! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ) # * ) ) ) ) ) # * ) ) ) ) # * # * ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) # * ) ) # * ) ) ) ) ) # * # * # * ! ( ! ( 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 NR Jackywalbin 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 i ch m o n d R i v e r M y r t l e C r e e k C l a ren c e R i v e r E v a n s Ri v er M a r o m Cr e e k T h e Br o a dwater C l a r e nc e R i v e r Cl ar ence River C l a re n c e Ri ver Clarence River Clarence River Clarence Riv er Clarence River Clarence River C l a r e n c e R i v e r Clar e nc e River Clar e nce Riv e r Pacific Hwy Summerland Way B r u x n e r H w y Coaldale Rd Clarence Wy Cas i no Rd B u n g a w a l b i n R d Myall Creek Rd Old Tenterfield Rd Lawrence R d Bu s b ys F l at Rd The Gap Rd S o u t h A rm R d Ellangowan Rd R ous Rd Kilgin Rd Y amb a R d Lismore Rd Bulme r s Rd Il u k a R d Pr i ngles Way A v e n u e R d Bonalbo Rd Wyrallah - Woodbur n Rd E l l i s R d Fo gwel l s Rd Upper M ongogarie Rd Wyrallah Rd Sext o n v i l l e R d Mo ng ogarie Rd U ra l b a R d Tuc k i - Rou s Rd Clearfi el d Rd Tuckurimba Rd Deep Creek Rd Tatham - Myrtle Creek Rd Angouri e Rd Culmaran Creek Rd D a lw o o d R d Ser endipity Rd Cedar Island R d Forest Rd W oodburn St S hannon B ro ok R d M o f fi t s Ln Olive Trl H a re S t B l u f f R d B u s b y s F l a t R d Bruxner H w y L aw rence Rd Clarence 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 ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! ( Area 6 Area 4 Area 5 Area 3 Area 2 Area 1 Kyogle Casino Grafton Murwillumbah Lismore W W i i l l d d D D o o g g M M a a n n a a g g e e m m e e n n t t P P l l a a n n A A r r e e a a 5 5 N N o o r r t t h h e e r r n n R R i i v v e e r r s s 2 2 0 0 1 1 2 2 - - 2 2 0 0 1 1 7 7 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 [email protected] 24-26 Mulgi Drive, Grafton, NSW 2460 Rod Gray, Ranger North Coast LHPA Casino (02) 6662 3166 [email protected] PO Box 158, Casino, NSW 2470 Craig Rogers, Ranger North Coast LHPA Grafton (02) 6642 3699 [email protected] 24-26 Mulgi Drive, Grafton, NSW 2460 Glenn Swanson, Ranger North Coast LHPA Casino (02) 6662 3166 [email protected] PO Box 158, Casino, NSW 2470 Lisa Wellman Pest Management Officer NPWS Northern Rivers Region (02) 6627 0214 [email protected] 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 [email protected] Locked Bag 23, Grafton, NSW 2460 Ranger Richmond Valley Council (02) 6660 0300 [email protected] Locked Bag 10, Casino, NSW 2470 Ranger Kyogle Shire Council (02) 6686 1261 [email protected] 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 ² 0 10 Kilometres Legend Plan Area 5 # * Strategic control area ) Reactive control area Schedule 2 land NPWS estate State forest ! ( Town Road River