Technical highlights - Department of Primary Industries ...

Figure 25.3 Locations of five maremmas (highlighted in pink) when a wild dog foraged in their
sheep paddock
Interbreeding
DNA analysis of blood samples taken
from wild dogs showed no evidence of
interbreeding between maremmas and
wild dogs on Dunluce Station. However,
all working maremmas on Dunluce
Station are desexed or treated to prevent
interbreeding.
Biodiversity impacts
The activity of rodents and birds (likely
prey for feral cats and foxes) was similar
for both sheep and cattle paddocks and
was independent of the activity of foxes,
maremmas and wild dogs. Fox and wild
dog activity fluctuated between surveys,
but these animals were mostly detected
in the sheep–maremma paddocks rather
than the cattle paddocks. No wild dogs
were detected during the July survey
(at whelping), yet tracking showed they
were still making incursions into the
area at this time.
In April 2011, we captured and collared
eight wild dogs and six maremmas
on Stratford Station. We will conduct
wildlife surveys and DNA analysis of
wild dogs similar to those on Dunluce
Station.
60 Technical highlights: research projects 2010–11