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Area 2
Nightcap NP
Wollumbin NP
Limpinwood NR
Mebbin NP
Mooball NP
Mount Jerusalem NP
Numinbah NR
Cudgen NR
Billinudgel NR
Whian Whian SCA
Tyagarah NR
Wollumbin SCA
Inner Pocket NR
Couchy Creek NR
Stotts Island NR
Mount Nullum NR
Goonengerry NP
Wooyung NR
Brunswick Heads NR
Cudgera Creek NR
Ukerebagh NR
Jinangong NR
Duroby NR
Hattons Bluff NR
Marshalls Creek NR
Tweed Estuary NR
Tweed Heads HS
Tw
ee
d Rive
r
Brunsw
ick River
Jacksons(north Arm) Creek
Wilsons River
Middle Arm Tweed River
Coopers Creek
Goolm
agar
Cre
ek
Tyalgum Creek
Tera
nia
Cre
ek
Paci
fic
Hw
y
Kyogle
Rd
Coast R
d
Tyalgum Rd
Tweed Valley Wy
Numin
bah Rd
Main Arm Rd
Url
iun
Rd
Tom
ewin
Rd
Terranora Rd
Dulguigan Rd
Pot
tsvi
lle R
d
Blu
e K
nob R
d
The Pocket Rd
Cudgen Rd
Zara Rd
Byrrill C
reek Rd
Wilsons Creek Rd
Bra
ys C
reek
Rd
Cad
ell R
d
Cobaki Rd
New
ton
Dv
Reserve Creek RoadClothiers Creek Rd
Mid
gin
bil
Rd
Argyle S
t
Smiths Creek Rd
Hogans Rd
Wooyung Rd
Koonyum Range Rd
Cudgera Creek R
d
Scenic Dv
Lim
pinw
ood R
d
Mount Warning Rd
Manns Rd
Bilambil Rd
Do
on
Do
on
Rd
Ro
lan
ds C
ree
k R
d
Smarts Rd
Wul
ffs L
n
Fin
gal R
d
Casua
rina
Wy
Kunghur
Cre
ek R
d
Jones Rd
Piggabeen Rd
Upper
Cry
stal C
reek
Rd
Huonbrook Rd
Nightcap Rd
Rockface Rd
Orana Rd
Stokers Rd
Chauviers Rd
Doon Doon Creek Rd
Upper Burringbar Rd
Round Mountain Rd
Old Pacific Hwy
Shara Blvd
Tw
eed C
oast R
dK
ingsc
liff St
Depot R
d
Pal
mva
le R
d
Palm
vale Road
Round Mountain Road
Rifle R
ange Rd
Nu
llum
St
Lod
er s
Ca
mp
Rd
Riv
ers
ide D
v
Que
ensla
nd R
d
Mistral R
d
Suth
erla
nd S
t
Kellehers Road
Rive
r St
Mid
dle
Rid
ge R
d
Ca
ba
rita
Rd
Byrrill Creek Rd
Pa
cific
Hw
y
Cadell Rd
Tweed
Valle
y W
y
Kyo
gle
Rd
Stoker
Mooball
Main Arm
Palmvale
Dunbible
Mt Nullum
Mt Chowan
Huonbrook
Doon Doon
Midginbil
The PocketBillinudgel
Kings Forest
Jerusalem Mt
Inner Pocket
Middle Pocket
Kooynum Range
Reserve Creek
Wilsons Creek
Koonyum Range
Crabbes Creek
Round Mountain
Clothiers Creek
Upper Burringbar
Tyalgum
Mullumbimby
NightcapBlue Knob
Duroby
Tyalgum
Numinbah
Limpinwood
Mt Burrell
Brays Creek
Nobbys Creek
Wild Dogs
What is a wild dog? All wild-living dogs including dingoes, feral dogs and hybrids are included as wild dogs under the
Rural Land Protection Act 1998 (RLP Act). A feral dog is a wild-living domestic dog. Hybrid dogs result from crossbreeding of a dingo and a domestic dog, and hybrids include descendants of crossbred progeny.
What is a dingo? The dingo is Australia's wild dog. The scientific name of the dingo is Canis lupus dingo and it has a relationship to the white-footed wolf of South-East Asia. The domestic dog is named Canis lupus familiaris. Whereas barking is typical of domestic dogs, dingoes generally communicate over long distances with howls - like other wild dogs and wolves. Dingoes mate only once a year (unlike domestic dogs which mate twice per year). This usually happens between March and June. In its natural habitat it plays a vital role in maintaining the balance in ecosystems. Dingoes are declared pests in NSW. However, dingoes are conserved in some areas of public land, including a number of national parks and state forests.
What is a roaming domestic dog? A roaming domestic dog is one that is owned by humans but is not restrained and so is free to travel away from their owner’s property. Under section 22 of the Companion Animals Act 1998, a farmer or their employee may lawfully seize and detain a dog on a property if they reasonably believe the dog may injure or kill livestock being farmed on that property. This includes injuring or destroying the dog in order to prevent the attack and loss of stock.
What are the impacts of wild dogs? Wild dogs have a number of impacts. They:
� cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector, � carry diseases and parasites, � hunt native animals and may compete with native carnivores, such as quolls, and � breed with purebred dingoes causing the hybridisation of this native species.
Wild dogs cause significant economic costs to the agricultural sector as a result of production losses from animal predation, veterinary bills from injured stock and farm animals, transmission of disease, implementation of wild dog control campaigns and other indirect costs such as de-stocking and change of enterprise. Wild dog control requires resources to undertake baiting, stock controls, additional fencing and movement of stock. Although estimates of the impact of predation on livestock are difficult to quantify, annual economic loss including costs associated with wild dog control are estimated at $66 million (West and Saunders, 2007).
In addition to the impacts on the agricultural sector, wild dogs also prey on native wildlife, including small to medium sized mammals and birds, hybridise with dingoes and compete with native wildlife for food. The control of wild dogs and dingoes is more difficult than the control of other feral animals because of the need to conserve dingoes in identified core areas in public lands such as some national parks and state forests. These core areas are known as Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act and are listed under Pest Control Order Number 17. Although the dingo is not protected under Schedule 11 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, it is a native animal and there is an expectation that it will be conserved in NSW (Dickman & Lunney 2001).
Where are wild dogs in the Northern Rivers? Wild dogs are known to occur throughout the Northern Rivers region. The abundance of wild dogs is greatest surrounding town centres including Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Nimbin, Ballina, Lismore, Casino, Busby’s Flat, Copmanhurst, Baryugil, Pikapene, Urbenville, Woodenbong and Kyogle, and in areas adjoining forested lands.
Concentrations of wild dogs in Plan Area 2 are known to occur in Minjinbil, Doon Doon, Mooball, Cudgen, North Chowan, Mt Nullum, Mt Jerusalem, Billinudgel, Koonyum Range, The Pockets, Main Arm, Upper Wilsons Creek, Huonbrook, Upper Burringbar, Crabbes Creek, Stokers Siding, Dunbible, Reserve Creek, Palm Vale, Clothiers Creek, Kings Forest, and Round Mountain. The existence of forested ranges provides corridors for the movement of wild dogs from one area to another. Furthermore, changing patterns in land use from livestock industries to horticultural based production such as macadamia plantations has also provided movement corridors for wild dogs.
Wild Dog Management Responsibilities
Background
Wild dogs including dingoes are regarded as pests and their control in New South Wales is legislated by the Rural
Lands Protection Act 1998 (RLP Act). This Act requires owners and occupiers of land to eradicate and to continuously suppress and destroy wild dogs on their property. The management of wild dogs in the Northern Rivers of NSW is the responsibility of all land managers. The North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (NC LHPA) assists land managers to manage wild dogs by:
� providing advice, � supplying baits, � assisting with coordinating baiting programs, � involvement with the use of other control techniques such as trapping programs, and � by working with private land managers and agencies to develop wild dog management plans.
The LHPA also provide advice and assistance for other species such as wild rabbits, feral pigs, and certain migratory locusts.
Primary responsibilities of each major stakeholder
� North Coast LHPA: implement the RLP Act, and assist private land managers and public land managers to ‘continuously suppress and destroy’ wild dogs.
� Private land managers: undertake wild dog control in compliance with the RLP Act 1998. � Public land managers (FNSW, NPWS, DPI/Lands, local government): implement actions identified in the
Regional Wild Dog Management Plan for the North Coast (NCLHPA, 2011); and implement National Codes of Practice and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for effective pest management outcomes.
Public land managers of core dingo habitats (Schedule 2 lands)
The RLP Act 1998 through the Wild Dog Pest Control Order Number 17 allows for the general destruction obligation for publicly managed lands listed in Schedule 2 of the Order to be satisfied through the Wild Dog Management Plan. The Plan has both control and conservation objectives that have been approved by the local LHPA. Schedule 2 land managers have a difficult task balancing two objectives:
1. preventing attacks on livestock from wild dogs moving out of reserved areas; and
2. conserving dingoes in core areas (listed Schedule 2 lands under the RLP Act).
The Wild Dog Management Plan is an approach to balance these objectives that has been endorsed by government agencies, LHPAs, and the NSW Pest Animal Council. Management plans are developed for localised areas within the each LPHA .
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 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 may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
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.
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NNoorrtthheerrnn RRiivveerrss 22001122 -- 22001177
Contact Details – Wild Dog Issues Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address
Dean Chamberlain Senior Ranger
North Coast LHPA (02) 66423699 [email protected] 24-26 Mulgi Drive Grafton, NSW 2460
Neil Hing, Ranger North Coast LHPA Lismore (02) 6621 2317 [email protected] PO Box 16, Lismore, NSW 2480
Lisa Wellman Pest Management Officer
NPWS Northern Rivers Region (02) 6627 0214 [email protected] PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477
Area Manager Tweed Area NPWS (02) 6670 8600 PO Box 724, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484
Contact Details – Domestic Dogs Issues Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address
Ranger Tweed Shire Council (02) 6670 2400 [email protected] PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484
Ranger Byron Shire Council (02) 6626 7107 [email protected] PO Box 219, Mullumbimby, NSW 2482
Issue Action Responsibility Resources Priority 1. Reduce the impacts
of wild dogs on agriculture and biodiversity
1.1 Public land managers and private land managers to undertake ‘general destruction obligations for wild dogs as per Pest Control Order under RLP Act 1998; Clause 27 (1) of Schedule 7 and Part 11 in respect of wild dogs’ by assisting and participating in the implementation of strategic and reactive control programs as detailed below:
� Undertake strategic wild dog ground control programs including baiting twice yearly at: Mooball, Cudgen, North Chowan, Mt Nullum, Mt Jerusalem, Billinudgel, Koonyum Range, The Pockets, Huonbrook, Upper Burringbar, Crabbes Creek, Stokers Siding/Dunbible, Reserve Creek, Palm Vale, Clothiers Creek, and Round Mountain.
� NPWS will undertake strategic wild dog monitoring and control programs on the following lands at: Mt Jerusalem (Mt Chowan, Koonyum Range) and Mooball NPs and Mt Nullum and Cudgen NRs.
� Undertake reactive wild dog ground baiting programs in response to the presence of, or damage by, wild dogs on a case by case basis eg. Minjinbil, Doon Doon, Upper Wilsons Creek, Kings Forest, Main Arm.
� NPWS will undertake reactive monitoring and control programs in Billinudgel, Cudgen, and Couchy Creek NRs and other lands vested in the Minister of the Environment.
� All control programs undertaken in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures and Codes of Practice (refer to NSW DPI (2005)).
� Undertake trapping (softjaw and cage) where appropriate and necessary. � Opportunistically collect wild dog scats and arrange analysis.
� All land managers � Land managers with
assistance from LHPA � NPWS � Land managers with
assistance from LHPA � NPWS � All land managers � All land managers � NPWS
� Within existing resources (WER)
� WER � WER � WER � WER � Additional resources
for purchase of traps
High
High
High
High
High
High
Medium Medium
1.2 Public land managers to undertake conservation risk assessment (CRA) for proposed Wild Dog control programs within public managed lands in accordance with EP&A Act 1979, TSC Act 1995, EPBC Act 1999 and NPW Act 1974 etc.
1.3 Review CRA as required.
� Relevant land managers
� WER
High
2. Conserve dingo populations within core habitat Schedule 2 lands
2.1 Recognise the following areas of core dingo habitat (Schedule 2 lands) within Area 2 (refer to Map):
� Mt Jerusalem NP.
� NPWS
High
2.2 In Schedule 2 Lands in Plan Area 2: � Where possible, remove wild dogs which threaten the genetic integrity of
dingo populations. � Where dingoes pose a safety risk to the public, a site specific action plan
is to be developed which may identify a range of strategies such as restricting public access and relocation of dingoes.
� Undertake tissue sampling and scat collection from wild dogs within these areas for DNA analysis to determine the degree of hybridisation.
� All � NPWS � NPWS
� WER � WER � Additional funds
required for DNA sampling
Medium
High
Medium
3. Minimise impacts on non-target species
3.1 Ground baiting to be the preferred control technique for wild dogs in the plan area, to minimise risks to all non-target species.
� All land managers � WER
High
4. Increase public awareness of wild dogs and associated issues
4.1 Reduce the incidence of wild dogs and improve the success of wild dog control programs by:
� Developing and implementing a community education and awareness program regarding domestic/wild dogs with emphasis on responsible dog ownership and dingo conservation.
� Encourage landholder participation in coordinated baiting programs. � Support relevant local government, including Tweed Shire and Byron
Shire Councils in the implementation of the NSW Companion Animals
Act 1988 to minimise roaming domestic dogs from urban areas.
� LHPA, NPWS, local
councils � LHPA, NPWS � All land managers
� Additional funds required for awareness program
� WER � WER
Medium
Medium Medium
4.2 Increase community awareness of dingo ecology and encourage land managers to utilise best practice baiting control techniques in areas adjacent to Schedule 2 lands.
� LHPA, NPWS � WER Medium
5. Participate in research programs
Support and encourage the development and implementation of research programs regarding the effectiveness of dog control eg. Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC) projects
� All land managers � WER Medium
6. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Plan
6.1 Compile and maintain a database of records to ascertain the level of stock loss and injury from wild dog attacks.
� LHPA � WER
High
6.2 To assist in the development of ongoing and future wild dog control programs, encourage landholders to:
� report the presence of wild dogs on private lands to the LHPA; � report dingo sightings on public lands to NPWS; � document baiting programs (date, bait numbers, location bait take, and
opportunistic sightings) and forward information to the LHPA; � document stock loss information (date, location, and number of animals
killed or injured) and forward to the LHPA; � document other control programs e.g. trapping and shooting (date,
location, and number of animals killed or injured) and forward to the LHPA; and
� complete annual Land and Stock Returns to ascertain the levels of stock loss and injury from wild dog attacks.
� LHPA � Private land managers � All land managers � All land managers � Private land managers � All land managers � Private land managers
� WER High
6.3 Review Wild Dog Management Plan by 2016 and amend as required. � LHPA, NPWS and all land managers
� Additional funding may be required
High
Control Programs on NPWS and FNSW Estate
The NPWS Northern Rivers Region (NRR) wild dog control program is carried out using the following methodology and undertaken using SOPs:
1. Determine the presence/absence of wild dogs within NPWS estate, using the sand padding technique,
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
4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice per year in autumn and spring.
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 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 sandpads is recorded. These binary methods have been identified to provide a reliable measure of changes in activity. Sandpads are monitored for three consecutive days. This technique also allows for the evaluation of baiting success post-baiting.
Further Reading
Companion Animals Act information: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/dlg_index.asp
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.
Fleming, P., Corbett, L., Harden, B. & Thomson, P. (2001) Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and Other Wild Dogs. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
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
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
prescribed by Pest Control Order Number 17 (2011 – 2015).
NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Model Code of Practice for the Humane Control of Wild Dogs. Orange.
NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Trapping of Wild Dogs using Padded-jaw Traps). Orange.
NSW DPI (2005) Humane Pest Animal Control – Standard Operating Procedures (Ground Baiting of Wild Dogs with 1080). Orange.
NSW NPWS (2005) Field Management Policies. Wild Dog Policy.
NSW NPWS (2011) Draft Wild Dog Strategy (2011 - 2015).
NSW NPWS (2011) Northern Rivers Region Pest Management Strategy (2012 - 2016).
QPWS (2010) Draft Queensland Wild Dog Management Strategy (2010-2015). DEEDI Biosecurity Queensland.
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.
Acronyms CRA Conservation Risk Assessment NRR Northern Rivers Region
DMA Dingo Management Area NR Nature Reserve
EP&A Environmental Planning and Assessment OEH Office of Environment and Heritage
EPBC Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation RLP Rural Lands Protection
FNSW Forests New South Wales SCA State Conservation Area
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
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Area 6
Area 5
Area 4
Area 3
Area 2
Area 1
Kyogle
Casino
Grafton
Lismore
Murwillumbah
²0 5
Kilometres
Legend
Plan Area 2
#* Strategic control area
�) Reactive control area
Schedule 2 land
NPWS estate
!( Town
Road
River
Wild Dog Management
This plan has been developed for Area 2 in the Northern Rivers region of the North Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority (NC LHPA) control area. This plan identifies wild dog management issues and proposed management actions.
Control programs are designed to target wild dogs prior to breeding in order to reduce increases in wild dog numbers. Domestic/wild dogs have the capacity to breed twice per year under good conditions.
In contrast, the dingo only breeds once per year. Control programs on the perimeter of key Schedule 2 lands are designed to reduce hybridisation of dingoes.
Actions for implementing strategies for the management of wild dogs are detailed in the adjacent table.
Baiting with Sodium monofluoroacetate, commonly called 1080, is the preferred control method. Native species innately have a higher tolerance of 1080 as it occurs naturally in over 30 plant species in Australia. Baiting is cost effective and efficient however, an integrated approach to control provides the best outcome.
Additional Control Methods
Softjaw trapping may be implemented following baiting programs in accordance with relevant legislation to maximise the effectiveness of control and to remove bait-shy animals. No aerial baiting occurs in Area 2 due to the concentration of small sized holdings.
All alternative methods will be implemented in accordance with the NSW DPI Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and codes of practice:
� Trapping of dogs using cage traps; � Trapping of dogs using padded-jaw traps; � Ground shooting of dogs; and � Methods of euthanasia.
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.
