Wild dog numbers barking mad

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ALL levels of government should share responsibility for controlling wild dogs on the North Coast, according to Page MP Janelle Saffin.

In Federal Parliament this week Ms Saffin raised her concerns about the growing problem of wild dogs in the region.

She said there were clear social and economic impacts of wild dogs on the grazing industry across Australia.

"Conservative estimates put the cost at about $60 million a year," she said. "The management of wild dogs is primarily a State and Territory responsibility with local government and other local management committees of varying names but the same type of responsibility involved.

"The Commonwealth has a place in this and has a concern about it as well, but at State level there is very specific legislation."

Ms Saffin said she had read of a private trapper having success in the Byron Shire eradicating dogs there, but eradication could be difficult.

"But it is something that we have to keep as a goal," she said.

"The Federal Government has legislation to support responsibilities for managing pest animals such as wild dogs, but it is through the protection of the national environmental significance areas through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

"The Federal Government contributes to wild dog research and on-ground work.

"It contributes approximately 40% of the cost of the national wild dog facilitator, funds nationally significant research and best practice projects, provides grant opportunities through Caring for our Country and has representation on various committees, including, for example, the National Wild Dog Management Advisory Group.

"These days, due to the legal requirement for soft-jaw traps and animal welfare provision, I feel that wild dogs are handled and put down humanely. But laying dog traps is only part of an integrated feral animal control approach that includes baiting, shooting and other deterrence measures, including the use of guard animals.

"I am aware that many landholders, including people in the local area, report having great success protecting livestock from wild dogs by using Maremma dogs as livestock guardians.

"Dog trapping takes a lot of time and skill to do properly, so most people cannot do it successfully without extensive training. Hence pooling money from landowners for the engagement of a trapper or licensed shooter makes sense.

"Daytime attacks on stock and people are becoming more common as dog packs and foxes increasingly lose their fear of mankind while obtaining food by predation of stock and native fauna.

"Some people have put in control measures and some people have the guard animals, but the predation is increasing in the daytime, so even when they have managed to fix the problem at night it is happening more in the daytime.

"I welcome any increased efforts by local councils to eradicate wild dogs in our area, and will continue to do what I can at the Federal level to bring attention to the problem."