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 DDoogg MM aannaaggeemm eenntt PPllaann AA rreeaa 66 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 What is a dingo? The dingo is 's wild dog. The scientific name of the dingo is Canis lupus dingo and it has a and reactive control programs as detailed below:  Undertake strategic wild dog ground control programs including baiting  Land managers with  WER High relationship to the white-footed wolf of South-East . The domestic dog is named Canis lupus familiaris . Whereas twice yearly at: Urbenville, , Tunglebung, Culmaran Creek, assistance from LHPA barking is typical of domestic dogs, dingoes generally communicate over long distances with howls - like other wild NNoorrtthheerrnn RRiivveerrss Dairy Flat, Eight Day Creek, Haystack, Upper and Lower Duck Creek, dogs and wolves. Dingoes mate only once a year (unlike domestic dogs which mate twice per year). This usually , Grevillia, Rukenvale, Upper , Woolners Arm, happens between March and June. In its natural habitat it plays a vital role in maintaining the balance in ecosystems. Theresa Creek, Hanging Rock Creek, and Dyraaba Creek. Dingoes are declared pests in NSW. However, dingoes are conserved in some areas of public land, including a number 2012 - 2017  NPWS will undertake strategic wild dog monitoring and control  NPWS  WER High of national parks and state forests . 2012 - 2017 programs on the following Schedule 2 lands at: Yabbra, Richmond Range NPs and Bandahngan Aboriginal Area. Due to inaccessibility What is a roaming domestic dog ? A roaming domestic dog is one that is owned by humans but is not restrained and issues, NPWS will not undertake strategic programs on the following so is free to travel away from their owner’s property. Under section 22 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 , a farmer or d ) R Couchy Creek NR Schedule 2 lands: Mt Nothofagus and Border Ranges NPs. their employee may lawfully seize and detain a dog on a property if they reasonably believe the dog may injure or kill p Creek Rd am  Undertake reactive wild dog ground baiting programs in response to the  Land managers with  WER High Spring w livestock being farmed on that property. This includes injuring or destroying the dog in order to prevent the attack and S Limpinwood presence of, or damage by, wild dogs on a case by case basis eg. Collins assistance from LHPA ite loss of stock. h Limpinwood NR (! Creek, Deep Creek, Wallaby Creek, North Obelisk, Lindesay Creek, W Mount Nothofagus NP Zara Rd Mount Clunie NP Graham Creek, Boomi Creek, George Creek, Ghinni Ghi, The Risk, What are the impacts of wild dogs? Wild dogs have a number of impacts. They: Koreelah NP Lynchs Creek, Green Pigeon, Horseshoe Creek and Bakers Vale. Donaldson SF  cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector, Ty  reactive High alg re weed Ri NPWS will undertake monitoring and control programs in  NPWS  WER u m C e le Arm T ver  carry diseases and parasites, Koreelah SF Mount Lindesay SF Rd k Midd Tooloom NP. reek Hwy in C Tyalgum (!  say Grahams Ck Ma B  Forests NSW will undertake reactive monitoring and control programs  FNSW  WER High hunt native animals and may compete with native carnivores, such as quolls, and de G rin t Lin ) dle C Tyalgum un r re Mo a ek R at: Beaury, Yabbra, Mt Lindesay, , Richmond Range, Edinburgh  breed with purebred dingoes causing the hybridisation of this native species. d Bald Knob SF Dairy Flat d d O F y R

s Castle, Unumgar, Woodenbong, Bald Knob, Donaldson, Toonumbar, (! l (! i d n k Woodenbong B C e Wild dogs cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector as a result of production losses from animal Woodenbong (! d Border Ranges NP Wollumbin NP r o e u r ! South Toonumbar SFs and in plantations owned by SFs such as Dyrabba r ( Woodenbong SF x n e n e C predation, veterinary bills from injured stock and farm animals, transmission of disease, implementation of wild dog e C Beaury SF k Station and Pethers Station. r s r R y d e R High control campaigns and other indirect costs such as de-stocking and change of enterprise. Wild dog control requires a e d  All control programs undertaken in accordance with Standard Operating  All land managers r k k B C R resources to undertake baiting, stock controls, additional fencing and movement of stock. Although estimates of the e Procedures and Codes of Practice (refer to NSW DPI (2005)). e Boomi Creek o d Wollumbin SCA r d r x ive Medium ) Unumgar SF s R impact of predation on livestock are difficult to quantify, annual economic loss including costs associated with wild dog R C  Undertake trapping (softjaw and cage) where appropriate and necessary.  All land managers  Additional resources d k m R e Edinburgh Castle SF Moore Park NR e Medium control are estimated at $66 million (West and Saunders, 2007). e o d Grevillia Lynchs Creek e  Opportunistically collect wild dog scats and arrange analysis.  NPWS and FNSW for purchase of traps r o w l (! ) Mebbin NP C ) d T Tooloom NP o Toonumbar SCA 1.2 Public land managers to undertake conservation risk assessment (CRA)  Relevant land managers  WER High y R r o d Mount Jerusalem NP In addition to the impacts on the agricultural sector, wild dogs also prey on native wildlife, including small to medium u T Lindesay Creek a Rukenvale W R a r (! ll for proposed Wild Dog control programs within public managed lands in e b e a Urbenville SF B b d sized mammals and birds, hybridise with dingoes and compete with native wildlife for food. The control of wild dogs l a d l a accordance with EP&A Act 1979 , TSC Act 1995, EPBC Act 1999 and a North Obelisk NR The Risk Collins Ck Green Pigeon C R Y d

b e ) ) ) l ) (! v d k g R y D and dingoes is more difficult than the control of other feral animals because of the need to conserve dingoes in h rest e o NPW Act 1974 etc. t Fo e y l bar R r m r i C Urbenville oonu K T k C b o s identified core areas in public lands such as some national parks and state forests. These core areas are known as r Nth Obelisk tt 1.3 Review CRA as required. e n e Toonumbar NP e  N c ) i e w Mt Burrell e F a k r e g k d  Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act and are listed under Pest Control Order Number 17. Although the dingo is not C e i 2. Conserve dingo 2.1 Recognise the following areas of core dingo habitat (Schedule 2 lands) NPWS, FNSW High R r Wallaby Creek s C M n Hanging Rock Ck d Bandahngan AA populations within within Area 6 (refer to Map): protected under Schedule 11 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 , it is a native animal and there is an ) li e Yabbra SF l o (! d o h S d core habitat  Toonumbar, Tooloom, Richmond Range, Yabbra, Mount Nothofagus and R Upper Eden Ck C e expectation that it will be conserved in NSW (Dickman & Lunney 2001). s R (! ) Hor Nightcap NP k h e Schedule 2 lands Border Ranges NPs and Bandahngan Aboriginal Area. a Blue Knob k Captains Creek NR e Horseshoe Ck b v r e (! Where are wild dogs in the Northern ? Wild dogs are known to occur throughout the . ) D  Toonumbar, South Toonumbar, Edinburgh Castle, Unumgar, Richmond m e C r Toonumbar SF n lu ) Barkers Vale y o il C t The abundance of wild dogs is greatest surrounding town centres including Tweed Heads, , a d Range, Woodenbong, Donaldson, Mount Lindesay, Yabbra and part of d w r w r D R R a e

U u , Nimbin, Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Busby’s Flat, Copmanhurst, Baryugil, Pikapene, Urbenville, t g N Bald Knob and Beaury State Forests. a n p h i M a r p a g A i b l e m e l Woodenbong and , and in areas adjoining forested lands. b f h Stony Chute 2.2 In Schedule 2 Lands in Plan Area 6: t P k r E o U e a South Toonumbar SF T T d r (! o e l s d Y r o Eight Day Ck e t k e  Where possible, remove wild dogs which threaten the genetic integrity of  All  WER Medium benv R e t G Nimbin r o h t R (! t e Concentrations of wild dogs in Plan Area 6 are known to occur in Urbenville, Woodenbong, Tunglebung, Culmaran u l k R ee C (! C o c r H u d e d a dingo populations. o R a o w C w e i in m ox r Richmond Range NP i G S B a o T l n Creek, Lindesay Creek, Graham Creek, Dairy Flat, Boomi Creek, North Obelisk, Eight Day Creek, Haystack Ck, Upper k d es l C h n e  Where dingoes pose a safety risk to the public, a site specific action plan  NPWS  WER High o F R J i c n g R ra k n Boorabee SF l - a d c ) a e i and Lower Duck Creek, Mummulgum, George Creek, Theresa Creek, Dyraaba Creek, Woolners Arm, Ghinni Ghi, (! e B B T u G (! R is to be developed which may identify a range of strategies such as Haystack Ck h c onal d D i a Ghinni Ghi l R l Upper Eden Creek, Grevillia, Rukenvale, The Risk, Lynchs Creek, Green Pigeon, Horseshoe Creek, Collins Creek, r I Tuntable Creek restricting public access and relocation of dingoes. d r a e o d Kyogle ) p n R bo k c W (! Deep Creek, Wallaby Creek, Hanging Rock Creek, and Bakers Vale. The existence of forested ranges adjoining p P ttri  Undertake tissue sampling and scat collection from wild dogs within  NPWS, FNSW  Additional funds Medium Y o E a U t Yabbra NP R Richmond Range SF C k reserves in Queensland provides corridors for the movement of wild dogs from one area to another. b r these areas for DNA analysis to determine the degree of hybridisation. required for DNA Georgica e b d ee r (! e d k a R r sampling R C Rd d Konorigan

s a Jiggi (! i 3. Minimise impacts 3.1 Ground baiting to be the preferred control technique for wild dogs in the  All land managers  WER High n i (! n a a l r e on non-target plan area, to minimise risks to all non-target species. P d R T Cataract SCA a s r on Woolners Arm species Wild Dog Management Responsibilities b ot R b ! Ho ( Bac o a k C c 4. Increase public 4.1 Reduce the incidence of wild dogs and improve the success of wild dog  Additional funds Medium reek k Y d Rd Duck Ck d V R R awareness of wild control programs by: required for awareness Background a d (! k l e l ² Catar e l Bungabbee NR e R act Riv n l 0 10 er e i y dogs and  Developing and implementing a community education and awareness  LHPA, NPWS, local program r L n v C d s R i R ty n b Wild dogs including dingoes are regarded as pests and their control in is legislated by the Rural Bonalbo k k George Ck n d c e e e associated issues program regarding domestic/wild dogs with emphasis on responsible dog councils e r m (! o r ) T d Bungabbee SF H i c C Goolmangar E a Lands Protection Act 1998 (RLP Act ). This Act requires owners and occupiers of land to eradicate and to continuously a e U n N Kilometres ownership and dingo conservation. e rg nna g (! P o me (! (! i suppress and destroy wild dogs on their property. The management of wild dogs in the Northern Rivers of NSW is the G d_N Muckleewee Mountain NR n R15 d g  Encourage landholder participation in coordinated baiting programs.  LHPA, NPWS, FNSW  WER Medium Cataract NP 7 R R o d responsibility of all land managers. The North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (NC LHPA) assists land Theresa Ck (! (! a S c R  Support relevant local government, including  All land managers  WER Medium Gilgurry SF b S k e n Bonalbo SF C a ( x u le a o and Kyogle Shire Council in the implementation of the NSW Companion a y managers to manage wild dogs by: nc Dyraaba Ck r t m Bentley o Clare e o Bentley c iver m y m e n R n (! (! s D ) t u s b v e Animals Act 1988 to minimise roaming domestic dogs from urban areas.  providing advice, e Fernside r D n i ) r r o l ) C i l l s d a P e re il n e 4.2 Increase community awareness of dingo ecology and encourage land  LHPA, NPWS, FNSW  WER Medium  supplying baits, a g Naughtons Gap k R d W d e Eden Creek SF d ) d d R W P managers to utilise best practice baiting control techniques in areas  y d assisting with coordinating baiting programs, m a s a l R l a u y B F b t e adjacent to Schedule 2 lands. e  involvement with the use of other control techniques such as trapping programs, and a o r la T a o t n Tunglebung u Caniaba 5. Participate in Support and encourage the development and implementation of research  All land managers  WER Medium R a m

 by working with private land managers and agencies to develop wild dog management plans. l ! s ) ( F i d b Wilson NR L o o research programs programs regarding the effectiveness of dog control eg. Invasive Animals

re p R Mummulgum Springrove o W st T The LHPA also provide advice and assistance for other species such as wild rabbits, feral pigs, and certain migratory d (! ichm ) Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) projects R y d on D d r B a O R ruxn R iv 6. Monitor and 6.1 Compile and maintain a database of records to ascertain the level of stock  LHPA  WER High locusts. v er er H l

d w li s y l v r a

R e Ha r h e e St evaluate the loss and injury from wild dog attacks.

T k m R r l Primary responsibilities of each major stakeholder e Culmaranl Ck u d effectiveness of e (! Jubullum Flat Camp AA B Murwillumbah

Cr Area 1 (! the Plan  North Coast LHPA : implement the RLP Act , and assist private land managers and public land managers to B ruxner H n

wy a r Mallanganee 6.2 To assist in the development of ongoing and future wild dog control  LHPA  WER High d ‘continuously suppress and destroy’ wild dogs. a d (! R R m programs, encourage landholders to:

l e k Area 2  Private land managers : undertake wild dog control in compliance with the RLP Act 1998. r e o Cu d Area 6  report the presence of wild dogs on private lands to the LHPA;  Private land managers e R Tatham r m  Public land managers (FNSW, NPWS, DPI/Lands, local government): implement actions identified in the ie d ) r s C Kyogle Mallanganee NP a C i  report dingo sightings on public lands to NPWS or FNSW;  All land managers g R a o (! L p g si Regional Wild Dog Management Plan for the North Coast (NCLHPA, 2011); and implement National n F n e Hogarth Range NR n o o o a g R  document baiting programs (date, bait numbers, location bait take, and  All land managers e M w Area 3 d w e Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for effective pest management outcomes. D lls Cherry Tree West SF Legend o R opportunistic sightings) and forward information to the LHPA; g d Cherry Tree SF bys Flat Rd n Lismore Bus a  document stock loss information (date, location, and number of animals  Private land managers l l Casino(! Public land managers of core dingo habitats (Schedule 2 lands) Girard SF Plan Area 6 E (! killed or injured) and forward to the LHPA; Upper Mongogarie Rd y d  arie a R ) ongog (! ek  document other control programs e.g. trapping and shooting (date,  All land managers r M W e The RLP Act 1998 through the Wild Dog Pest Control Order Number 17 allows for the general destruction obligation Uppe Strategic control area r Coraki d C Sugarloaf SF e Coraki location, and number of animals killed or injured) and forward to the n rtl (!(! for publicly managed lands listed in Schedule 2 of the Order to be satisfied through the Wild Dog Management Plan. a y ) l Reactive controlr area - M LHPA; and e The Plan has both control and conservation objectives that have been approved by the local LHPA. Schedule 2 land Mt Pikapene m m a  complete annual Land and Stock Returns to ascertain the levels of stock  Private land managers r ) th Area 4 e Royal Camp SF Schedule 2 landm Ta managers have a difficult task balancing two objectives: v u i lbin loss and injury from wild dog attacks. R B a C u S Bora Ridge e Mount Pikapene SF sby w c s ) r F a e n lat g 6.3 Review Wild Dog Management Plan by 2016 and amend as required.  LHPA, NPWS and all  Additional funding High R e 1. preventing attacks on livestock from wild dogs moving out of reserved areas; and re d NPWS estate n Rd u k la Myall Creek land managers may be required C Mount Pikapene SCA (! Carwong SF Braemar SF BungawalbinArea SCA5 B 2. conserving dingoes in core areas (listed Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act ). Busbys Flat State forest Mount Pikapene NP Swan Bay Ellangowan SF Yarringully SCA ) The Wild Dog Management Plan is an approach to balance these objectives that has been endorsed by government (! Town y le C Myrt re Rappville A Control Programs on NPWS and FNSW Estate agencies, LHPAs, and the NSW Pest Animal Council. Management plans are developed for localised areas within the W Mount Belmore SF venue Rd ek ) Bungawalbin NP e each LPHA . Ewingar SF c Road Yarringully NR n

e Keybarbin SF The NPWS Northern Rivers Region (NRR) wild dog control program is carried out using the following methodology and undertaken using SOPs: r Grafton

a l River Main Camp Bungawalbin SF (! C ) 1. Determine the presence/absence of wild dogs within NPWS estate, using the sand padding technique, Doubleduke SF Wild Dog Management ) 2. Conduct 1080 baiting in the identified area if wild dogs have been recorded, 3. Reassess the presence/absence of wild dogs post baiting, and This plan has been developed for Area 6 in the Northern Rivers region of the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Contact Details – Wild Dog Issues 4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice per year in autumn and spring. Authority (NC LHPA) control area. This plan identifies wild dog management issues and proposed management Forests NSW maintain a reactive control program which generally follows the same methodology as described in points 1 - 3 above. The presence/absence of wild actions. Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address dogs is measured using the sand padding technique which involves binary counts of footprints on sandpads placed across roads and tracks. A GPS location of all Control programs are designed to target wild dogs prior to breeding in order to reduce increases in wild dog numbers. Dean Chamberlain, Senior Ranger North Coast LHPA (02) 66423699 [email protected] 24-26 Mulgi Drive Grafton, NSW 2460 sandpads is recorded. These binary methods have been identified to provide a reliable measure of changes in activity. Sandpads are monitored for three consecutive Domestic/wild dogs have the capacity to breed twice per year under good conditions. Glenn Swanson, Ranger North Coast LHPA Casino (02) 6662 3166 [email protected] PO Box 158, Casino, NSW 2470 days. This technique also allows for the evaluation of baiting success post-baiting. In contrast, the dingo only breeds once per year. Control programs on the perimeter of key Schedule 2 lands are Lisa Wellman NPWS Northern Rivers Region (02) 6627 0214 [email protected] PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477 designed to reduce hybridisation of dingoes. Pest Management Officer Operations Manager Forests NSW North East Region (02) 6652 0111 PO Box 535, , NSW 2450 Further Reading Actions for implementing strategies for the management of wild dogs are detailed in the adjacent table. Area Manager NPWS Kyogle Area (02) 6632 1611 PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477 Companion Animals Act information: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_index.asp Baiting with Sodium monofluoroacetate, commonly called 1080, is the preferred control method. Native species Area Manager NPWS Area (02) 6627 0200 PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477 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. innately have a higher tolerance of 1080 as it occurs naturally in over 30 plant species in Australia. Baiting is cost Fleming, P., Corbett, L., Harden, B. & Thomson, P. (2001) Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and Other Wild Dogs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. effective and efficient however, an integrated approach to control provides the best outcome. IACRC (2011) Managing Vertebrate Pests – Introduction to using foot hold traps for the capture of wild dogs and foxes. Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre. DVD. Additional Control Methods Contact Details – Domestic Dogs Issues 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 Softjaw trapping may be implemented following baiting programs in accordance with relevant legislation to maximise Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address prescribed by Pest Control Order Number 17 (2011 – 2015). the effectiveness of control and to remove bait-shy animals. Aerial baiting may occur along the western boundary of NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Model Code of Practice for the Humane Control of Wild Dogs . Orange. Ranger Kyogle Shire Council (02) 6686 1261 [email protected] PO Box 11, Kyogle, NSW 2474 Area 6 where there are lower concentrations of small sized holdings. NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Trapping of Wild Dogs using Padded-jaw Traps) . Orange. Ranger Richmond Valley Council (02) 6660 0300 [email protected] Locked Bag 10, Casino, NSW 2470 All alternative methods will be implemented in accordance with the NSW DPI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Ground Baiting of Wild Dogs with 1080) . Orange. Ranger Lismore City Council (02) 6625 0500 [email protected] PO Box 23A, Lismore, NSW 2480 and codes of practice: NSW NPWS (2005) Field Management Policies . Wild Dog Policy.  Trapping of dogs using cage traps; Ranger Tenterfield Shire Council (02) 6736 6000 [email protected] PO Box 214, Tenterfield, NSW 2372 NSW NPWS (2011) Draft Wild Dog Strategy (2011 - 2015).  Trapping of dogs using padded-jaw traps; NSW NPWS (2011) Northern Rivers Region Pest Management Strategy (2012 - 2016) .  Ground shooting of dogs; and QPWS (2010) Draft Queensland Wild Dog Management Strategy (2010-2015). DEEDI Biosecurity Queensland.  Methods of euthanasia. 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, Orange. Trapping (cage and softjaw) and shooting are used in locations where distance restrictions for 1080 cannot be met

and/or for baiting of shy wild dogs. Acronyms

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, LHPA Livestock Health and Pest Authority SOP Standard Operating Procedure Poster prepared by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Northern Rivers Region, PO Box 856 Alstonville 2477. NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service TSC Threatened Species Conservation

NP National Park WER Within Existing Resources