Wild dog attacks still prevalent in Victoria
ABC South East NSW (Bega), Rural Report, 17/06/2009 06:38am
Victorian authorities held a community meeting at Tuppet yesterday to address concerns over explosion in wild dog numbers and sheep attacks. Wild dogs have attacked more than 1000 sheep this year in sub-Alpine farming valley. The meeting of around 30 was attended by Robert Belcher, head of Gippsland and Monaro Interstate LandCare Committee. Belcher says sheep producers are angry at lack of wild dog control from the authorities. Belcher questions the validity of the rules and regulations on controlling wild dogs, mentioning it is virtually impossible to even make the permitted traps effective. At a time when there is a world shortage of sheep, he states that Australia is shooting itself in the foot. Belcher describes the current situation as a tsunami, and there is a propaganda campaign that dogs are breeding on farms - Belcher disputes this, saying wild dogs breed in crown land and forests, eating native wildlife and when they run out, eating domestic farm animals. He says it’s obvious dogs are becoming more aggressive, and NSW has been through the prohibition phase and are now going back to aerial bating. He says the Currarong LandCare Group put out 3500 baits and effectively removed their dog problem, and Vic Forests put out 2000 baits for the whole region, which he calls “a joke”.
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