Wild issue is out of control
PACKS of wild dogs are attacking cattle and other domestic animals, and herds of feral pigs are digging up paddocks and eating out crops.
The explosion in the population of feral animals in the Callide Dawson since the 2010 floods is causing headaches for the district's farmers.
Banana Shire rural service co-ordinator Gordon Twiner said the floods, followed by the recent good rain had created ideal conditions for feral animals.
"Cattle are calving more (which attracts the dogs) and there is more sorghum for the pigs," he said.
"Those (feral) animals have been pushed into country (closer to homes) where in prior times they have never needed to go."
Gordon said because of the favourable conditions the feral animals were staying in these new territories where there was easy food, rather than retreating back into more remote areas, which was creating problems for farmers.
Gordon said wild dogs and pigs were a big problem for rural producers in the area.
"It is a big detriment to the industry as dogs and pups get together and chase cattle through fences," he said.
"I had one farmer tell me that they had pigs eating cotton bulbs and they have never eaten cotton bulbs before.
"They (the pigs) have worked out the smell of that cotton seed is in that cotton bulb."
It is an ongoing battle to control feral animals and Mr Twiner said it was the landholders' responsibility to notify the council of any pest animals on their properties and then the council could provide them with the necessary bait.
"The best way to approach it is a co-ordinated approach," he said.
"Co-ordinated approach to the whole thing - strategically placing baits and notifying your neighbours of your baits being laid."
Mr Twiner said the traditional timing of baiting programs was also being reviewed at the moment.
"There has been research done in that we always used to bait now in March/April when the bitches come into season," he said.
"Results have found that maybe we should do smaller baits during that Christmas period when the pups have been kicked out of their home."
