THE State government is working on a new Draft Wild Dog Management Strategy, which it hopes will halt the wild dog epidemic.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said she hoped the strategy would address the exploding wild dog population and related livestock predation.
“It is going to bring together all of the key parties that should be involved in wild dog management,” Ms Hodgkinson (pictured) said.
“That is being developed. We’re very concerned about the ongoing problem of wild dog control and the losses to our livestock industries.
“We’ve had such good seasons over the past couple of years that seem to have led to an increase in wild dog numbers.”
Ms Hodgkinson said a nil-tenure approach to wild dog control would be addressed.
“When the Wild Dog Management Strategy is actually released, those sorts of issues will be addressed,” she said.
“In the meantime, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Forestries NSW and the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities are all aware of their obligations to help control wild dogs, and they should definitely be working co-operatively.
“If that’s not the case in specific areas, I want to know about it.
“People can contact my office if they do not believe that is happening in their area.”
Ms Hodgkinson said the issue of wild dogs was close to home, as it was something landholders regularly dealt with in her electorate of Burrinjuck.
“I am determined to do all I can – and to make sure the department does all it can – to ensure we’ve got the right mix of control,” she said.
“It’s not just about aerial baiting; you’ve got to have trapping and you’ve got to have shooting to make sure that we really get on top of this problem.”
Read more of The Land's wild dog special report in this week's The Land p8 to 9.
