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Wild Dog Control SE Queensland

Protecting livestock from dingo, feral and hybrid dog predation

Wild dogs — including dingoes, feral domestic dogs and their hybrids — cause significant livestock losses across SE Queensland. From cattle country in the Somerset and Gympie regions to sheep and goat properties further inland, dog predation is a serious and ongoing problem. Thermal imaging at night allows precise identification and effective targeting in country where dogs are active.

Signs of Activity

  • Tracks — canine pad marks, often larger than a domestic dog in dingo-country
  • Scat containing livestock hair, bone fragments and partially digested material
  • Howling or barking heard at night, particularly around dawn and dusk
  • Livestock kills — characteristic throat injuries, hindquarters consumed first
  • Carcasses partially consumed but not fully cached (unlike foxes)
  • Distressed or agitated livestock at night — grouping in corners, reduced production
  • Missing animals with no sign of carcass — sometimes calves are removed entirely

Damage to Land and Livestock

  • Sheep and goat predation — the most significant economic impact per individual kill
  • Calf predation in cattle operations, particularly during calving
  • Production losses from livestock stress, even without direct kills
  • Reduced conception rates and weaning percentages in stressed mobs
  • Poultry attacks on rural lifestyle properties
  • Secondary impacts — blow-fly strike and carcass contamination costs

Legal Status in Queensland

Wild dogs (including dingoes, feral dogs and hybrids) are a declared biosecurity matter in Queensland under the Biosecurity Act 2014. The General Biosecurity Obligation requires landholders to take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the risks associated with wild dogs. Active management programs operate in many Queensland regions, often coordinated between neighbouring landholders and local government. Control may also be required under specific biosecurity orders in areas with active dog problems.

When Thermal Control Works Well

  • Effective in open grassland and woodland where dogs travel at night
  • Thermal identifies dogs reliably at distance, even in low light and overcast conditions
  • Best used to identify and target individuals causing specific livestock losses
  • Can cover large areas of open grazing country efficiently in a single night
  • Useful for identifying dog activity patterns and travel corridors

Limitations to Consider

  • Dense scrub limits encounter and shot opportunities — dogs may shelter in timber during the day
  • Warry dogs with hunting pressure experience are harder to approach
  • Shooting alone may not be cost-effective for large open areas — best combined with baiting or trapping
  • Effective results require knowledge of the property and dog movement patterns

What Your GPS Report Includes

  • GPS-logged encounter and cull locations
  • Species identification notes (dingo, feral dog or hybrid where determinable)
  • Pre-operation sign assessment and estimated activity level
  • Cull count and post-operation assessment
  • Activity pattern map showing travel corridors and high-pressure zones
  • Recommended follow-up actions or complementary control methods

What Landholders Need to Prepare

  • Recent livestock kill records or locations — helps focus the operation
  • Known den or sighting locations if available
  • Livestock locations and holding paddocks for the operation nights
  • Gate access codes and property maps
  • Written landholder authority via our intake form

Wild dog losses on your property?

Submit an enquiry and we’ll respond within one business day with availability and a quote.

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