Tighter rules on wild dog control measures spark a surge in stock losses
Victorian farmers say devastating wild dog attacks have killed hundreds of sheep and calves despite electric fences and nightly surveillance. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
Farmer fears about the winding back of measures to curb wild dog attacks leading to a surge in stock deaths are coming to fruition, with recent widespread big losses.
Gelantipy district farmer Justin Ross said wild dogs this year had been “killing for fun” with 300 sheep, mainly ewes, lost - plus for the first time, two calves.
He said attacks were taking place despite having the latest dog fences, electric fences with “massive voltages”, nine cameras and carrying out nightly surveillance of his properties.
Mr Ross said 30 wild dogs had been shot with another 30 at two properties “on camera”.
Further west, Gippsland Wild Dog Advisory Group spokesman Barry Taylor, based at Newry, said there had been 200 sheep lost and 20 dogs killed at nearby Glenmaggie in the last two months.
At Merrijig, Brendan Mahoney said wild dogs were getting more brazen with attacks in open paddocks.
Farmers believe the biggest obstacle trappers in eastern Victoria have to overcome in keeping wild dog numbers under control was the move to more frequent trap checks.
Previously they were 72 hours, but there has been a reduction to 24 hours, leading to fewer traps being able to be set.
“The numbers are getting bigger and bigger every year,” Mr Ross said.
“Carcasses are being left in the bush and they’re breeding up.
“They’re also changing their breeding patterns. They’re killing for fun.
“The trapper is doing a great job, but he’s up against it with the resources at his disposal and the amount of red tape.
“They’re wiping two or three out a night, early morning and just leaving them torn to bits.”
Gippsland East MP Tim Bull spoke in parliament last week on the urgent need to bolster the state’s wild dog program in response to attacks in his electorate.
“Given the scale of losses being suffered, it is time to expand this program, increase workforce capacity and provide greater operational flexibility,” he said.
Mr Taylor feared the situation had “gone over the tipping point”.
“There is absolutely no hope of getting it under control,” he said.
“The numbers are just multiplying.
“Fencing and guardian animals like donkeys and alpacas are not the saviour because the dogs are starting to kill calves now.”
Mr Mahoney agreed the problem had escalated.
“I can show you where we’ve had sheep killed and dogs shot in this district on a map,” he said.
“They have no boundaries any more.
“Every week you hear of someone getting hit by a wild dog.
“Labor’s decision to side with the Greens that has caused all this.”
