The Victorian Government is expected to reintroduce the wild dog bounty more than a year after axing the program. The wild dog bounty, which ended on June 30, 2015, paid a $100 bounty to shooters for each pelt that incorporated a strip from the dog’s snout, ears, back and tail.
The scheme was introduced as a way to reduce wild dog attacks and fatalities of livestock, especially sheep, caused by wild dog attacks. From its inception in 2011 to its conclusion the program paid out more than $200,000 to farmers and hunters and removed 2104 wild dogs from the environment. It was an average of 526 dogs per year.
During the same period, an average of just 473 dogs were trapped by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning staff. About 24 staff are typically charged with wild dog control for DELWP, including wild dog controllers, casual dog controllers, field services officers and contractors.
Victorian Farmers Federation spokesman Peter Star told The Weekly Times that reintroducing the bounty was necessary. “The bounty was taking as many dogs out of the system as the dogmen,” Mr Star said. “It’s almost like doubling the staff. The threat is that because the dogs are not being taken out (by the bounty) there could be a resurgence of dogs in 12 or 24 months.”
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford said Labor’s 2016 State Budget included an extra $6.2 million to tackle foxes and wild dogs. A broad evaluation of the wild dog program has been completed and the Government will make an announcement in the future.
