A fatal attack on two baby alpacas and their mother has led to calls for a co-ordinated and more thorough baiting program for wild dogs.
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Property owner, Brownwen Harrigan said her and her husband were devastated to find two baby alpacas and their mother dead on Tuesday morning.
“The mother had obviously been trying to protect them. We are devastated,” she said. “It’s for this reason that people need to bait.”
Luke Booth, senior biosecurity officer at Hunter Local Land Services stresses that it’s very important that property and stock owners report all sightings to the LLS.
“The number of wild dogs hasn’t increased but there are spots on the maps that we [Hunter Local Land Services] can’t get to,” said Mr Booth, “There are still parts of the Dungog LGA that need to tighten control.”
Mr Booth is a strong advocate for a coordinated baiting approach where multiple landholders bait together to broaden the target area and is available to help in this coordination.
“We have a twice yearly coordinating baiting project in autumn and spring,” he said. “It’s been really effective. We’ve seen a dramatic decrease in numbers and the baiting looks at reducing the number in pack size.”
Mr Booth said wild dog attacks are higher risk for smaller stock owners as a single dog can cause substantial damage.
He suggests that owners have to modify farm managing practice by securing their stock in sheds or protected paddocks.
The Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) is currently providing the vertebrate induction course [baiting ticket] free of charge to LLS ratepayers.
The course covers topics such as baiting techniques, toxicity, storage, transport, legislation and OH&S with a five year accreditation and certificate.
All wild dog sightings and stock attacks or interest in the Vertebrate Induction Course should be reported to Mr Booth at his Tocal office on 4939 8967.