Wild dog attacks in eastern Victoria

Farmers are struggling as wild dog packs attack livestock in unprecedented numbers.

Transcript

00:00Farmers in eastern Victoria are having their livelihoods decimated by unprecedented numbers

00:11of wild dog attacks.

00:13Packs of dogs have been attacking livestock in some areas for the first time ever, with

00:18a good season and excessive deer carcasses left behind by hunters helping them thrive.

00:23Stock and Land went out to visit Glenmaggie sheep and cattle farmer Michael Higgins, who

00:28has lost at least 35 lambs and ewes and 8 calves in recent months.

00:45Strong pup survival rates and an increased population has driven the dogs into lowland

00:49farming country, with day and night livestock attacks getting closer to rural towns.

00:54We also visited farmer Barry Taylor in Newry, who has followed the increasing wild dog population

01:00in the area for the last 30 years.

01:02He said not only are the dogs increasing in number, but they are also increasing in size.

01:06Well the main thing we're doing at the moment is organising this petition and that will

01:11go out to everyone, so everyone else who is interested in this wild dog program need to

01:16look at this petition and if they could please sign it.

01:20We have a problem with this animal on four legs and he's got to be stopped.

01:24The farmers are adamant that these wild dogs are not the native or claimed native dingoes,

01:30that they are black, black and white and mixed in colour, and are a hybrid of sorts that

01:34is not worth protecting.

01:36A wild dog unprotection order remains in place in the north east of the state up until October

01:421st this year.

01:44Farmers are calling for it to be extended and they say there needs to be increased funding

01:47for the control of wild dogs in the area.