The main objective of these programs is to minimise the impacts of wild dogs on livestock on adjoining lands. These are outlined in our regional pest management strategies. Because wild dogs are widespread and eradication is not feasible, priority programs for wild dog control have been established.

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) undertake wild dog management programs in many national parks and reserves along the coast, Great Diving Range, Northern, Central and Southern Tablelands and in the far north-west of the state. develop state and regional pest management strategies.To help manage wild dogs in our national parks, we: These plans are developed in accordance with the NSW Guidelines for the Preparation and Implementation of Wild Dog Management Plans (PDF 339KB).

NPWS develops wild dog management plans where a high risk of negative impacts from wild dogs is identified.

The conservation of dingoes is listed under the goals of the strategy and is to be achieved by having Wild Dog Management Plans focus control on areas where the risk of negative impacts is greatest and not undertaking control in other parts of the landscape with a low risk of negative impacts from wild dogs, to allow dingoes to fulfil their natural ecological role. The General Biosecurity Duty for wild dogs is directly informed by the NSW Wild Dog Strategy, which promotes a balance between managing wild dogs in areas where they have negative impacts and preserving the ecological role of dingoes. Predation and hybridisation by feral dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris) has been listed as a key threatening process in New South Wales by the NSW Scientific Committee. However, although these animals pose a threat to livestock on agricultural land, they can also fulfil the ecological role of the dingo in natural environments. Research has shown that over 90% of wild dogs in New South Wales are hybrids. Their introduction has been linked to the extinction of the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) and the Tasmanian devil on the mainland. They established across the mainland and on many offshore islands, probably assisted by Aboriginal people. Conversely, under some circumstances, predation by dogs may have significant direct impacts on threatened species such as koalas.ĭingoes were introduced into Australia from Asia by humans around 4,000 years ago. Under some circumstances, wild dogs may also suppress the abundance or activity of other pest animals such as cats and foxes. Predation by wild dogs can reduce the impacts of overgrazing in arid and semi-arid ecosystems by regulating the abundance of native and exotic herbivores. Wild dogs may have both positive and negative impacts on the environment but these interactions and any net outcomes are not well understood. This means that the occupier of lands (both private and public) is required to take all practical measures to minimise the risk of any negative impacts of wild dogs on their land or neighbouring lands. The General Biosecurity Duty requires any person dealing with biosecurity matter (such as wild dogs), and who knows or ought to know of the biosecurity risks posed by that biosecurity matter, to take measures to prevent, minimise or eliminate the risk as far as is reasonably practicable. It is therefore necessary to manage wild dogs under the General Biosecurity Duty of the Biosecurity Act 2015. As a result, they have been identified as a priority pest animal under the 11 Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plans developed by Local Land Services. Wild dogs can have significant impacts on livestock, especially sheep. We work to control wild dog populations in our national parks.Ī wild dog is any dog living in the wild, including feral dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris), dingoes ( Canis lupus dingo) and their hybrids. Wild dogs are a pest animal that threaten livestock and domestic pets.

Different types of wild dogs