Warning signs:
When baits are laid, appropriate warning signs must be displayed prominently at all designated road entrances to the property, at the extremities of the property boundaries fronting a public thoroughfare and at other strategic points, for the duration of baiting and for one month thereafter. These warning signs are generally available from the authorising officer or supplier.
Laying baits:
If possible, lay baits where wild dog activity has been identified. If this is not possible, lay baits near watering points and along identifiable routes used by wild dogs, such as vehicle tracks, major pads and watercourses.
Lay baits separately; do not place multiple baits together. If non-target animals such as birds are at risk, baits may be buried or hidden among leaves or bushes. Bait should be left undisturbed for a minimum of 10 days.
Distance requirements
Aerial baiting:
Baits must be placed no closer than 500 metres from all property boundaries and constructed recreation sites, and 250 metres from gazetted public roads.
Ground baiting:
Baits must not be laid within:
- 20 metres of property boundaries;
- 100 metres of any dwelling without written permission of the occupier;
- 20 metres of gazetted roads, stock routes or government authority reserves;
- 20 metres of dams;
- 20 metres of any recreational path or trail frequented by the public;
- 500 metres of any constructed picnic or recreational sites; and
- adjacent to built up areas, semi or special rural holdings.
The distances specified above may be increased or decreased by the Director General, or an officer delegated in writing, of an authorised department provided that:
- Public safety would not be placed at risk from the effects of the poison bait; and
- It would not increase the opportunity for the poisoning of animals other than pest animals from the poison baits.
Rate of bait laying:
There are no specific recommended rates of bait laying for wild dogs. Rates are determined by local experience. The use of fewer baits saves money and reduces any potential non- target risks associated with a baiting program. Ground baiting of a given area requires fewer baits than aerial baiting.
Timing and frequency of baiting:
The issue of when and how often to carry out major baiting campaigns is complex, and depends on a number of factors. As well as economic factors, the availability of natural food for the wild dogs, and seasonal conditions such as the weather, availability and distribution of water, and stage of the breeding cycle, can play a role.
Traditionally, regional baiting campaigns in Western Australia have been carried out in autumn (late April-May) and spring (September-October). The autumn timing coincides with breeding activity, when mating is taking lace, and when bitches are in early pregnancy.
The spring timing coincides with the stage when pups begin to move about, increasing the likelihood of wild dogs finding baits. Food demands are also high at this time, and in the more arid areas, surface water becomes more restricted, making it easier to target the limited number of waterholes with baits.
Currently, baiting is often undertaken only in spring. Baiting earlier in the year is sometimes abandoned due to cost considerations and the possibility of rain leaching 1080 from the baits. In some areas, the spring baiting is being delayed until early summer, when water supplies become even more restricted.
Aerial baiting for wild dogs is usually repeated on an annual cycle. There may be occasions when baiting in buffer zones could be missed in some years without jeopardising livestock protection, but this could be a risky approach unless very detailed information is available on the number of wild dogs in an area and the abundance of the food supply.
It is safest to bait known problem areas on an annual basis. Ground baiting is generally carried out on a more reactive basis, dealing with specific issues as they are identified from the ground. However, ground baiting also has a place in the more traditionally-timed major coordinated campaigns.
Fate of carcasses:
1080 is destroyed as wild dog carcasses putrefy and bacteria degrade it to harmless residues. It is unlikely that any animal would receive a secondary poisoning dose from eating a poisoned dog carcass. For example, it is estimated that an eagle would need to eat about six whole dog carcasses to receive a lethal dose. Carcasses do not need to be recovered.
Information Sourced From:
