WOOL producers in remote areas say they are starting to win the war against wild dogs.
"Dog numbers and stock losses are far lower than back in 2009," said Leonard Nutt, of Hawker, in South Australia.
Mr Nutt is one of a group of graziers in northern South Australia taking part in the state-run BiteBack program, which also involves funding support from Australian Wool Innovation.
This program involves group co-ordination and monitoring stock losses on properties covering 200,000sq km.
The controls involve ground and aerial baiting with 1080 as well as the use of rubber-jawed traps.
National wild dog program facilitator Greg Mifsud said that by working together, farming families and natural resource managers had shown how a concerted approach could improve biodiversity and renew confidence for growers wanting to retain or grow flocks.
"The key was producers had to work together," Mr Mifsud said.
He said most of the problems in South Australia were dingoes and hybrid dingoes on the inside or south of the wild dog fence.
Mr Mifsud said similar results were emerging in central Queensland around Blackall where community groups were reporting an increase in native animals, such as koalas, because of a reduction in dog numbers.
Last year AWI committed $600,000 to help regional groups implement grassroots management plans to reduce the impact dogs have on the environment and the people who manage it.
As a significant partner of the Invasive Animals CRC, AWI was promoting the PestSmart roadshows.
Between January and May, the Invasive Animals CRC PestSmart Roadshow will travel across NSW, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland to explain best practice pest animal management including the latest innovations.
Meetings have been scheduled for Albury on Friday, Naracoorte (February 7), Horsham (February 8) and Mildura (February 10).
