Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee

Wild Dog Bulletin #7: Goomburra predator control day

Hello All,

Goomburra [Warwick district] Predator Control Day 30th March - details attached.

Regards

John Cuskelly

Biosecurity Officer

Biosecurity Queensland

Wild Dog Bulletin #6: Wild Dog Myths - Myth B

Another of the Myths - these can quickly de- motivate people to be involved in wild dog control - so it is important that all people involved in wild dog control, especially landholders, are able to defuse the myths when they are promoted in the community Few things derail a dog meeting faster than myths being accepted as fact.

Myth B. They bring dogs over from Fraser Island to the mainland - that is why some dogs we see are quite unafraid of us.

At no time has there ever been any legal relocation of dingoes off Fraser Island into wild areas on the mainland. I think a cause of this urban legend may be people encountering young dogs that are naturally inquisitive, often approaching new and interesting objects including vehicles and people. Added to this, some people will have seen researchers transporting dogs for field research - a case of 2 + 2 = 5.

However, when dogs are persecuted or harassed, they quickly learn to become reclusive and secretive, so are often then difficult to see or find.

Factsheets dispelling this myths will soon be in place with other wild dog resources at http://www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/wild-dogs/ [Thanks Ben]

Wild Dog Bulletin #5: Wild Dog Myths - Myth A

Something important to be discussed is what I call the Wild Dog Myths, so will cover them over the next few emails.

These myths can effectively de- motivate people to be involved in wild dog control - so it is important that all people involved in wild dog control, especially landholders, are able to defuse the myths when they are promoted in the community Few things derail a dog meeting faster than myths being accepted as fact.

Myth A - 1080 Doesn't Work

There is a mountain of research on this - e.g. the levels of 1080 required to provide a lethal dose - and it has been repeatedly demonstrated that if a dog takes a treated bait, it ceases to live.

Often those who promote the myth of 1080 not working on wild dogs will accept that it will, if misused, kill domestic dogs - I am not sure how that works?

The focus in a 1080 campaign needs to be looking at how to optimise the wild dog's opportunity and likelihood of taking the bait - time of year, bait attractiveness, bait placement, etc. That is, 1080 cant kill a dog if the dog doesn't take the bait.

Wild Dog Bulletin #3: Qld Baiting Dates

Hello All,

Please let me know your local baiting dates as they come to hand, circulation will allow closer coordination betweens shires and regions. I t may also help to share resources and assist logistics.

Maranoa/Border Area

1. Balonne Shire

2. Maranoa Shire

South West RED Shires
3. Murweh

4.      Paroo - 7^th May to 11^th May [Culgoa NP 9^th May]
5.      Quilpie
6.      Bulloo

Darling Downs WD Management Group shires
7. Southern Downs

8. Western Downs

9. Toowoomba RC

10. Goondiwindi RC

CWQ RAPAD Shires
11. Blackall Tambo

12. Longreach

13. Winton

14.     Barcoo
15.     Barcaldine
16.     Diamantina
17.     Boulia

NW/Gulf Shires
18.     Burke
19.     Carpentaria
20.     Croydon
21.     Mt Isa
22.     Cloncurry
23.     McKinlay
24.     Richmond;
25.     Flinders;

NSW - Border Areas
26. Tenterfield / Glen Innes
27. Lednapper WD Action Group [Bourke NSW]

Regards

John Cuskelly

Biosecurity Officer

Biosecurity Queensland

Ph: 4669 0814 Mob: 0427 063 218

Email john.cuskelly@deedi.qld.gov.au

PO Box 993 Dalby Q 4405

Wild Dog Bulletin #2: Wild dog workshops - Wanaaring 7th Feb and Tibooburra 8th Feb

Wild dog workshops in western NSW
Please find attached the fliers for the next two Wild Dog Management workshops to be held at the Wanaaring Town Hall on Tuesday 7th February and also the Albert Hall in Tibooburra on Wednesday the 8th February.
The Engonnia workshop held in November was great, and the one scheduled for Wanaaring earlier this month was also meant to be even greater (over 50 people had said they were coming), although the rain unfortunately forced us to postpone it (and the floodwaters continue to rise in the area). We have now rescheduled the workshop for Wanaaring and have organised another one for Tibooburra on the following day.

All are welcome to attend any workshop. Importantly, those interested in attending MUST RSVP BY THE DUE DATE in order to finalise catering and allow for any more unexpected contingencies (such as more rain and flooding). Feel free to email me any time for more information.
Ben Allen
Vertebrate Pest Research Unit
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Broken Hill NSW 2880

Office: 08 8088 9300
Mobile: 0400 087 518

Email 1: vimpem@yahoo.com.au
Email 2: benjamin.allen@industry.nsw.gov.au

Wild Dog Bulletin #1: Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre PestSmart Roadshow - Qld dates

Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre PestSmart Roadshow - Qld dates

The Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre is bringing the PestSmart Roadshow to a place near you in 2012. Includes updates research and management developments to control wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, feral pigs and carp.

The PestSmart Roadshow is carried out in conjunction with the IACRC partners Australian Wool Innovation, Meat and Livestock Australia and the Murray‐Darling Basin Authority.

The Roadshow will also showcase the PestSmart Toolkits – which is a national online collection of invasive species information. The IACRC encourages graziers, land managers and others with invasive animal responsibility to visit the website: www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/and examine the PestSmart Toolkits on specific invasive animals to guide them in policy, legislation, control tools, best‐practice management and implementation.

Places are limited so you MUST register at http://pestsmart.eventbrite.com.au/for each Roadshow and for catering purposes [free morning and afternoon teas and lunch] - starts at 8am through to 5pm.

New products to be covered include:

Wild dogs and foxes: PAPP baits, Blue‐Healer™ antidote , mechanical bait /toxin ejectors and Lethal Trap Devices
Feral pigs: PIGOUT®, PIGOUT® Econobait, HOG‐GONE®, HogHopper™ and a nitrite concentrate
Rabbits: carbon monoxide fumigator and freeze‐dried Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease for carrots
Foxes and cats: spray tunnel technology.

Tuesday 28 February	BOURKE, NSW	Diggers on the Darling (old Oxley RSL)
Wednesday 14 March	CHARLEVILLE, QLD	Charleville Memorial RSL Club
Friday 16 March	TOOWOOMBA, QLD	Highfields Cultural Centre
Tuesday 1May	TOWNSVILLE. QLD	Townsville RSL

For more information, please see the website at www.feral.org.au/pestsmart/roadshowor phone Suzy Balogh 0418 417 943, email: suzy.balogh@invasiveanimals.com.

Wild Dog Bulletin #50: Australian Government Biodiversity Fund - Call for Projects

I have been asked to circulate this - some wild dog groups have been successful in applying for funds this year, and there may be possibilities with this one.

The Australian Government has called for projects by 31 January 2012 that includes a component focussed on Managing threats to biodiversity (Theme 3). http://www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/biodiversity-fund/apply.html.

According to information on the website, the Australian Government is interested in project activities including, but not limited to:

• reducing and preventing the spread of invasive species into new habitats, including those in wildlife corridors, national parks and other areas of high biodiversity and carbon value

• reducing the impacts of invasive species across connected landscapes
• developing and establishing specific enabling technologies and systems such as novel approaches to invasive species management in connected landscapes

• building capacity of individuals and organisations to manage high impact invasive species threats to biodiversity.

Possibilities that may exist -

working on dog control that would also impact pigs/foxes/cats
looking at areas that have native species that are threatened by dogs - rarer wallabies, bilbies, bettongs etc
perhaps discuss with your local Natural Resource Management group.

WEBINAR Series:
Guardian Animals protecting

Livestock!

Guardian animals are a useful tool in helping prevent your livestock being attacked by predators.

Hear from researchers and producer's who use guardian animals on their propertiesit is a great opportunity to find out what's involved and ask them any question's you may have!

Maremmas - Monday 12th December at 1pm (QLD time)

Ninian Stewart-Moore, ’Dunluce’ Hughenden

Lee Allen, Biosecurity Queensland

To register for the Maremma webinar click here

Donkeys - Wednesday 14th December at 1pm (QLD time)

Andrew Martin, ’Toolmaree’ Tambo

Bruce McLeish, ‘Warahgai’ Karara

David Jenkins, Charles Sturt University

To register for the Donkey webinar click here

Alpacas - Friday 16th December at 1pm (QLD time)

Pat Hegarty, ‘Colanya’ Longreach

Peter Sheehan, ‘Trinidad’ Quilpie

David Jenkins, Charles Sturt University

To register for the Alpaca webinar click here

For further information contact:
Alex Stirton, DEEDI Charleville, 07 4654 4212 or alex.stirton@deedi.qld.gov.au

Support with registering and joining the webinar is available from:

Amanda Hicks 07 4620 8125 or amanda.hicks@deedi.qld.gov.au or

Tony Hamilton 0429 879 458 or tony.hamilton@deedi.qld.gov.au or

GoToWebinar Helpline on 1800 356 792

Wild Dog Bulletins #43: Wild dog managment workshop and training - Enngonia & Wanaaring NW NSW

News on workshops in NW NSW.

RE: Wild dog management workshops and training for NSW western division
Please find attached the flyer for the Enngonia CWA Hall (100km north of Burke/100km south of Cunnamulla) and Wanaaring wild dog management workshop. We're hoping to have workshops in the Tibooburra, Broken Hill, and Wentworth areas in the first few months of next year . Please distribute these fliers as widely as possible - everyone involved or interested in wild dog management (from anywhere) is welcome to attend. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards
Ben Allen
Vertebrate Pest Research Unit
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Broken Hill NSW 2880

Office: 08 8088 9300
Mobile: 0400 087 518

Email 1: vimpem@yahoo.com.au
Email 2: benjamin.allen@industry.nsw.gov.au

Wild Dog Bulletin #42 - New trapping DVD from Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre

A new self-help DVD that shows producers how to use traps in wild dog control

The DVDManaging Vertebrate Pests - introduction to using foot hold traps for the capture of wild dogs and foxes includes State-by-State guides to regulations for the use of foot hold traps and provides a snapshot of proven tips and techniques from a variety of locations across Australia.

It contains two hours of footage and was produced with the guidance of professional trappers to enable landholders to confidently undertake trapping as part of integrated wild dog control program.

Copies of the DVD are available free of charge by contacting the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre on email:contact@invasiveanimals.com or (02) 6201 2887.

Community discussions on wild dogs often raise the subject of bounties, and the subject can cover many areas - opportunistic bounties, strategic bounties, funding mechanisms, etc.

The attached gives some thoughts on bounties - this may help when the subject comes up in community discussions.
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/pw/vp/ddf/fn036_2002.pdf

Queensland wide, all Wild Dog Management Advisory Groups wrestle with the question of timing the 1080 baiting. There is not always a clear cut answer.

There are of course two main aspects -

1. The dog side - what are the times of year when dogs are most likely to take a bait?

and

2. The people side - what are the times of year when landholder participation will be at its highest?

Also, the last twelve months threw unusually wet weather into the mix.

The attached Dog Aware sheet may give some food for thought - http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/IPA-Wild-Dog-Fact-Sheet-Control-Planning-Calendar.pdf

Wild Dog Bulletin #36 : Factsheet - Wild dog predation of threatened wildlife

Attached is an interesting fact sheet from Ben Allen, researcher, DPI NSW.

In workshops we have often spoken about members of landholder dog management groups being well equipped/informed on dog topics that arise in the community - I think this factsheet can assist in this regard.

RegardsJohn Cuskelly

Biosecurity Officer

[Wild Dog Coordinator]

Biosecurity Queensland

Wild Dog Baiting Dates - Update #15

Getting to the pointy end of the year, some dates not yet circulated.

Maranoa/Border Area

Balonne Shire 17thto 21st of October 2011

Maranoa Shire - 26 Aug to 5 Sept 2011 and 21 -25 November

South West RED Shires
Murweh 17^th October to 21^st

Paroo - October 24^th to 27
Quilpie - shire wide bait in Sept /Oct - dateTBA
Bulloo - 14 November

SEQ WD Management Group shires
Gold Coast City Council will be baiting at Numinbah Valley 12 October

Morton Bay 3rd October

Somerset July 4^th, September 5^th and November 28^th

Southern Downs - Warwick 1^st &2nd September; Stanthorpe 31^st August

Western Downs - September 12 - 16

Toowoomba RC - southern side week of 22 August

Goondiwindi 6 – 7^th September.

CWQ RAPAD Shires
Blackall Tambo

Longreach starting on the 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd of October 2011

Winton 10/11/12 Oct & 3/5/6th November

Barcoo
Barcaldine
Diamantina - October?
Boulia 9th- 14th October

NW/Gulf Shires
Burke week commencing 10^th October
Carpentaria 2^nd week of October.
Croydon
Mt Isa
Cloncurry
McKinlay 3rd- 7th Oct

Richmond;

Flinders; August29^th – Sept 2^nd & November 7^th – 11^th

^{Dry Tropics;}

^Charters^Towers ^{Regional Council 3rd Oct- 2nd Nov}

^{Townsville City Council 31st Oct - 4th Nov}

^{Burdekin Shire Council 31st Oct - 11th of Nov}

NSW - Border Areas
Tenterfield / Glen Innes - End of August
Lednapper WD Action Group [Bourke NSW] 21st Oct

Wild Dog Bulletin #33

Bulletin No 33 is attached below as a pdf document as it contains graphics

Wild Dog Bulletin #32

Hello Folks,

Please find below an email from Jane Littlejohn [AWI], forwarded on by Greg Mifsud [National WD Facilitator]

It lists successful groups in Phase 1 and calls for further applications - Phase II, closing 12 August 2011.

Congratulations to the successful groups - and obviously this is another plus for groups driving wild dog control in their communities.

For groups who were not successful or did not have time to apply, please let me know if I can assist.

Dear Greg

I would like to inform the NWDMAG of AWI’s recent decision to fund a “kill more dogs” program in two phases as a result of the recent call for proposals for wild dogs which closed 6^th May 2011.

It is important to note that this is a significant decision by the AWI Board to fund projects that are not eligible for matching Commonwealth money, ie. this is wool levy payer money. The first phase is to the value of $426,000 and this will be distributed between June 2011 and December 2011.

The Board have stipulated criteria for the allocation of these funds: been based on value of product, leverage of funds and measurement of outcome as follows

a. Value of outcome directly (not indirectly) linked to killing wild dogs in endorsed dog control plan aligned with local or state government wild dog strategies or guidelines or any other statutory requirement with local community support and under community control

b. Leverage of wool grower levy of at least 1:1

c. Measurement of outcome from a sample of producers on their intention to increase wool production, on improvements to their own mental wellbeing and anecdotal reports on native wildlife numbers

The successful areas in Phase 1 are:

Barcaldine Qld

Barcoo Qld

Blackall-Tambo Qld

Bulloo Qld

Condamine Catchment Qld

Maranoa Qld

Mountain Maid Qld

Murweh Qld

Paroo Qld

Quilpie QldTraprock Qld

Warroo Balonne Qld

Western Downs Qld

Winton Qld

Barnard River NSW

Carnarvon WA

Darling LHPA NSW

Meekatharra WA

SA – Arid Lands Board

There were numerous proposals received in the 6^th May call that fell outside of the above criteria and these are still progressing through an evaluation process based on the research, development or education value.

Can I request assistance to promote the Phase 2 call for submissions for “kill more dogs” projects in the remainder of Qld and WA and in NSW and Vic to be received by AWI before Friday 12^th August.

Regards

Jane Littlejohn BVSc MVPHMgt

On Farm RDE Team Leader and

Project Manager Animal Health and Welfare

Australian Wool Innovation Limited

Level 30, 580 George Street

Sydney NSW 2000

tel: +61 2 8295 3157

fax: +61 2 8295 4157

mobile: 0408 465 320

visit our website at www.wool.com

Wild Dog Bulletin #31 - Mining dumps and dogs

In some areas wild dogs have adapted to scavenging from dumps, and the new permanent food source has then sustained high numbers that keep adding to the total population.

Research has been done in NT at a mine camp where big numbers had bred up - just wondering what steps are needed to remediate where this is currently happening and also prevent further situations arising, given the number of camps likely to go ahead.

Can any shires interested in a workshop for mines please flag their interest and we will see what we can get to happen?

Wild Dog Bulletin #30 - Group Processes

When attending meetings of various Wild Dog Management Advisory Committees in the various shires I am reminded how important good process is.

People come to the table with their own ideas on wild dog control, and also the different ideas of the people they represent.

To reach consensus on decisions, so as to advise their Shire Council on the best wild dog control, there must be a rigorous process in place - i.e.

landholders knowing who their working group leader is;
the working group leader knowing the role and communicating with the members;
the Chair knowing the process and chairing well;
Information - reports being submitted/tabled. [e.g. previous baiting amounts & properties; trapping numbers and properties]

Wild Dog Bulletin #29

An idea aired at Thargomindah dog meeting last week that may be useful for some folk - apparently it is in place in some area/s of NSW.

Where piggers are allowed on properties to take pigs with pig dogs, they pay the land manager a bond relating to their pig dogs - e.g. If bringing on 3 dogs they pay $900 bond. When leaving the property, if they fail to still have the 3 dogs, they forfeit the bond.

If anyone would like further information I have a guide I can send out.

File attachment: