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Guidelines for Preparing a
Working Plan to Manage Wild Dogs
This document is intended as a guide to accompany theWorking Plan to Manage Wild Dogs.
Prepared by: Peter Fleming, Senior Research Officer, Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, Orange Agricultural Institute,
NSW Agriculture, andBob Harden, Vertebrate Pests Team Leader,
Biodiversity Research Group, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Managing Wild Dogs
© The State of New South Wales
NSW Agriculture 2003
This publication is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth), no part of the
publication may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of
the copyright owner. Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatever without such permis-
sion.
DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing
(May 2003). However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that informa-
tion upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of
New South Wales Department of Agriculture or the user’s independent adviser.
The product trade names in this publication are supplied on the understanding that no preference between equiva-
lent products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name does not imply endorsement by NSW
Agriculture over any equivalent product from another manufacturer.
Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South
Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of
any information included in the document provided by third parties.
ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit or order, before
using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit or order.
Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit or order by
reason of any statement made or not made in this publication.
ISBN 0 7347 1465 3
Edited by Helen Gosper
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to the attendees of a workshop in Armidale in June 2001, who road-tested an
earlier version, the Brindabella/Wee Jasper valleys Wild Dog/Fox Working Group, which suc-
cessfully brought the first plan to fruition, and Noelene Franklin and Rob Hunt, who devised
and developed the nil tenure approach to mapping. Thanks to Chris Lane, Suzy Balogh, Mike
Braysher and David Jenkins for valuable comments and to Belinda Gersbach for drafting the
working plan. Thanks also to Jenny Tarleton and Kevin Pont.
These guidelines are a product of the south east NSW and ACT wild dog management project,
which was assisted and funded by the National Feral Animal Control Program (through the
Bureau of Rural Sciences), the ACT Leaseholders’ Association, NSW National Parks and
Wildlife Service, State Forests NSW, Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW
Agriculture, ACT Environment and the Bombala, Braidwood, Cooma, Gundagai and Yass Rural
Lands Protection Boards.
Cover photos David Robinson and Peter Fleming.
Introduction – The strategic approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Step 1. Define the problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Step 2. Set objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Step 3. Develop a plan of action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Step 4. Implement your plan and measure the outcomes . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Step 5. Evaluate the plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Step 6. Modify, proceed and monitor changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Appendices
A case study: the Brindabella & Wee Jasper approach . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Wild Dog Report form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Further reading and contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Example of an annotated topographic map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Contents
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
Figure 1 The strategic approach
Step1
Step2
Step3
Step4
Step5
Define theproblem
Identify clearobjectives
Develop aplan of action
Implement theplan andmonitor
outcomes
Evaluatethe plan
Problemneeds
defining
Objectivesneed
changing
Actionsneed
changes
Nomodification
needed
Modify the plan,proceed and monitor
outcomes
Step6
The working plan
This guide has been produced as a companion
to the Working Plan to Manage Wild Dogs
document, which has been distributed to
groups involved in wild dog management and
control in New South Wales and the ACT.
Together, the documents outline a 5-step
strategic approach to the management of
wild dogs. This approach aims to assist the
various stakeholders to develop a strategic
management plan for their area.
Stakeholders are any individuals or groups
for whom wild dogs pose a problem. They
may include landholders or leaseholders,
National Parks and Wildlife Service,
forestry and lands department staff, Rural
Lands Protection Board officers, members
of wild dog control groups and other
affected parties.
This management plan can be adapted to
include control of other problem wild ani-
mals, for example, foxes. Stakeholders may
wish to address the wider issue of how wild
dog control might impact, in either a nega-
tive or a positive way, on animals such as
kangaroos and wallabies or feral cats.
Benefits of a strategic approach
A strategic approach to planning aims to pre-
vent damage rather than having to deal with
damage that has already occurred. In the
Introduction
The strategic approach
A sheep mauled by wild dogs. Dingoes can be part of the wild dog problem.
Photo
: P F
lem
ing
Photo
: P F
lem
ing
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
case of wild dog management, the overall
strategy is usually to reduce numbers of wild
dogs in the vicinity of sheep, thereby reduc-
ing the chance of attack.
Part of your group’s management plan
should include what to do if your overall
strategy breaks down at any point. In other
words, what can be done if faced with an
immediate predation problem?
The planning process
The guide poses a number of questions to
assist in planning. These questions form the
basis of the planning process indicated in the
Working Plan to Manage Wild Dogs.
With the aid of maps, and using the nil
tenure approach outlined below, answer all
the questions. Write down the answers,
making sure to include relevant contact
names and phone numbers.
This process defines the problem from dif-
ferent perspectives and assists the setting of
agreed objectives and the development of an
action plan.
Stakeholders may find as they progress
through the Working Plan that additional
questions and issues are raised. This is a
positive part of the planning process, and
such issues should be addressed as they
arise and the Working Plan modified
accordingly.
Feel free to ask other questions if you think
that those listed do not cover your area.
A helpful and detailed publication about
the strategic approach to managing wild
dogs is:
Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and
Other Wild Dogs, Peter Fleming, Laurie
Corbett, Bob Harden and Peter Thomson
(2001), Bureau of Rural Sciences,
Canberra, pp186 (available from the
Bureau of Rural Sciences).
The importance of maps
As the process of strategic planning becomes
more familiar, the value of maps and good
records becomes obvious. 1:100 000 topo-
graphic maps are useful as are local maps
specially generated with a computer
Geographic Information system (GIS).
The advantage of GIS-generated maps is that
they can be updated as new data become
available.
Topographic maps and aerial photos are
available from Land and Property
Information (LPI) at www.lpi.nsw.gov.au or
phone (02) 6332 28123. Useful catalogues
are also available from the LPI.
The nil tenure approach
The nil tenure method is a useful tool for
planning control programs on maps.
Print maps with the boundaries between dif-
ferent land tenures removed but showing
areas of bushland, roads, rivers and other
relevant landmarks.
Next, draw in important information such as
locations of attacks on livestock, routes used
historically by wild dogs, dogproof fences
and locations of past control actions.
Then add proposed control actions and
strategic management activities as they
relate to the information on the map regard-
less of tenure.
This method ensures that management is
best directed towards wild dog activity and
resourced in the context of wild dog man-
agement rather than financial management.
Finally, redraw tenure boundaries and allo-
cate resources and costs proportionally or
according to some other agreed and equi-
table formula.
This first step is the most important because
it is at this point in the planning process that
working groups define the nature and extent
of the problem.
In this step you need to identify what the
problem is, where it occurs, what are the
causes, its source, who has the problem,
when it occurs and how critical it is.
The dot-points listed under the following
headings will assist you to answer the ques-
tions in the Working Plan. Your answers
may include these points or additional or
alternative issues raised by your group.
This step defines the problem from different
perspectives and is aimed at helping the var-
ious stakeholders, as members of working
groups, set agreed objectives and develop an
action plan as outlined in steps 2 and 3.
Drawing information on maps and writing
down the answers to all the questions in
the Working Plan document ensures that all
stakeholders are familiar with agreed
actions.
What is the problem?
• Current predation of livestock (sheep,
cattle, goats, etc) by wild dogs
• Likely future predation of livestock by
wild dogs
• Hybridisation of dingoes.
• Other wild animals, eg, foxes, feral cats.
• Attacks on humans.
Where are the stock losses?
• Lands belonging to members of a local
wild dog control group
DEFINE THE PROBLEM
Step 1
Define the problem
A hybrid wild dog with dingo features(white feet) and domestic dog features (bob tail and brindle markings).
Photo
: D
Jen
kin
s
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
• Neighbouring agricultural lands
• Crown lands adjoining National Parks
and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estate
• Combinations of above (identify all areas
on topographic maps.)
What are the other impacts (eg conserva-
tion issues)?
• Predation on kangaroos and wallabies
• Competition with native carnivores
• Competition with introduced carnivores
• Non-financial impacts, such as emotional
distress suffered by landholders affected
by stock losses.
Identify on maps all areas where these
impacts are felt.
What is the source of the problem (i.e.,
where do the wild dogs come from)? Draw
known routes of travel on maps.
• Lands belonging to members of local
wild dog control group
• Neighbouring agricultural lands
• Public lands (National parks, Forestry
areas, crown lands, etc)
• Combinations of above.
Identify sources on topographic maps and
provide supporting evidence.
Who has the problem? In other words, who
are the stakeholders? (Ideally you should
write down the names of key contacts rather
than just listing agencies or groups)
• Landholders or leaseholders
• NPWS personnel
• Forestry and lands department personnel
• Rural Lands Protection Board staff
• Others.
When does the problem occur?
• Has occurred in the past
• Now: All the time
• Now: from time to time
• In future: predictably
• In future: unpredictably.
How critical is the problem?
• Current: immediate (act now)
• Current: less critical
• Future: high priority
• Future: watching brief only—monitor
situation.
What are the constraints?
• Conservation of dingoes and other ani-
mals such as spotted tailed quolls
• Available control options
• Topography and access
• Policy restrictions, reviews of environ-
mental factors, environmental impact
statements, species impact statements
• Available funds
• Attitudes of particular key groups
• Other.
The eastern grey kangaroo. Wild dogs may affect
the abundance of prey.
Photo
: P F
lem
ing
SET OBJECTIVES
Step 2
Set objectives
The problem has been defined in Step 1.
Before taking action, stakeholders need to
set goals and objectives so that the successes
and failures of the plan can be measured and
evaluated.
Goals
Goals are general aims of the program,
which need to be written down. The points
following the question below are examples
of goals that might be included in the
Working Plan.
What are the goals of the plan?
• Control of predation (that is, predation
that has been identified as a problem
now)
• Prevention of predation (that is, preda-
tion that is likely to occur in the
future)
• Conservation of dingoes
• Reduce the stress of landholders and their
families
• Other achievable objectives (for example,
this program may tie in with fox manage-
ment).
Objectives
Objectives are measurable outcomes within
a limited timeframe. These outcomes may
be long- and short-term, and both should be
included in the plan.
Setting objectives assists in developing the
plan of action as outlined in Step 3. Having
clear objectives also directs what types of
monitoring will be needed to measure the
outcomes.
The points following the question below are
examples of measurable objectives that
could form part of your group’s plan.
What are the objectives of the plan?
• Eliminate predation on sheep in area ‘x’
by April 2002
• Reduce the loss of sheep to wild dogs by
60 % in Year 1 of the plan
• Maintain loss of sheep to wild dogs at
75% of long-term average over the next 5
years.
A wild dog in bushland.
Photo
: D
Robin
son
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
(These objectives assume that predation is
being monitored and records are being kept
so that changes in predation levels can be
assessed.)
• Maintain abundance of kangaroos, walla-
bies and possums in bushland at current
levels over the next 5 years
• Increase the abundance of spotted tailed
quolls in ‘y’ national park by Year 3.
(These objectives assume that wildlife abun-
dance is being monitored as part of the plan.)
DEVELOP A PLAN OF ACTION
The problem definition process (Step 1)
involved consultation with the identified
stakeholders. Once the problem has been
defined and the objectives set, it is time to
agree on an action plan.
The aim of this process is to achieve agree-
ment on the strategies to be acted upon,
including any reactive action that may be
required.
Plans should contain details on what is to be
done (in terms of available techniques,
approvals required and legal constraints) and
who does what: where, when and how
often. They should also address what moni-
toring will be carried out and how it will be
done. This phase should be undertaken
using maps.
The following questions provide a guide for
formulating a plan.
What can be done?
• Strategic management—where strate-
gies are put in place to prevent or reduce
damage while conserving pure dingoes
• Reactive management—where managers
control wild dogs in response to damage
• A combination of both approaches (see
Figure 2, p8).
Where is management to be done?
• Public estate (eg, NPWS, State Forests
and other crown lands)
• Private lands.
Who will organise and implement the
management? (List names, roles and con-
tact details)
• NPWS or State conservation agency staff
• Forestry and lands department staff
• contractors
• landholders and managers
• Rural Lands Protection Boards.
When is management to be done?
Strategic (Give time-
frame and target dates)
• strategically timed
• regular
• occasional
• ongoing
• one-off.
Step 3
Develop a plan of action
Mapping out a strategy.
Photo
: K
Radbur
n
Reactive (Identify
triggers and
responses)
• immediately
• later.
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
What monitoring is to be done? (Identify who
will keep and collate records—list names,
roles and contact details). Examples include:
• livestock damage records
• dog sighting records, dogs shot or trapped
• DNA samples
• hours spent planning and conducting
management
• money and other resources used on
control
• animal abundance records (native animals
as well as pests)
• number of baits laid or traps set.
What actions are to be taken? (refer to flow
chart below.)
• fencing
• poisoning—ground or aerial
• trapping
• shooting—organised drives/ambushes.
What plans involving neighbouring groups
does this plan link in with?
• wild dog control groups
• fox control groups
• Landcare groups
• other.
Figure 2 A decision-making framework for devising a management plan to reduce predation on livestock by
dingoes and wild dogs in eastern Australia.
IMPLEMENT AND MEASURE
Step 4
Implement the planand measure the outcomes
During this stage the plan is implemented
according to its timeframe.
It is important that the plan be monitored
throughout, using a variety of effective meth-
ods. These can include recording stock losses
(see Appendix II Example Record Sheet),
recording sightings and signs of activity and
keeping records of costs. Procedures for moni-
toring should be identified in Step 3.
Effective monitoring
As a group, you need to be clear about what
you are monitoring. While the planning
process (for example, during Step 3) covers
what type of monitoring is to be done, there
should also be discussion about exactly
what information you need to collect during
monitoring, and why.
Some issues to consider before monitoring
commences include:
• who is the information for and how will it
be used?
• who will be gathering the information?
• who will be analysing the information?
• what type of strategy will be put in place
to ensure collected data are promptly fed
back (eg, to landholders or agencies) in
an appropriate and useful form?
Measuring outcomes
To effectively evaluate the success of the
plan you will need to take measurements
while the plan is implemented. This is
necessary so that changes can be detected
Good planning, fieldwork and record-keeping are
vital.
Permanent plots to record footprints are useful
for monitoring wild dogs, foxes and prey species.
Photo
: P F
lem
ing
Photo
: K
Radbur
n
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
and quantified. Some examples follow.
Predation of livestock (record stock losses)
• stops
• reduces
• doesn’t change
• increases.
Wild dog abundance (record sightings and
signs of activity)
• increases
• decreases
• doesn’t change.
Costs of managing the plan (draw a table
of costs
• labour and time
• other resources.
Effective feedback
Feedback is an important part of this stage.
Data need to be promptly returned to stake-
holders in an appropriate form and be acces-
sible to all parties involved in wild dog
management in your area. Suggested meth-
ods of feedback include:
• regular newsletters, printed and/or elec-
tronic
• a web site for group members
• use of maps in conjunction with reported
data.
EVALUATE, MODIFY AND MONITOR
Step 5
Evaluate the plan
Now the plan needs to be evaluated so that it
can be improved upon. Evaluation should
involve all the stakeholders and use the
results of monitoring carried out in Step 4.
Some questions that require answers in order
for the plan to be evaluated are:
• How well did the plan work, ie were the
objectives achieved?
• Which actions worked and why?
• Which actions didn’t work and why?
• Did the plan work within the timeframe?
(consider extenuating circumstances)
• Should the timeframe be changed?
• What were the costs?
• Were there cost overruns or savings?
• Can money be better spent next time?
• Could the fieldwork be allocated more
equitably or more appropriately?
• What changes/modifications can be made
to make the plan work better?
Step 6
Modify, proceed and monitor changes
The plan should be modified as a result of suggestions arising in Step 5. Consultation with
and agreement by all stakeholders is still essential during this process. The results of cost
monitoring can be used to prepare accurate budgets for the revised plan.
Implement the plan and monitor as before.
APPENDICES
Appendix I A case study: the Brindabella and Wee Jasper approach
A trial cooperative wild dog/fox program was first implemented in the Brindabella and Wee Jasper
valleys during the 2001–2002 financial year. The program was jointly funded by Yass Rural Lands
Protection Board (RLPB), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NWPS) and State Forests.
History
Wild dog attacks on domestic stock in the Brindabella and Wee Jasper valleys had been an issue
for many years. Prior to the implementation of the 2001–02 cooperative program, wild dog man-
agement in the valleys had at times been under-resourced and poorly coordinated.
The working group
Discussions with landholders identified support for a working group, with representation across
all tenures, that would not only formulate a plan but would then directly oversee the implementa-
tion of the plan in the field.
The Brindabella/Wee Jasper working group was established in December 2000 and comprised
landholders and representatives from NPWS, RLPB, State Forests and the South-east NSW &
ACT Wild Dog Project.
The plan
The working group followed the strategic planning process to agree on a control plan and how to
implement it. Steps included defining the problem, assessing available control methods (strategic
and reactive) and setting a task list. Topographic maps were used extensively, following the nil
tenure approach.
An environmental assessment was undertaken and issues such as ‘impact of program on dingo
population’ were considered. The group also decided how to promote the program locally among
key interest groups. A monitoring and reporting system was agreed upon and costings carried
out.
The results
Results from July 2001 to March 2002 were very positive and a decision was made to extend the
program to cover a three-year period.
Working group members reported many benefits of the cooperative program. These included
more efficient and effective use of resources, skill share opportunities, best practice use of 1080
across all tenures and accurate costings. The program meant landholders knew when the trapper
would be in their area, the trapper had regular programmed employment and a set patrol day per
week allowed the trapper to patrol/respond to activity reports.
The program also resulted in improved relations ‘on ground’, leading in turn to a cooperative
approach to other issues.
The Brindabella and Wee Jasper Valleys Cooperative Wild Dog/Fox Control Plan (July
2002–June 2005) can be viewed at
www.npws.gov.au/wildlife/pests/wild_dogs/brindabella_plan.html
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A WORKING PLAN TO MANAGE WILD DOGS
Wild Dog Report
BOARD: NAME OF HOLDING: PHONE:
NAME OF OCCUPIER: POSTAL ADDRESS:
Dogs (Sightings, Signs and Killed)
Location of dogs
seen or killed, or
signs
Date
No.
dogs
seen
No.
shot
No. found
poisoned
No.
trappedDescription of dogs killedDescription of dogs seen
Dog sign seen or heard
(circle which one/s)
Location of attack DateNo. killed
by dogs
No. injured and
put down
No. injured and
survived
No. chased
by dogsNo. missingStock type/age/condition
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
tracks/scratchings/scats/howls
Stock Nature of Incident/s
Any further facts or information: ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Requested action (if any):..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
I need more of these forms ❏ Yes ❏ No Signature ........................................................... Date ........./........./......... Please return to your RLPB by fax or post
Appendix II Example wild dog reporting form
Appendix III Further reading and contacts
Braysher M. (1993) Managing Vertebrate Pests: Principles and Strategies, Australian Government Publishing
Service, Canberra.
Corbett L. (1995a) The Dingo in Australia and Asia, University of New South Wales Press Ltd, Sydney.
Fleming P., Corbett L., Harden B. and Thomson P. (2001) Managing the Impacts of Dingoes and Other Wild Dogs,
Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra.
NPWS (2001) Draft Threat Abatement Plan: Predation by the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes), NSW National Parks and
Wildlife Service, Hurstville.
Saunders G., Coman B., Kinnear J. and Braysher M. (1995) Managing Vertebrate Pests: Foxes, Bureau of
Resource Sciences, Australian Government publishing Service, Canberra.
Contacts
Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Agriculture, Orange Agricultural Institute
Phone: (02) 6391 3800
Your nearest Agriculture Protection Officer (Armidale, Broken Hill, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange and Wagga Wagga
offices of NSW Agriculture). See also www.agric.nsw.gov.au
Your nearest Pest Animal Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. See also www.npws.gov.au
Department of Urban Services, ACT environment.
Phone: 13 22 81. See also www.environment.act.gov.au