Baits trigger alert to keep dogs home

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service has warned holiday makers to leave their dogs at home if they are venturing into national parks, due to extensive 1080 baiting the department will undertake.

Baiting will occur as part of the Western Shield Program, aiming to reduce the number of feral cats and foxes on conservation land.

Areas targeted for baiting in the Manjimup shire include Tone Perup Nature Reserve, Shannon National Park, Lake Muir National Park, D’Entrecasteaux National Park, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Warren National Park and Greater Beedelup National Park.

A DBCA spokesman said baits could be attractive to pets.

“Baiting is an important part of our wildlife recovery efforts to protect threatened native species,” he said. “Without the use of baits, the risk of extinction would be increased for many species such as the numbat, woylie, western swamp tortoise and western ground parrot.”

For more information about safe locations to take your pet, visit bit.ly/3lemI5k.

Maps showing baiting locations are available at bit.ly/3jyJiW4.