Grazing Land Management

Feral animals starting to feel the bite

Beef Central 02/01/2015

THOUSANDS of wild dogs and pigs have been shot, baited or trapped as part of an intensive feral pest eradication campaign across drought-stricken parts of Queensland during 2014.

Qferal-pigs-on-the-runueensland’s Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is working with local councils, regional Natural Resource Management groups, Landcare and wild dog groups on a range of projects and approaches to get on top of feral pests.

This includes targeted baiting, monitoring cameras, professional trappers, and shooting from helicopters.

The $5.6 million worth of Federal Government funding announced in June has been put to good use where it is most needed across the state.

About $2 million of the funding is supporting projects to help drought-affected farmers reduce the impact of pest and feral animals in the western drought-affected areas. A further $542,000 is supporting projects in the Burnett-Mary and SEQ Catchments and Biosecurity Queensland is working with regional partners in the Fitzroy Basin to finalise a funding submission of $148,000.

While the pest animal problem is persistent, there have been some successes.

In the far-western Quilpie Shire, baits have been placed every 200 metres along a 200 km length of pipeline with reports that in some sections 70 percent of baits were taken within 14 days. That demonstrates the scale of the problem, but also the impact that’s starting to be achieved.

In the Barcaldine Shire Council area, seven wild dog syndicates have received increased funds for shooting, trapping and baiting activities and there are landholder reports of lower dog numbers and evidence of dead dogs after the Council baiting in October.

In the Gulf region, more than 3000 pigs and about 60 wild dogs were destroyed by aerial shooting, with evidence that properties that conducted baiting programs prior to shooting have much lower feral pig numbers than properties that did not.

 

  • More information on feral animal initiatives in Queensland can be obtained by clicking here www.daff.qld.gov.au

 

 

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Comments

  1. Mark torney, 04/03/2015

    To whom this May concern . I am a very experienced dogger up in cattle country and no bounty system. If there is any sheep property’s that need a dogger I would gladly trap and bait short or long term and am fully equipped thank you.

    If readers would like to contact Mark, please send an email to feedback(at)beefcentral.com and we will forward on his contact details – Editor

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