Lethal control reduces the relative abundance of dingoes but not cattle production impacts

Abstract

ContextLethal control through the application of 1080 baits is widely used in Australia to manage the negative impacts of wild dogs (dingoes, wild domestic dogs and their hybrids) on cattle production, but its effectiveness in this regard is not well understood. AimsTo evaluate the efficacy of once yearly 1080 baiting on dingoes and its effects in mitigating predation and sublethal impacts on beef cattle. MethodsA replicated experiment with two paired treatments (1080 poisoned and non-poisoned) was conducted on each of four cattle stations of 3782–10850km2, over 2.5 years (2000–02) in the southern Northern Territory. The study was undertaken in relatively good rainfall years. Key resultsTrack-based surveys indicated that dingo abundance declined on poisoned relative to non-poisoned areas immediately following a single baiting episode. However, there was no detectable difference about 8 months after baiting. No difference was detected in observed levels of calf damage or calf loss between poisoned and non-poisoned areas. ConclusionsThe results add to the growing body of consistent evidence that contemporary dingo control practices yield little benefit to rangeland beef producers most of the time. ImplicationsRoutine dingo baiting (as currently undertaken) may be largely unnecessary for beef cattle producers in arid and semiarid areas. Alternative strategies and practices to reduce dingo mauling and predation impacts should be investigated using replicated and controlled field studies.

Small-livestock farmers’ perceived effectiveness of predation control methods and the correlates of reported illegal poison use in the South African Karoo

“…Predators are lethally removed from ecosystems in an effort to extirpate or to keep their populations within desired limits and with the goal of maintaining livestock-related activities (Woodroffe et al 2005 ). This includes lions ( Panthera leo ), leopards ( Panthera pardus ) and spotted hyenas ( Crocuta Crocuta ) in Africa (Kissui 2008 ); dholes ( Cuon alpinus ) in Asia (Lyngdoh et al 2014 ); jaguars ( Panthera onca ) in South America (Jędrzejewski et al 2017 ); dingoes ( Canis lupus dingo ) in Australia (Edwards et al 2021 ); and wolves ( Canis lupus ), foxes (red foxes Vulpes vulpes ) and bears (brown bears Ursus arctos ) in North America (Scasta et al 2017 ) and Europe (Fernández-Gil et al 2016 ).…”