Baiting for wild dogs in the local region will begin at the end of the month, as the threat they pose to livestock, wildlife and biosecurity, is stressed to landholders.
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There are five groups within the Mudgee-Merriwa District Wild Dog Association. With the Ilford Running Stream Pest Animal Control Group set to commence their Spring program from August 30.
In the 15 months that the group has been operating, 63 dogs have been removed from the Ilford area alone.
They want to raise community awareness of the problem in the region, which can often go unseen due to how evasive the animals are during the day and only being spotted on surveillance cameras.
Furthermore, under the 2015 Biosecurity Act every landholder is required to control pest animals and weeds on their property to protect their neighbours - which includes wild dogs.
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Eva Mahy, of the Ilford Running Stream Pest Animal Control Group, said that the twice-a-year program is an approach that's timely and looks to long-term management.
"Baiting is our most effective way of combating wild dogs and we have programs in spring and autumn," she said.
"One reason why we do it at this time of year is because this is when a lot of people are lambing and wild dogs have a devastating effect on percentages that we get.
"It also coincides with the time period that we have young pups leaving their dens, because that takes them out of the system straight away."
The community-based group are assisted by Local Land Services.
Central Tablelands LLS manager - Biosecurity and Emergency Services, Clare Hamilton, thanked the Ilford Running Stream Pest Group for their efforts and urged landholders to also take a proactive approach.
"Wild dogs are a significant issue across much of the Central Tablelands, impacting livestock and native fauna and restricting production options across many areas," she said.
"By participating in a coordinated control program, landholders can better manage threats to their farming operations and the environment, and also meet their biosecurity duty.
"The more landholders who get involved in coordinated control programs, the larger the area the baiting program will cover, in turn having a greater impact on wild dog numbers."
