SUCCESSFUL FERAL DOG MEETING IN MT MEE HALL
A strong representation of Mt Mee landowners met in the Mt Mee Hall on Saturday 21st June to discuss the marked increase in feral dog sightings and dog attributable livestock losses in recent months.
Recreational shooter Rod Thomas was there with photos of his current tally of dogs and Doug Cotton and Ray Johnston of the Moreton Bay regional Council brought up to date information on baiting and trapping policies.
It was recognised that the home range of each dog pack on our Mountain will cover a number of holdings and that consequently a community approach to control is essential.
In an indication of the size of the problem, Rod and locals Len Maroske and Allan Heisner have together accounted for some 100 dogs over the past few months and yet numbers seem undiminished.
The landowners elected to establish a fund – the “Mount Mee Cooperative Dog Control Fund”, aimed at assisting approved shooters to meet out of pocket costs. Monies can be disbursed on a per/dog basis to shooters who have written permission of the landowner for the shoot and can provide an owner endorsed photograph of the carcass.
The cooperative has 20 foundation members, and further contributors would be welcomed. Membership is just $50.00. If the program is so successful that the fund is run down, there will be a “whip round” the (very happy) membership.
The meeting resolved to request that Council complement this voluntary community fund on a dollar for dollar basis.
Council Pest Control Officer Ray Johnston then described the awesome current regulatory hurdles to a baiting program, but pointed out that a successful area baiting has recently been completed in the Rocksburg area.
Ray undertook to explore with DPI‟s Biosecurity Group the possibility of a concessional program for the Mountain. Meanwhile a group of owners of the larger holdings bordering the Mt Mee State forest will investigate baiting a “buffer zone” under the current rules.
Ray also undertook to discuss baiting areas of the Mt Mee State Forest and Corbauld Park with the National Parks authorities. We believe that many dogs have safe lairs in this country and make forays into settled areas to patrol their territories and to hunt. An effective baiting program in these wilderness areas would help Mt Mee landholders immensely.
The meeting acknowledged that there is no silver bullet solution to our dog problems and that success will involve cooperation between landowners, Council and our shooters, and will entail baiting, trapping and shooting.
The new cooperative begs that all sightings or hearings of feral dogs or dingos, and that any dead livestock that have been or might be attracting these pests, be communicated straight away both to Council switch (54200 100) and to Rod Thomas (any hour 0400 018 949). Council officers need the reports to strengthen their case with the “beancounters”, and Rod is ready to go – any time.
All enquiries re the cooperative can be directed to Ian Wells – 5498 2104
