Biteback news

Posted 19 December 2019.

Ground baiting (2019 Calendar Year)

A total of 123,708 baits were distributed to properties inside the dog fence within the South Australian Arid Lands region in 2019. This was less than 2018 (223,915 baits) of which 94,250 were manufactured baits distributed to land managers prior to the commencement of the PIRSA-managed trapper program.

Inside the fence a total of 111 Landholders participated in 2019 injection services, a slight decrease from 2018 which saw 123 landholders attend injection services.

The bait numbers per region in 2019 are:

• Gawler Ranges - 9,020 baits
• Kingoonya - 25,555 baits
• North Flinders/ Marree - 38,385 baits
• North East Pastoral - 50,748 baits

North of the Dog Fence, 11 properties had baited up to November 2019, with a total of 26,065 baits injected and 6,100 manufactured distributed. In 2018 21 properties received baits through the Biteback program, with 26,800 injected 26,800 baits and 9140 manufactured baits distributed.

Aerial baiting

In May 2019 aerial baiting occurred in parts of the SAAL region with 59,836 baits distributed over 47 properties. This occurred across the North Flinders, North East Pastoral, and Kingoonya districts.

Mapping for 2019

To date, 58 maps (29%) have been returned from the SAAL region for properties inside the dog fence. A further 17 (8.5%) properties reported wild dog control activities for their properties through the WildDog Scan app.

Data collected during 2019 (South of the dog fence)

This data includes wild dog scan and map data returned during 2019.

Mapping for 2020

New maps for January-June 2020 will be mailed out in January 2020. Please return maps from July to December 2019 in the self-addressed return envelope that arrived with new maps as soon as is practicable. Please remember that while properties using WildDog Scan do not need to report dog information on the paper maps, they will still need to add data to the baiting lines on the paper maps.

The information from the maps is used to guide wild dog control efforts in your area. If we do not receive information about wild dog activity on your property, we can only assume you are not experiencing any impacts.

PIRSA Wild Dog Trapper Program

Control of wild dogs is most effective when baiting, shooting and trapping are used as an integrated control program. In the 2018/2019 financial year professional trappers trapped 294 dogs. The new season began in August with 35 dogs trapped or shot to date.

To access the PIRSA Trapper Program you must be meeting Best Practice Guidelines for Wild Dog Control.

For more information please contact Heather Miller at PIRSA via email Heather.miller@sa.gov.au or by telephone on 8429 2998 or 0488 426 395.