Wild dog and feral pig baiting program continues

Charters Towers Regional Council will roll out another round of wild dog and feral pig baiting across the Region.

The next round is scheduled to start Tuesday, 19 October 2021 at Paynes Lagoon Airstrip.

It follows from a wild dog baiting campaign earlier in the year where Council set up 21 bait preparation stations for the Region’s landholders.

Council will host another 21 bait preparation stations for the next round of the program.

Councillor Bernie Robertson, whose portfolio includes pest and animal management, said landholders will have to nominate if they wish to take advantage of the program.

“Previously Council staff have gone to these designated sites and no one has attended,” he said.

“Landholders will have to nominate if they will be attending one of the designated baiting station sites.

“Some of these baiting sites are hundreds of kilometres away. If no one nominates for a particular designated station then Council will not attend the site,” Cr Robertson said.

Council will supply the 1080 poison to inject into the bait with landholders responsible for supplying the meat for the bait.

Councillor Robertson said wild dogs and feral pigs continue to be a major problem for Charters Towers landholders.

“Council invests a significant amount of time and resources to try and tackle the problem.

“While the state government is helping with some of the costs of the baits it is still a significant cost burden on Council’s budget.

“Wild dogs are not just a Charters Towers Region issue and we have been and will continue to push and advocate for ratepayers to not have to bear all the costs for wild dog control,” Cr Robertson said.

For a full list of locations, dates and how to nominate go to www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/services/animal-management/pest-management/animals or call Council on 4761 5300.