Two Riverina land managers were rewarded for their pest animal management work, with the draw of the Fox Dog Lotto competition last week.
The Gundagai and Young farmers were drawn as first and second prize winners, receiving a John Deere ride on-lawn mower and Stihl chainsaw respectively for their involvement in the Feral Fighters program.
The Fox Dog Lotto is a part of the Feral Fighters program, an initiative to target pest animals through strategic and coordinated group baiting.
To encourage participation, Riverina Local Land Services draws weekly and annual prizes for landholders who purchase pest animal baits in the organisation’s autumn or spring baiting campaigns, said Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer, Tom Schlunke.
“Since its inception, Feral Fighters has significantly improved group participation in fox and wild dog control programs across the Riverina,” Mr Schlunke said.
“By joining the Feral Fighters campaign you are a local champion for effective invasive species management and are supporting your neighbours, community, local industries and the environment.
“Landholders who purchase 1080 baits from Local Land Services in the autumn or spring baiting campaigns are automatically entered in the draw to win either a John Deere ride-on lawnmower or a Stihl chainsaw.
“There are also weekly prizes of dog food that are drawn out from the monthly bait programs.”
By participating in Feral Fighter coordinated baiting programs, landholders receive:
- free vertebrate pesticide training, in-person where available or online, including Canid Pest Ejectors
- the first 30 1080 meat baits free (in both autumn and spring programs)
- up-to-date information and support from Riverina Local Land Services.
There are minimum requirements to participation including accreditation and distance restrictions for 1080 fox and dog baiting.
