Scientists from Industry & Investment (I&I) NSW and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff are working with local landholders and Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) rangers to test the most effective rates for 1080 aerial baiting of wild dogs.

They will measure the effectiveness of 1080 at rates of 10 baits per kilometre and 40 baits per kilometre against a control with no 1080 bait in this research project funded through the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre and NPWS.

I&I NSW wild dog management researcher, Guy Ballard, said 16 dogs trapped in the New England and Mid-north Coast areas were fitted with global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices.

“The collars record the location of the dogs every 30 minutes and send samples of the GPS readings back to us via satellite,” Dr Ballard said.

“A mortality sensor on the collar tells us if the dogs are alive or not and we can track the signals from the collar to retrieve it and all the GPS data which will give us detailed information of exactly where each dog has been."

“All this information on the wild dogs’ habitat use and movements will deliver solid scientific data to determine where dogs picked up baits and ascertain which baiting rate was the most effective.”

Yarrowitch, Moona-Winterbourne and UpperHastings Wild Dog Control Associations and NPWS will be conducting the baiting program at the end of May and early June, under the supervision of the New England and Mid Coast LHPAs.

Dr Ballard said dogs fitted with GPS collars which were found to be living near livestock production areas but did not pick up baits in the June baiting program would be targeted in follow-up baiting this August.

“Collars will drop off any surviving dogs on September 01 and we will be able to see what their movements wereup until that time,” he said.

Dogs fitted with the GPS tracking collars were trapped between Walcha and Yarras, just west of Wauchope.