THE State Government needs to resume aerial baiting and employ more trappers to improve the effectiveness of wild dog control in East Gippsland.
These were just some of the demands from primary producers during VFF-run community meetings at Omeo and Bairnsdale this week.
The meetings follow a report released last month that said wild dogs were costing Victorian primary producers about $18 million a year.
VFF Bairnsdale president Rob Grant, Flaggy Creek, said wild dog populations had been on a “rampant” increase over the past few years and was getting worse by the day.
He runs Hereford cattle on the edge of the Mitchell River National Park and said over two years, he lost 72 calves to wild dog attacks.
He has also witnessed the mass exodus of sheep producers from the region because of livestock losses.
“Once they have eaten all the native wildlife, they venture out onto nearby farming properties, attacking mainly sheep but also young calves,” he said.
“And while there is a government control program in place, whatever they are doing just isn’t working.
“The new government needs to step up and deliver the job that needs to be done - resume aerial baiting immediately and increase trappers on the ground.”
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said that as part of the State Government’s policy to reduce the impact of feral dogs, he had promised to implement an aerial baiting program, establish a $4 million fox and wild dog bounty and reinvigorate the wild dog management committees.
"We are presently working to implement all of our policy commitments," he said.
Full report Stock and Land's Thursday, March 10 edition
