Wild dog trapping program
The livestock industry in South Australia is deeply concerned about the impact of wild dogs on livestock inside the Dog Fence. To help address this problem, land managers and producers can get involved in the wild dog trapping program.
The Australian and State Governments, along with the sheep industry and landscape boards, have committed around $3 million to extend the program to 30 June 2026. Since 2018, this program has removed over 900 wild dogs from inside the Dog Fence.
Controlling wild dogs is most effective when baiting, shooting, and trapping are used as part of an integrated control program. Trapping is particularly useful for targeting wild dogs that avoid baits.
Areas targeted
The wild dog trappers are deployed to all regions inside the SA Dog Fence, except for Kangaroo Island where there are no wild dogs.
To support the trapping and ground baiting programs, aerial baiting programs targeting wild dog hotspots are undertaken annually.
Since 2020, PIRSA, regional landscape boards, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service have coordinated over 20 aerial baiting programs, delivering almost 800,000 baits to inaccessible areas inside the Dog Fence.
This map of wild dog affected areas ( ) shows where wild dogs are known to be a problem – it is indicative only.
Apply for wild dog trapping
Land managers and producers are encouraged to apply for the services of a wild dog trapper on their property. To be eligible, you must:
- have carried out baiting on their property in the last 6 months, in line with legal requirements – use the online tool to check the baiting requirements for your region
- allow the trapper to trap, shoot, and bait for wild dogs on their properties
- provide the trapper with 1080 baits to lay during the trapping program
- agree that information relating to wild dog activity, impacts and control (including baiting), recorded by the trapper on their properties, be made publicly available on WildDogScan
- participate in wild dog control training by the trapper, or allow their property staff to participate
- agree to complete a 5-minute survey by PIRSA about their experiences with the trapper
- agree to have their Pastoral Board property maps issued to trappers, if applicable.
If you meet these criteria, complete the wild dog trapping application form ( ).
Application assessment
Preference will be given to properties where neighbours are working together to control wild dogs. The trapper must be able to work across neighbouring properties.
Applications will be measured against the above eligibility criteria using the Application Assessment Tool ( ).
To assist the trappers and wild dog coordinators, land managers are encouraged to upload recent wild dog activity and control data to WildDogScan. Participating properties will also be able to track the trapper’s results through WildDogScan.
Trapper allocation
PIRSA's State Wild Dog Coordinator will allocate trappers to land managers who are affected by wild dogs inside the Dog Fence.
Trappers will be allocated in accordance with criteria developed by the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group using a Trapper Allocation Decision Making Tool ( ). The Group will oversee the trapper program and advise relevant Ministers on program outcomes.
The individual trappers will be allocated contract trapping work based on:
- ranking of trappers by the committee that evaluated the tenders against the specifications
- cost per day of trappers
- availability of trappers
- ability of trappers to meet reporting requirements
- familiarity of trappers with the property where trapping is required
- satisfaction of the land managers where the trapper worked previously.
Land managers will not be able to select or influence which trapper is allocated to their property, but they can provide feedback on the performance of the trapper during a 5-minute survey following the work.
Contact
Senior Biosecurity Officer
Phone: (08) 8429 0831
Email: pirsa.invasivespecies@sa.gov.au