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Banyabba NR

Bundjalung NP

Yuraygir NP

Bundjalung SCA

Fortis Creek NP

Nymboida NP

Banyabba SCA

Mount Neville NR

Broadwater NP

Bungawalbin SCA

Bungawalbin NP

Richmond Range NP

Wombat Creek SCA

Kooyong SCA

Mount Pikapene NP

Tabbimoble Swamp NRJackywalbin SCA

Tuckean NR

Yaegl NR

Mallanganee NP

Chatsworth Hill SCA

Ramornie NP

Lawrence Road SCA

Hogarth Range NR

Iluka NR

Yarringully SCA

Uralba NR

Corymbia SCA

Everlasting Swamp SCA

Yarringully NR

Bungawalbin NR

Woodford Island NR

Mororo Creek NR

Warragai Creek NR

Chapmans Peak NR

Clarence Estuary NR

Wilson NR

Gurranang SCA

Gibraltar Range NP

Munro Island NR

Susan Island NR

Victoria Park NR

Davis Scrub NR

Mount Pikapene SCA

Jubullum Flat Camp AA

Little Pimlico Island NR

Tucki Tucki NR

Grange SF

Whiporie SF

Pine Brush SF

Candole SF

Myrtle SF

Tabbimoble SF

Camira SF

Mount Belmore SF

Gibberagee SF

Doubleduke SF

Sugarloaf SF

Banyabba SF

Keybarbin SF

Braemar SF

Fullers SF

Devils Pulpit SF

Cherry Tree SF

Mount Marsh SF

Ellangowan SF

Royal Camp SF

Ramornie SF

Bonalbo SF

Bungawalbin SF

Carwong SF

Mororo SF

Mount Pikapene SF

Southgate SF

Cherry Tree West SF

Woodford North SF

R ichmond River

Myrtle Creek

Clarence Riv

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Evans River

Maro

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C

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Clarence R

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Cla

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Cla

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Cla

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Cla

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Clarence R

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Cla

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Pac

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Hw

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Su

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Wa

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Bruxner Hwy

Coald

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Cla

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Wy

Casino Rd

Bungawalbin Rd

Mya

ll Cre

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Old

Te

nte

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ld R

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Lawrence

Rd

Busbys Flat Rd

The G

ap R

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South Arm Rd

Ella

ngow

an R

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Rous Rd

Kilg

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Yamba Rd

Lis

more

Rd

Bulm

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Rd

Iluka Rd

Pringles Way

Avenue Rd

Bo

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Rd

Wyra

ll ah

- W

oo

db

urn

Rd

Ellis Rd

Fogwells RdUpper Mongogarie Rd

Wyra

llah R

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Sextonville Rd

Mon

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d

Uralba Rd

Tucki - Rous Rd

Clearfield R

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Tucku

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Deep C

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Tath

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Myr

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An

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Cu

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Cre

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Dalwood Rd

Sere

ndip

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Ced

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Isla

nd R

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Fore

st R

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Woodburn S

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Shannon Brook Rd

Moffits Ln

Olive Trl

Hare St

Bluff Rd

Busbys Flat Rd

Bruxner Hwy

Lawrence

Rd

Cla

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Wy

Coraki

Lawrence

Coaldale

Mallanganee

Tatham

Coraki

Caniaba

Whiporie

Swan Bay

Main Camp

New Italy

Springrove

Tabbimoble

Broadwater

Bora Ridge

Bungawalbin

Mororo

Whiporie

Coaldale

Rappville

Baryulgil

Nth Mororo

Kippenduff

Heaton Park

Barretts Ck

Copmanhurst

Mt Pikapene

Tullymorgan

Busbys Flat

Gordon Brook

Six Mile Swamp

Upper Mongogarie

Upper Fine Flower

Casino

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Area 6

Area 4

Area 5

Area 3

Area 2

Area 1

Kyogle

Casino

Grafton

Murwillumbah

Lismore

WW ii ll dd DD oo gg MM aa nn aa gg ee mm ee nn tt PP ll aa nn AA rr ee aa 55

NNoorrtthheerrnn RRiivveerrss 22001122 -- 22001177

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 5 are known to occur in Busby’s Flat, Upper Mongogarie, Upper Fine flower/Wave Hill, Rappville, Whiporie, Barretts Creek, Baryulgil, Gordon Brook, Coaldale, Heaton Park, Kippenduff, Six Mile Swamp, Tullymorgan, Lawrence, Mororo, Nth Mororo, Southgate, Pikapene and Copmanhurst. The existence of forested ranges, flats and swamps provide corridors for the movement of wild dogs from one area to another.

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 .

Wild Dog Management

This plan has been developed for Area 5 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. Aerial baiting may occur along the western boundary of Area 5 where there is a lesser 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.

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.

Contact Details – Wild Dog Issues Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address

Dean Chamberlain, Senior Ranger North Coast LHPA (02) 66423699 dean.chamberlain@lhpa.org.au 24-26 Mulgi Drive, Grafton, NSW 2460

Rod Gray, Ranger North Coast LHPA Casino (02) 6662 3166 rod.gray@lhpa.org.au PO Box 158, Casino, NSW 2470

Craig Rogers, Ranger North Coast LHPA Grafton (02) 6642 3699 craig.rogers@lhpa.org.au 24-26 Mulgi Drive, Grafton, NSW 2460

Glenn Swanson, Ranger North Coast LHPA Casino (02) 6662 3166 glenn.swanson@lhpa.org.au PO Box 158, Casino, NSW 2470

Lisa Wellman

Pest Management Officer

NPWS Northern Rivers Region (02) 6627 0214 lisa.wellman@environment.nsw.gov.au PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477

Operations Manager Forests NSW North East Region (02) 6652 0111 PO Box 535, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450

Area Manager NPWS Clarence North Area (02) 6641 1500 PO Box 361, Grafton, NSW 2460

Area Manager NPWS Richmond River Area (02) 6627 0200 PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW 2477

Contact Details – Domestic Dogs Issues Name Organisation Telephone / Email Address

Ranger Clarence Valley Council (02) 6643 0200 council@clarence.nsw.gov.au Locked Bag 23, Grafton, NSW 2460

Ranger Richmond Valley Council (02) 6660 0300 council@richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au Locked Bag 10, Casino, NSW 2470

Ranger Kyogle Shire Council (02) 6686 1261 council@kyogle.nsw.gov.au PO Box 11, Kyogle, NSW 2474

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: Busby’s Flat, Barretts Ck, Baryulgil, Pikapene and Copmanhurst.

� NPWS will undertake strategic wild dog monitoring and control programs on the following Schedule 2 lands at: Banyabba NR & SCA, Fortis Creek NP and Mt Neville 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 Upper Fine flower/Wave Hill, Rappville, Whiporie, Coaldale, Tullymorgan, Gordon Brook, Upper Mongogarie, Heaton Park, Kippenduff, Six Mile Swamp, Mororo, Nth Mororo, Lawrence, and Southgate.

� NPWS will undertake reactive monitoring and control programs in Mallanganee NP and Chapmans Peak and Hogarth Range NRs, and proactive programs twice per year at Mt Pikapene NP & SCA.

� Forests NSW will undertake reactive monitoring and control programs at: Banyabba, Cherry Tree, Cherry Tree West, Mt Belmore, Sugarloaf, Camira and other state forests as required.

� 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 � FNSW � All land managers � All land managers � NPWS and FNSW

� Within existing resources (WER)

� WER � WER � WER � WER � WER � Additional resources

for purchase of traps

High

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 5 (refer to Map):

� Banyabba NR & SCA, Fortis Creek NP and Mt Neville NR. � Banyabba SF.

� NPWS � FNSW

High

High

2.2 In Schedule 2 Lands in Plan Area 5: � 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, FNSW

� 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 Ballina Shire, Richmond

Valley and Clarence Valley 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, FNSW � 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, FNSW � 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 or FNSW; � 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 AA Aboriginal Area NRR Northern Rivers Region

CRA Conservation Risk Assessment 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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Kilometres

Legend

Plan Area 5

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Schedule 2 land

NPWS estate

State forest

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