Five year milestone for wild dog control program

Forests NSW has achieved a milestone in the control of wild dogs with no stock losses recorded in the Tumbarumba region for the past five years.

Forests NSW feral animal control officer/ranger Mark Goldspink, who is based at Tumbarumba, said the program was of great benefit to farmers in the district, who had in the past suffered substantial stock losses.

Mr Goldspink has worked with Forests NSW for five years and is acknowledged as a specialist in his field across the southern area of NSW.

His role includes implementation of the Tumbarumba Wild Dog Management Plan, developed by Forests NSW and the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority in consultation with land-holders and the Tumbarumba Shire Council.

The last stock loss dates back to November 2004, when Mr Goldspink killed a dog responsible for killing 20 sheep on private property owned by Rex Bergin, north east of Tumbarumba.

The dog was trapped in private pine plantation at Burra, adjacent to Mr Bergin’s property.

Mr Goldspink, a full-time employee with Forests NSW, covers Bago and Maragle State Forests, freehold land and private pine plantations in the Tumbarumba region.

His territory has recently been extended to cover Buccleuch State Forest (Wee Jasper), Tallaganda State Forest (Braidwood), and Badja State Forest (Cooma), plus private property in the vicinity of these forests.

Mr Goldspink said Forests NSW had achieved this result through the implementation of an integrated pest animal management program, which combines the use of baiting, trapping, monitoring and guard animals.

“In conjunction with this program, techniques such as sand pad monitoring, mound baiting, and the use of soft-jaw traps have been used to keep on top of the wild dog problem.

“It’s a big job, but it is wonderful to have such a good working relationship with private property owners, who really appreciate the efforts Forests NSW is putting into controlling wild dogs in the region,” he said.

Photo of Mark Goldspink with wild dog pelts available from sarahc@sf.nsw.gov.au

Further reading

NSW Invasive Species Plan 2008-2015