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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


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


• 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


(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.


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


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.


Notes

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


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







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

APPENDICES

Appendix IV Example of an annotated topographic map

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