CAN YOU HEAR THAT?

This time of year is wild dog mating time and although you may hear howling at any time through the year, howling now is likely to be all about mating.

Wild dogs will be actively moving through the landscape and now is a good time to get your neighbours together as a group and carry out a proactive, strategic wild dog baiting program.

It’s also time to grab the calendar and mark the nights you hear howling. This is all-important as it gives you a ‘timing marker’ for what is about to occur.

From the time you hear howling, mark seven weeks into the future and you will have an approximate time when wild dog females will be about to bed down in the den.

There is always a spike in activity and another great time to get some baits out.

From that ‘denning’ time date, mark 20 weeks into the future, which normally brings us to the end of August or early September. This is the most important time for wild dog control.

Pups are now at the age where they will be venturing out on their own and will chase everything but are not particularly good at catching anything. They are continuously hungry and wild dog baits will be readily accepted.

August, September, and through October are also months to plan for a group wild dog control program.

Contact your local Biosecurity Officer at North Coast Local Land Services.

Being proactive, strategic, and targeted is the best way to minimise wild dog impacts in your area.