Wild dogs spotted in Sunshine Coast town of Eumundi

Wild dogs living near a Sunshine Coast hinterland township have been spotted on infra-red cameras as residents fear for their livestock and native wildlife. SEE THE FOOTAGE

Residents in an eclectic Sunshine Coast hinterland community fear for their herds and native local wildlife after wild dogs were spotted on infra-red camera on properties.

Recent video footage of wild dogs living in bushland just minutes from the bustling township of Eumundi has raised concerns among residents who say the dogs are breeding and endangering livestock.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said they have “received two complaints about wild dogs in the last six months in the 4562 area.”

“Council responds to these requests through a range of educational programs including one-on-one training and advice and on-the-ground support through community wild dog baiting,” the spokesman said.

Eumundi resident Gary Kong says the dogs were “menacing cattle across the creek a couple of years ago.”

Video stills from recorded footage of wild dogs on a property close to the town of Eumundi.

“We got council to come and trap them,” Mr Kong said.

“They captured and euthanised six or seven dogs, one very smart dog escaped and went to ground.”

Mr Kong said he used a trail camera to photograph a young female over several nights in May last year.

“We caught her again on camera over several nights in September with two pups about three months old, so we know that they are breeding numbers again,” he said.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said in addition to proactively locating and removing feral animals, the council received almost 500 requests each year to assist the community with feral animal control.

Video stills from recorded footage of wild dogs on a property close to the town of Eumundi.

Rolled out last spring from September 13 to October 6, the Community Wild Dog Program is one of the initiatives being delivered “to reduce the impact of invasive animals on our native species”.

The council spokesman said wild dogs “can prevent native regeneration, disperse weed seeds, cause erosion, damage trees, agricultural and horticultural crops and damage irrigation and fences”.

The spokesman said they also competed with livestock for pasture and were known to attack herds, domestic pets and native animals, as well as carrying the potential to spread disease and impact human health.

Video stills from recorded footage of wild dogs on a property close to the town of Eumundi.

“Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, landholders have a General Biosecurity Obligation to manage invasive pest plants and animals on land under their control,” the council statement reads.

Mr Kong says there were a lot more native animals in the area when he first moved to Eumundi.

“I haven’t seen pods of kangaroos for over eight years, or echidnas,” he said.

“I think if the number of wild dogs are disproportionate, they’re impacting the wildlife.

“We have created a disturbance in the ecology, and we know from taming the place just a little bit, it’s hard to not have an impact on the environment. And we are all doing it, and it all adds up.”