An app that tracks wild dogs is growing in popularity among livestock producers.
WildDogScan allows land managers, livestock producers, pest controllers and community members to record sightings of wild dogs, their impact, and control measures already put in place.
FeralScan project manager Peter West said 14,000 Australians have already used the program, reporting more than 3000 sightings.
“Across Australia, 150 landholder and wild dog control groups are using the program to plan control efforts and decide how to best reduce wild dog problems as a community,” Mr West said.
“The program allows group members to update each other on wild dog activity with real time notifications, and upload photos to share between group members.”
Northern Tablelands Local Land Services Invasive Species and Plant Health team leader Mark Tarrant said he’s been working with local landholder groups to use the app in areas where wild dogs cause significant problems.
“WildDogScan is a really important tool to help landholders get on top of the problem and make informed decisions on future wild dog management,” Mr Tarrant said.
Chairperson of the National Wild Dog Action Plan stakeholder group Geoff Power said wild dogs impose substantial costs on Australian livestock industries, and the social impact and emotional distress is just as significant.
“Having a farm-ready, practical, easy-to-use tool for recording wild dog activity, which can be used in the field without internet connection, is very useful for landholders and land managers,” Mr Power said.
National Wild Dog Action Plan has funded a five-minute video that explains how to use the website and app.
