Wild dog bounty scheme reaches double century

The scheme offers landowners and managers $120 per wild dog killed on their land and is part of the state government's $21-million Drought Support Package.

Primary Industries Minister David Basham said the bounty scheme provides additional income to drought affected farmers and communities.

"Many people in these drought-affected regions are doing it tough and the bounty is designed to put money back in the pockets of farmers while helping to stop the scourge of wild dogs on the livestock industry inside the Dog Fence," he said.

"Wild dogs have a significant impact on our pastoral regions, costing livestock producers almost $90m a year.

"To have more than 200 claims made to the wild dog bounty scheme shows just how successful this initiative has been in helping drought-affected farmers across SA.

"Farmers at the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group meeting this week told me the government's efforts to eradicate wild dogs have seen pastoralists going back to sheep in country where predation had previously made it unprofitable.

"Protecting our state's $4.3-billion livestock industry from wild dogs requires an integrated approach, which is why we have also expanded our baiting and trapper program along with the once-in-a-lifetime $25m rebuild of the South Australian Dog Fence.

"Since the government delivered on our election commitment to employ more wild dog trappers, 618 dogs have been killed and 89 properties supported.

"Aerial baiting programs have expanded with an operation last month and another in December.

"The state government remains determined to eradicate wild dogs inside SA's Dog Fence and we will work with the federal government and the livestock sector to ensure farmers continue to be supported in a practical and efficient way."

The wild dog bounty scheme will run until June 30, 2021, or until the $100,000 allocated to the program is exhausted.