THE spring round of community baiting for wild dogs started this week in North East Victoria and Gippsland.
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the Community Wild Dog Control Programs provided free 1080 baits to private landholders in spring and autumn.
“Under the Community Wild Dog Control Programs landholders who are authorised to use 1080 products can receive free baits at monthly intervals during spring and autumn,” he said.
“As part of this program, landholders can also access subsidised bait training and trapping kits, and get help preparing bait subsidy submissions and developing local baiting plans.
“Private landholders laid almost 25,000 baits through Community Wild Dog Control Programs in the 2012-13 year members, and Victorian Coalition Government appreciates this effort.”
Mr Walsh said community control efforts like baiting, shooting, trapping and fencing complemented the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) control programs.
“Wild dogs don’t respect property boundaries so it is critically important that the owners of public and private land, as well as communities, continue to work together to tackle wild dogs,” he said.
“This includes reporting wild dog attacks and sighting to the DEPI control staff. Knowing where wild dogs have attacked or been sighted helps DEPI plan and implement control measures.”
In addition to the community programs, DEPI carries out large scale 1080 poison programs on public land, which helps protect neighbouring properties.
They also have a trapping and shooting program.