Wild dog attacks rise after bushfires

Livestock producers in fire-affected parts of Victoria are reporting a spike in wild dog attacks, with bushfires having destroyed critical farm infrastructure designed to keep predators out.

The Victorian Farmers Federation says exclusion fencing and other barriers were wiped out during recent fires, leaving sheep and cattle exposed as wild dogs move out of scorched bushland in search of food.

VFF vice-president and north-east livestock farmer Peter Star says the loss of infrastructure has created a dangerous situation for already struggling producers.

He says without urgent investment in rebuilding fences and boosting coordinated predator control, livestock losses will continue to climb, adding financial and emotional pressure to farmers still recovering from fire damage.

The VFF is calling for fast-tracked repairs to damaged fencing, region-wide wild dog management programs and increased research into long-term feral dog control.

Mr Star says debate around dingo purity is missing the point, with farmers focused on the very real impact wild dogs are having on livestock, particularly sheep and young cattle.

The federation says it’s committed to working with government and conservation groups to deliver practical solutions that protect farms and rural communities.