Management Of Wild Dogs and Deer in Peri-Urban Landscapes: Strategies for Safe Communities

Abstract

Peri-urban areas are rapidly growing landscapes in many countries worldwide, including Australia. In these areas, where urban areas transition into bush or farmland, traditional pest management methods are largely unsuitable or need refining. There is also an increasing awareness of the impacts of pest animals in these unique landscapes; and the need to better manage natural resources, animal and plant production, and risks to human and animal health. Managing pest animals in the rapidly expanding peri-urban regions of eastern Australia requires tools and strategies markedly different to management in the rural landscape. The two priority pests for many peri-urban councils are wild dogs and deer. Wild dogs are widespread but are becoming increasingly visible in peri-urban areas, raising public awareness and concern. Their impacts range from killing livestock, injuring pets, harassing and injuring humans, being vectors of livestock and zoonotic disease, to preying on threatened wildlife. Peri-urban local governments have identified the need for better tools and strategies for control of wild dogs, red foxes and deer. Managers have had some initial successes in controlling wild dogs, but these approaches should be refined, expanded and tailored to other areas.