66423699 [email protected] 24-26 Mulgi Drive Grafton, NSW 2460 IACRC (2011) Managing Vertebrate Pests – Introduction to using foot hold traps for the capture of wild dogs and foxes. Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Actions for implementing strategies for the management of wild dogs are detailed in the adjacent table. Centre. DVD Neil Hing, Ranger North Coast LHPA Lismore (02) 6621 2317 [email protected] PO Box 16, Lismore, NSW 2480 Baiting with Sodium monofluoroacetate, commonly called 1080, is the preferred control method. Native species NCLHPA (2011). Regional Wild Dog Management Plan for the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority Area for the management of Schedule 2 lands as innately have a higher tolerance of 1080 as it occurs naturally in over 30 plant species in Australia. Baiting is cost Lisa Wellman NPWS Northern Rivers Region (02) 6627 0214 [email protected] PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477 prescribed by Pest Control Order Number 17 (2011 – 2015). effective and efficient however, an integrated approach to control provides the best outcome. Pest Management Officer NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Model Code of Practice for the Humane Control of Wild Dogs . Orange. Area Manager Tweed Area NPWS (02) 6670 8600 PO Box 724, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484 Additional Control Methods NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Trapping of Wild Dogs using Padded-jaw Traps) . Orange. Lyn Willsher, Biosecurity Officer Biosecurity Queensland (07) 5583 5 061 [email protected] PO Box 250, Ipswich, QLD 4305 Softjaw trapping may be implemented following baiting programs in accordance with relevant legislation to maximise NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Ground Baiting of Wild Dogs with 1080) . Orange. the effectiveness of control and to remove bait-shy animals. No aerial baiting occurs in Area 1 due to the concentration NSW NPWS (2005) Field Management Policies . Wild Dog Policy. of small sized holdings. NSW NPWS (2011) Draft Wild Dog Strategy (2011 - 2015). All alternative methods will be implemented in accordance with the NSW DPI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Contact Details – Domestic Dogs Issues and codes of practice: Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address NSW NPWS (2011) Northern Rivers Region Pest Management Strategy (2012 - 2016) .  Trapping of dogs using cage traps; QPWS (2010) Draft Queensland Wild Dog Management Strategy (2010-2015). DEEDI Biosecurity Queensland.  Trapping of dogs using padded-jaw traps; Ranger Tweed Shire Council (02) 6670 2400 [email protected] PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484 West, P. & Saunders, G. (2007) Pest Animal Survey: A review of the distribution, impacts and control of invasive animals throughout NSW and the ACT . NSW DPI,  Ground shooting of dogs; and Animal Management Unit Gold Coast City Council 1300 MYGCCC (1300 694 222) PO Box 5042, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD 9729 Orange.  Methods of euthanasia.

Trapping (cage and softjaw) and shooting are used in locations where distance restrictions for 1080 cannot be met Acronyms and/or for baiting of shy wild dogs. AA Aboriginal Area NRR Northern Rivers Region

CRA Conservation Risk Assessment NR Nature Reserve

These data are not guaranteed to be free from error or omission. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and its employees disclaim liability for any EP&A Environmental Planning and Assessment OEH Office of Environment and Heritage act done on the information in the data and any consequences of such acts or omissions. This document is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of study, research criticism or review, as permitted under the copyright Act, no part EPBC Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation RLP Rural Lands Protection may be reproduced by any process without written permission. FNSW Forests New South Wales SCA State Conservation Area The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Department of Premier and Cabinet, Poster prepared by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Rivers Region, PO Box 856 Alstonville 2477. LHPA Livestock Health and Pest Authority SOP Standard Operating Procedure

NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service TSC Threatened Species Conservation

NP National Park WER Within Existing Resources