Dog baits to be deployed in northern SA while Dog Fence is fixed

Lethal baits will be deployed across northern South Australia to stop wild dogs causing havoc and killing wildlife after flood damage to the fence designed to keep them out.

Thousands of baits will be dropped from planes in northern South Australia to stop wild dogs killing sheep.

A total of 2000 baits will be deployed in response to damage caused by heavy rainfall to more than 250km of the dog fence between Coober Pedy and the Ikara/Flinders Ranges.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the baiting would protect the livestock industry during repair work.

“Wild dogs rip nearly $89m a year from the Australian economy, with South Australian

producers losing more than 20,000 sheep to wild dogs in 2018 alone,” Mr Basham said.

“The Marshall Liberal Government has a multi-pronged approach when it comes to tackling the issue of wild dogs, the additional baiting efforts complement our historic $25m rebuild of the South Australian Wild Dog Fence as well as our trapping and bounty programs.”

Wild dogs will be stopped from killing sheep by baits. Picture: Vincent Shaw

Dog trappers will fix the fence in affected regions when access is restored.

South Australia was the first jurisdiction in the country to allow statewide baiting standards in November 2021.

Under the standards landowners are allowed to lay baits, with the number dependent on where the property is located.

“Developing the new baiting standards are another tool in the management of wild dogs to support the growth of our $4.3 billion livestock sector,” Mr Basham said.

“Safe havens have traditionally created refuges and breeding opportunities for wild dogs,

undermining the efforts of neighbouring properties with their wild dog control operations, potentially leading to tensions within the community.”

Livestock SA president Joe Keynes was contacted for comment.