NSW: Baiting program to kill wild dogs in national park

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
NSW: Baiting program to kill wild dogs in national park

SYDNEY, April 12 AAP - Baits would be used to kill feral dogs which were preying on
livestock and native animals in the Snowy Mountains, the New South Wales government said
today.

The baiting program, one of the largest ever undertaken in the state, would also target
foxes, Environment Minister Bob Debus said.

"There is no doubt that too many sheep have been taken by wild dogs," he said.

The endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby, as well as rare species of quolls and possums,
were also threatened by the feral animals.

Quolls had faced a double threat, as previous methods of dog baiting had affected them
as well as their intended targets.

However, Mr Debus said his would no longer be a problem.

"The new bait stations have been designed to maximise the impact on wild dogs and foxes
while preventing poisoning of non-target species," he said.

A spokeswoman for Mr Debus, Chris Grima, said that baiting would take place deep in
the Mt Kosciuszko National Park to prevent accidental poisoning of domestic dogs.

It was unknown exactly how many feral dogs were in the area, she said.

AAP jh/sb/lw

KEYWORD: FERAL

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