The Nature and Impact of Peri-urban Wild Dogs

The presence and impacts of wild dogs (Canis lupus dingo and their hybrids) are increasingly being felt by producers and residents of towns and outer suburbs throughout the more populated areas of eastern NSW and Queensland. Management tools used to control wild dogs across rural Australia have limited use in peri-urban areas. Peri-urban wild dog management is often contentious and difficult to implement given the presence of a variety of stakeholders with wide-ranging and often conflicting ideologies. This conflict is compounded by a general lack of understanding about wild dog ecology and the effectiveness of management techniques in these environments. There is a critical need to assess the nature, impacts, origins and distribution of wild dog problems and provide a knowledge base from which to manage wild dogs in peri-urban environments. The Invasive Animals CRC, in conjunction with Biosecurity Queensland, NSW Department of Primary Industries and various Local Governments have recently commenced a research project to document the nature, distribution and impact of peri-urban wild dogs; investigate their ecology and movements, and test alternative management approaches in peri-urban environments. This paper discusses this research project, the type and importance of the information being sought and how interested parties can be involved.