DINGOES – WILD DOGS
Here is some timely information from Andrew Donaldson. Andrew has been providing professional dogger services to Millmerran Shire Council and within the Brisbane valley area for several years, however he lives within our local area. His contact details appear at the end of this article.
While it may seem like Wild Dogs are on the increase within our shire, there could be a simple reason why we are seeing more of them, waking in the middle of the night to their mournful howls (for those of us lucky enough to live on acreage), or hearing about our neighbours beloved small pets being attacked sometimes even in the middle of the day.
While it may seem like Wild Dogs are on the increase within our shire, there could be a simple reason why we are seeing more of them, waking in the middle of the night to their mournful howls (for those of us lucky enough to live on acreage), or hearing about our neighbours beloved small pets being attacked sometimes even in the middle of the day.
It may well be that they are on the increase, its difficult to tell, but what we can be sure of is that there are other influences that increase the activity of wild dogs at different times of the year. The term ‘Wild Dog’ refers collectively to purebred dingoes, dingo hybrids and domestic dogs that have escaped or been deliberately released. Under the Land protection Act (Pest and Stock Route Management) 2002, the dingo is a declared Class 2 pest and landholders are required to control declared pests on their land. So while we may see a yellow dog and think it’s a Dingo, or a black dog and think it’s a Wild Dog, the truth is that they are both declared pests and in most cases closely genetically linked.
Unlike Domestic dogs that may have several litters of pups in a year, wild dogs will generally only raise one litter of pups over winter. As the mating season for wild dogs runs from February through until the end of May, young dogs will be howling at night for a mate, and travelling for longer periods in daylight hours in a hormone fuelled frenzy. Dependant upon the social structure, if there is a ‘pack’ there will be an Alpha Male and an Alpha Female – these dominant dogs will normally be the only ones to raise a litter of pups and the Alpha female will kill the pups of any other female dogs within that pack. Mother Nature has her reasons and this ensures only the strongest, genetically advanced dogs survive, with the other members of the pack being fully utilised in providing food for the remaining litter.
Which brings us to the next cycle – from about August we can expect to see an increase in the amount of livestock attacks as these dogs will be seeking extra food for their growing pups – on average an adult dog needs to eat the equivalent of a kilogram of meat each day. That’s over 350 small marsupials (some of which may be endangered) or alternatively, an easier source of food in the form of domestic poultry, sheep, goats, and calves. It comes as no surprise that calves generally start to drop around the same time these pups are old enough to begin looking for their own food.
And the cycle continues the following year, with the previous year’s pups often dispersing to new territories which may have had dingoes removed, or competing with the territories that domestic dogs may create in an acreage situation, and naturally, attacking those domestic dogs when the opportunity arises.
So what can we do? There are a number of opportunities for landholders to consider and the responsibility doesn’t just lie with those on larger acreage blocks. Wild Dogs will always be around so we need to understand some control methods which are available. Pest Management officers from council are available to advise and assist where necessary through trapping, education, and baiting of larger blocks. Private control methods are also available such as those listed at the end of this article and include trapping, baiting or howling dogs up to within short distances to be destroyed depending on the location and situation. These methods are discussed in detail with you and can be tailored to suit your needs at modest prices. While it may take several days or even weeks to destroy cunning dogs, you generally only pay for the dogs which are destroyed so you can’t lose.
Utilising multiple methods and approaches to targeting wild dogs at key times throughout the year is the best way to keep their numbers in check. Landholders can either get together collaboratively to tackle the problem or on an individual basis, but while we live in this wonderful part of the world, its everyone’s problem !
To contact Councils pest management officers you will need to ring 3480 6666, which is also the number you ring for all Council queries and complaints.
Unlike Domestic dogs that may have several litters of pups in a year, wild dogs will generally only raise one litter of pups over winter. As the mating season for wild dogs runs from February through until the end of May, young dogs will be howling at night for a mate, and travelling for longer periods in daylight hours in a hormone fuelled frenzy. Dependant upon the social structure, if there is a ‘pack’ there will be an Alpha Male and an Alpha Female – these dominant dogs will normally be the only ones to raise a litter of pups and the Alpha female will kill the pups of any other female dogs within that pack. Mother Nature has her reasons and this ensures only the strongest, genetically advanced dogs survive, with the other members of the pack being fully utilised in providing food for the remaining litter.
Which brings us to the next cycle – from about August we can expect to see an increase in the amount of livestock attacks as these dogs will be seeking extra food for their growing pups – on average an adult dog needs to eat the equivalent of a kilogram of meat each day. That’s over 350 small marsupials (some of which may be endangered) or alternatively, an easier source of food in the form of domestic poultry, sheep, goats, and calves. It comes as no surprise that calves generally start to drop around the same time these pups are old enough to begin looking for their own food.
And the cycle continues the following year, with the previous year’s pups often dispersing to new territories which may have had dingoes removed, or competing with the territories that domestic dogs may create in an acreage situation, and naturally, attacking those domestic dogs when the opportunity arises.
So what can we do? There are a number of opportunities for landholders to consider and the responsibility doesn’t just lie with those on larger acreage blocks. Wild Dogs will always be around so we need to understand some control methods which are available. Pest Management officers from council are available to advise and assist where necessary through trapping, education, and baiting of larger blocks. Private control methods are also available such as those listed at the end of this article and include trapping, baiting or howling dogs up to within short distances to be destroyed depending on the location and situation. These methods are discussed in detail with you and can be tailored to suit your needs at modest prices. While it may take several days or even weeks to destroy cunning dogs, you generally only pay for the dogs which are destroyed so you can’t lose.
Utilising multiple methods and approaches to targeting wild dogs at key times throughout the year is the best way to keep their numbers in check. Landholders can either get together collaboratively to tackle the problem or on an individual basis, but while we live in this wonderful part of the world, its everyone’s problem !
To contact Councils pest management officers you will need to ring 3480 6666, which is also the number you ring for all Council queries and complaints.
(When I rang the Strathpine office of the now Moreton Bay Regional Council, and asked to speak with the person who Andrew had named from this department, I was told that I had to go through the Media Department. Deadlines did not allow for this, nor did I wish to have a media spin on the subject – just a talk with someone “in the know”. Ed.)
To arrange private Wild Dog control call: Andrew Donaldson 0428 781 785.
