Demonstration site: canid management, NSW / Queensland

Project Leader: Dr Peter Fleming, Industry and Investment NSW

Aim: To implement a strategic approach to integrated wild canid management for agricultural and environmental benefit

Project: 10.t.5 and IA CRC-supported PhD students Tom Newsome, Penelope Marshall and Jessica King

Project summary

Wild dog and fox predation of livestock are continuing problems in the eastern tablelands and adjacent coastal hinterland regions of north-east NSW. The problem also occurs in the contiguous livestock-producing areas of south-east Queensland. The strategic approach to managing wild dogs is being progressively embraced in southern NSW and the ACT, and has potential for wild-dog affected areas in northern NSW and neighbouring southern Queensland.

The strategic approach involves defining and quantifying the regional wild dog problem, identifying all stakeholders, and working out the management, research, demonstration, training and education requirements. A series of actions are then planned, recorded and implemented, the results monitored and evaluated, and each component revised and progressed.

The project aims to:

• develop regional (at appropriate scales) nil-tenure based working plans for concurrent wild dog and fox management
• expand the demonstration site to incorporate wild canid management in pastoral zones of NSW, Qld and Central Australia, and extend the eastern boundary south to the Victorian border
• develop two nil-tenure regional plans in these regions
• improve spatial and temporal deployment of wild canid technologies by investigating the spatial overlap of wild dogs, foxes, cats and spotted-tailed quolls
• review existing wild canid management plans to determine social and practical factors that enhance success and ongoing investment of time and funds by stakeholders
• map monitoring and trapping courses to National standards and offer these as units of Certificate three in Conservation and Land Management within and adjacent to wild dog control association boundaries.

At these locales, standardised sand pads are used to monitor target animal, prey animal and non-target carnivore responses to wild dog and fox control.

Through greater familiarity with the demonstration site region we have identified needs for regional planning at different scales to take into account administrative boundaries of collaborating organisations. It is imperative that we understand the factors that limit or contribute to the ongoing success of the strategic approach for the continuation of successful plans.

The management of wild dogs is often intertwined with fox management. For example, baiting programs for wild dogs require additional effort to compensate for uptake by foxes. Sheep breeders and wildlife managers often need to manage both species together to reduce the impacts of both on different parts of their enterprise or land tenure. In addition, funding from CMAs and environmental funding sources is often restricted to fox control activities, which limits our ability to attract additional funds and adequately manage wild dogs.

Our training activities have been oversubscribed and there is great need for further training of stakeholders in management plan preparation, wild canid trapping and monitoring.

The site will roll out para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP), which will provide the ideal adjunct to 1080 in peri-urban and industrial environments (eg mine sites) and broaden the availability of this toxin for managing wild dogs and foxes.

Key achievements

• Sign-off of Kempsey Regional Wild Dog Management Plan by Kempsey RLPB (now part of Mid-coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority), NSW DECCW and Forests NSW.
• Agreement to Niangala Wild Dog Control Association Wild Dog Management Plan by all stakeholders.
• Agreement to Barnard River Wild Dog Control Association Wild Dog Management Plan by all stakeholders.
• Finalised a report on long-term dingo management for Newmont Tanami Operations, Northern Territory.
• Completed the second year of field research on effectiveness of combined wild dog control techniques.
• Ran three wild canid monitoring schools for stakeholders.
• Compiled an advanced trapper training unit for national accreditation under the Conservation and Land management Training Program.

Key deliverables

• Deliver two to three monitoring schools for stakeholders in north-eastern NSW and south east Queensland.
• Provide research, training and planning advice on wild dog management to Central Land Council (Peake Industries) for Tanami Downs cattle station. Working with station staff, data on dingo movements, diets and water use and calf predation and injury, devise practical plan of management that minimises enterprise losses, while minimising destruction of dingoes.
• Conduct field trials of PAPP for wild dog and fox control.
• In collaboration with National Wild Dog management Facilitator, develop management plans for two wild canid control stakeholder groups, one in northern NSW and one in south-east Queensland.

Project team

Tim Seears (NSW LHPA), Lee Allen, Greg Mifsud (Qld DEEDI), Guy Ballard, Phil Gardner, Nigel Fuller, Bernadette York (Industry and Investment NSW), Andrew Leys, Stuart Boyd-Law, Mick Dodkin, Rob Hunt (NSW DECCW), Brian Ferris (New England LHPA), Brian Tomalin (New England LHPA/NSW Farmers), Mick Thorman (Mid-Coast LHPA), Bruce Moore (Barnard River Wild Dog Control Assoc.), Dr David Jenkins (Australian Hydatids Control and Epidemiology Program), Dr Tom Newsome (Low Ecological Services and IA CRC PhD Student), Jessica King, Danielle Stephens, Penelope Marshall (IA CRC PhD Students), Bob Harden (retired).

Project partners

Industry and Investment NSW (lead agency, including Forests NSW and the Vertebrate Pest Research Unit), NSW Management Council for Livestock Health and Pest Authorities, NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water, Low Ecological Services.

Further information

Ballard G, Newsome T and Fleming P (2009) Newmont Tanami Operations: Report on Long-term Dingo Management: Review and Recommendations for 2009 – 2010 (unpublished).

Fleming PJS, Ballard AG, Brown AA, Jenkins ADJ, King BJ, Stephens C and D (2008) Remotely capturing DNA samples from wild dogs: pilot pen and paddock studies. Proceedings of NSW Pest Animal Control Conference: The Challenges of Change, 30 September-
2 October 2008, Wagga Wagga.

Vertebrate Pest Research Unit and Invasive Animals CRC (facilitators) (2009) Wild Dog Management Plan for the Kempsey Rural Lands Protection Board District, 2008-2011, NSW Department of Primary Industries.