Wild dogs

'Wild dog' is a term that describes any dog living in a wild state, including dingoes, dingo hybrids and domestic dogs that have been abandoned and forced to live in a wild state.

Under Queensland's Biosecurity Act 2014, wild dogs are classified as restricted matter, category 3, 4, and 6 which means you must not distribute, move or feed wild dogs on the Gold Coast.

How to spot a wild dog

• Can have a variety of coat colours, including tan, tan and white, sable, brindle, black and tan
• Generally weigh between 14 and 20 kilograms
• Often seen in packs, pairs or by themselves
• Can bark and howl to attract pack members and repel intruders from their territory

How to stay safe around wild dogs

• Never feed wild dogs as they can lose their fear of people and become aggressive
• Keep pets and livestock secure in a roofed, well-fenced enclosure, especially at night
• If approached by a wild dog, stay calm, slowly back away and do not run
• If riding a horse and a wild dog approaches, calmly move the horse away from the area
• If you think wild dogs are visiting your property, consider using a remote-sensing camera to monitor their activity

Habitat and behaviours

• Can live in urban, rural, bushland, coastal, desert and alpine areas
• They establish home ranges where they hunt, shelter and breed
• Can travel long distances (over 10km) in a single night
• Often move along bush tracks, fire trails, property roads, creek beds and ridgelines
• Usually wary of people and tend to avoid human contact

How you can manage wild dogs

Under the Biosecurity Act 2014, landowners are obligated to manage wild dogs on their land.

Exclusion fencing

Exclusion fencing is the most reliable method to keep wild dogs off your property.

The fencing should be:

• at least 1.5 metres high
• dug into the ground at least 150 millimetres
• mesh size 75 millimetres square – or smaller to also exclude foxes.

Baiting

Using 1080 as bait is an approved method for controlling wild dogs, however, landowners must be aware of the restrictions, regulations and permits required to safely utilise various baits.

Visit Queensland Health – Invasive Animal Control for detailed information about baiting options, restrictions, regulations and permits.

Shooting

Shooting can be used to remove individual dogs, but is not effective for controlling entire wild dog populations.

• Only people licensed to use firearms can carry out shooting
• Shooting is subject to minimum property size requirements
• Landowners must comply with all firearm laws and requirements under the Weapons Act 1990

Trapping

Trapping techniques must conform to accepted animal welfare practices and be approved by the RSPCA. Trapping wild dogs using cage traps or soft-catch rubber-jawed leghold traps is a high-risk activity and should only be undertaken by experienced land managers who can humanely and quickly dispose of captured or potentially injured animals.

Trapping is not recommended in urban or rural areas where there is an increased risk of capturing domestic pets or native animals.

How to report wild dogs

Report wild dog sightings through the free FeralScan app, or use the button below.

Report a problem – Animals