Poison baits kill animals at Woongarrah and Budgewoi

A DOG has died after eating mince laced with a toxic chemical which has also killed hundreds of native birds on the Central Coast.

Hundreds of magpies have been killed by poisoned baits at Woongarrah and Budgewoi.

PET owners are being warned to keep their animals safe after hundreds of native birds and two dogs were poisoned in the Woongarrah and Budgewoi areas.

One dog died and another has survived after eating mince laced with a chemical so toxic it can make a person sick just being handled with bare hands.

The poisoning happened about two weeks ago and the dogs were found about 200m from their Woongarrah home.

The attack came on top of a number of poisoning events over the past eight weeks which has killed around 150 magpies and several hundred corellas, butcherbirds and kurrajongs.

Mince meat laced with huge quantities of poison is killing animals almost instantly after being ingested and the chemical found in animals at Woongarrah and Budgewoi was the same.

Central Coast Council spokesman Paul Marynissen.

“It has to be linked,” Central Coast Council’s noxious weeds and pest species officer Paul Marynissen said.

“The council is assisting the Environmental Protection Authority in an active and ongoing investigation.

“We are keeping our ears and eyes open.

“I have absolutely no idea what goes through a person’s mind to do this. I just can’t fathom it.

“It’s a horrible death and the people doing it are also putting themselves at risk. Just handling it with bare hands can make a person really sick.”

Central Coast Council noxious weeds and pest species officer Paul Marynissen at Budgewoi, under the large fig where at least 18 dead magpies were found dead recently.

Mr Marynissen said the birds died quickly, just minutes after consuming the mince.

“Within 10 minutes, they are falling out of the sky on to the ground.”

Just recently he collected 18 dead magpies under a big fig tree in Budgewoi Circle.

A black Ford Ranger was seen in the Woongarrah area throwing mince from the window three weeks ago, about 150m from where the dogs were poisoned.

“Make sure you keep your dogs safe in the yard and keep them on a lead when they’re out,” he said.

“If you see something and its mince, ring the council or the EPA, don’t handle it with bare hands.

“My big fear is that a child wandering along the road might wonder what it was, it would make them very sick, even kill them.”

Highberry Street, Woongarrah, where a car suspected of being related to a spate of bird poisonings was seen.

An EPA spokeswoman confirmed investigations were ongoing and urged people with information to come forward.

“The EPA and Central Coast Council is appealing for people to come forward with information which may assist,” she said.

“We are particularly interested in hearing from the owner of the dark coloured Ford Ranger seen in the vicinity of Highberry Street, Woongarrah, on September 24 to assist with our inquiries.

Mr Marynissan encouraged concerned people to call him direct with any relevant information on 43501690 or the EPA environment line on 131 555.