LIVESTOCK SA is calling for funding from the state government to reinstate a wild dog trapper in northern SA.
Funding for the state’s only dog trapper ended in April when a Federal government drought support program ended.
Livestock SA believes $300,000 would allow for sufficient wild dog control to prevent the pest becoming a problem in peri-urban areas and protect the agricultural industry.
President Geoff Power said Livestock SA is concerned with the amount of good rain in the north of the state will grow wild dog numbers both inside and outside of the dog fence.
“The problem is ongoing and threatens the future growth and economic prospects of the sheep industry.
There are dogs killing sheep at an accelerating level and government support is needed,” he said.
Mr Power said wild dogs have decimated sheep industries in QLD and WA.
“In WA, there are only 200,000 sheep left in the pastoral areas because of wild dog predation and overall, there’s about 1.5 million sheep left mainly due to wild dog predation, whereas 20 years ago, there were 20 million sheep,” he said.
“Without a wild dog trapper, the chances of wild dogs getting down to peri‐urban areas of SA are higher.
If wild dogs were in the Mount Lofty Ranges, it is possible they would cause havoc in residential areas, as they have in similar areas of QLD.”
He said despite the increasing NRM levies, there is not enough money being committed to this basic level of pest control – including NRM Boards and the state government.
“The mandate of NRM boards is to control weeds and pest animals and the wild dog is one of the most destructive pests farmers face.
We are really questioning how our NRM levy is being used,” he said.
Mr Power said the board decided at a meeting in 2014 two trappers were needed to tackle the problem.
“One dogger would cost $150,000 and an immediate commitment of that amount would at least mean the current trapper could be re‐employed while another is hired,” he said.
