NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson said dogs caught in the Walcha, Macleay and Hastings areas had been fitted with global positioning collars as part of a $1.33 million project.

“Wild dogs and foxes cost agriculture $70 million a year and wild-dog damage in NSW costs $16 million,” Ms Hodgkinson said yesterday.

“Primary Industries Department researchers from Orange and Armidale are working with National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, livestock health and pest authority rangers and landholders on the three-year project in north-eastern NSW to trial aerial bait rates.”

Ms Hodgkinson said the 39 dogs had been trapped on private land, state forests and national Parks.

They were now fitted with collars housing the GPS tracking devices.

“Our researchers will use GPS loggers to work out exactly where the dogs travel,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“They will work out where the dogs take the baits when aerial baiting takes place soon.

“The collars are also equipped with a mortality sensor so researchers know if the dogs are alive or not.

“We’re committed to reducing the cost of wild dogs to agriculture, the environment, economy and the community by ensuring we have the best management strategies in place.”

Ms Hodgkinson said the project was being supported by Australian Wool Innovation and the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre.

The project will measure the effectiveness of 1080 at rates of 10 and 40 baits a kilometre.

“Our researchers will use this information on the wild dogs’ habitat use and movements to determine which baiting rate is the most effective for use in the future,” Ms Hodgkinson said.