Pest Management Planning - Sunshine Coast Council - Queensland ...

Case study
Community partnerships in delivering a peri-urban wild dog control program
Wild dogs are a significant problem across rural,
peri-urban and urban areas of the Sunshine Coast.
They are responsible for killing and maiming stock
and pets, preying on native wildlife, damaging
equipment, spreading disease and threatening
people.
As the Sunshine Coast has grown and urban
development encroached on rural areas,
traditional methods of baiting have become
increasingly difficult to implement. More than ever,
effective baiting programs can only be run with the
cooperation and collaboration of the community.
The baiting program that is now operating began
in 2002 as a trial involving a single group of 6
landowners. The program has now grown to
include 24 such groups across the region.
Because wild dogs are extremely mobile, baiting
programs are conducted based on a landscape
approach rather than individual properties. The
wild dog baiting program is delivered through local
area coordination groups consisting of landowners
and individuals working together to reduce the
impacts of wild dogs in their areas. These groups
are also supported by government landowners
who manage land parcels within these areas.
Strict rules govern the administration and
operation of the baiting programs and all aspects
are well documented. Council obtains approvals
from Queensland Health and the Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in order for this
program to operate.
All residents within two kilometres of any bait
station must be advised in writing and written
consent received from the majority (at least 80%)
of residents within one kilometre. Placement of
baits must comply with stringent criteria: no baits
may be laid within three kilometres of a town,
within 500 metres of a dwelling that is not part of
the program, within 20 metres of a water body or
within 50 metres of the centre-line of a declared
road.
left to right: Wild dog caught in a trap. Wild dog baits.
Baiting stations for Sunshine Coast local government
area 2009.
On baiting day the groups come to a central property
to have the baits injected with 1080 (sodium
fluoroacetate). Some of the properties of 1080
include:
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Fluoroacetate occurs naturally in about 35
species of Australian plants, such as Acacia
georginae (gidgee), Gastrolobium spp. (heart leaf
poison bush) and Oxylobium spp. (box poison
bush). Consequently, native animal species are
generally less susceptible to fluoroacetate than
introduced species
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1080 is water-soluble and is readily broken
down by naturally occurring bacteria and fungi.
It therefore does not cause a build-up of toxic
residues in soil, water or plants, nor does it
bioaccumulate in organisms
Fluoroacetate can be found in minute quantities in
such common substances as guar gum and tea.
Only heart or liver are used for baits and when they
are set they must be buried and tied. Participants
must record the fate of all baits they lay and, where
possible, indicate what animal took the bait. Any
bait not taken after seven days is retrieved and
destroyed.
During 2009, a total of 952 baits were injected for
placing by 19 local area coordination groups. Of the
496 baits taken, 286 were confirmed to have been
taken by wild dogs.
Feral animal trapping (which includes wild dog
trapping) is also undertaken. The majority of feral
animal trapping occurs in
areas outside baiting areas.
Feral animal trapping
complements the baiting
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in some areas where
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baiting is not permitted
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(e.g. closer to town).
Using more than one
technique to manage a
pest species is a much
more successful
approach.
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Sunshine Coast Local Government Area Pest Management Plan 2012-2016 29