Wild Dog Alert

Summary

​Wild dogs cause at least $89.3 million damage to the livestock production industries annually) and predation could be minimised if producers had early warning the presences of wild dogs. Outside of strategic control actions like aerial baiting, it is challenging to engage in preventative actions as producers usually detect wild dogs after predation has started.

This project aimed to develop an early alert system-  Wild Dog Alert, that allows for real-time recognition of species and individual recognition and transmission of an alert. Producers and land managers will be alerted by mobile phone, satellite phone, radio or pager as to the location of the incursion, along with a photo of the dog.

Simultaneously, the locational data can be uploaded to local and regional planning maps and records could be automatically updated. Producers will be provided with vital facts in real time for early action and cooperative planning.

This project developed, integrated and field tested the components of the alert system. The development of a wild dog alert system was successful.

The initial aim was to build one device however failures of existing technology compromised needs of integration technology. The process led to the development of a world-first camera trap device with an inbuilt alert system. Together with the Wild Dog Alert product, the project also produced an associated public good software package.

Additional detail can be found on the Centre Invasive Species Solutions web site.