Level 1080 Wild Dog Baiting

Mount Isa City Council conducts 1080 baiting programs twice a year - in June, and again in October, for a period of 2 weeks.

Landholders are notified of the upcoming programs and make arrangements with the authorised Rural Lands Officer for their 1080 baiting requirements. Any baiting that is requested outside the selected dates will incur a cost.

Mount Isa City Council stores both manufactured baits and 1080 solution. 1080 manufactured baits are available at a cost to landholders under strict conditions.

Only authorised persons can supply 1080 baits to landholders.

All information/fact sheets are available on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries' website and the Queensland Government's Business and Industry Portal.

Further information is available from Mount Isa City Council's Rural Land Officer or by contacting Biosecurity Queensland (call 13 25 23 or visit the website here).

Wild Dog Baiting – 1080 - Sodium fluoroacetate

Sodium fluoroacetate (1080) is a very useful pesticide for the control of pest animals, and has been used throughout Australia since the 1960’s. 1080 is the most efficient, humane and species specific pesticide. 1080 is used to control wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes, cats and rabbits in Queensland. It occurs naturally in a number of native plant species including Acacia georginae (Georgina gidgee) and members of the Gastrolobium (Heart Leaf Poison Bush) and Oxylobium genera (Box Poison Bush).

The use of 1080 is subject to strict regulatory control according to which:

  • Baits are to be laid on the land described in the agreement for provisions of baits only;
  • No Baits are to be laid on any stock route or reserve for travelling stock without relevant government approval;
  • No baits are to be laid within 5 m of a fenced boundary.
  • No baits are to be laid within 50 m of the centre line of a declared road.
  • No baits are to be laid within 20 m of permanent or flowing water bodies.

Owners may only lay baits within 1km of any habitation (habitation includes schools, dwellings and public facilities, but does not include the dwelling of the person laying the baits) after they provide written notification to all habitation occupiers with in 1km of the bait site.

  • No baits are to be laid within 5 km of a town without Biosecurity approval.

Neighbour Notification

Neighbours must be notified to allow them to take appropriate action.

Before baits are laid, the bait user must give at least 72 hours’ notice, either verbally or in writing, to all neighbours whose property boundary is within 1 km of the proposed baiting site, as well as those whose property adjoins or fronts the holding either across a road or a waterway.

Not withstanding the above all habitation occupiers (including schools, dwellings and public facilities, but not including the dwelling of the person laying the baits) within 1 km of the bait site are to be notified in writing.

  • The notification must specify the dates between which baiting will occur. If baiting does not commence within 10 days of notification, another 72 hours notice is required. Signage is required for all land on which baiting occurs.
  • Neighbours must be given written notification specifying the dates between which baiting will occur to allow them time to take appropriate action, and to advise that steps ( eg restraint, muzzling) need to be taken to ensure that domestic dogs not gain access to 1080 baits or poisoned animals.

Reducing Off-target Impacts

Baits that are not recovered at the end of the program can pose a risk to working dogs and some birds and other native wildlife for some time after baiting. The following measures can be followed to reduce the potential of off-target poisoning:

  • Recovering all animal carcasses during, and for 14 days after, a baiting period and destroyed;
  • Burying materials or carcasses in a deep hole and immediately covered with soil to prevent working dogs seeking out the scent; and
  • Baits are to be used for no other purpose other than the destruction of wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and rabbits.

Signage

Signage is compulsory for all land on which baiting occurs.

Signs will be provided by the Authorised Rural Lands Officer on the day of the baiting and the following conditions must be adhered to:

  • The owner must ensure that signs are put up immediately before any 1080 baits are put out on the property.
  • The signs must be placed at all entrances to the property and at the extremities of property boundaries that front a public thoroughfare. This must be done even if the adjoining property is carrying out 1080 baiting.
  • Signs must remain in place for a period of 4 weeks after baits are laid and permanent signs are required for on-going or extended baiting period.

The single greatest disadvantage of 1080 is that there is no known antidote for sodium fluoroacetate poisoning, so working dogs and domestic dogs can be killed if they eat the bait.

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