First new bait in 50 years for wild dog control

[bob10]

Wild dogs: First new bait released in 50 years to tackle Australia's rural pest - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-11/papp-bait-released-to-tackle-wild-dog-scourge/7499206)

[newhue]

Still mystifies me why genetic modification is not on the agenda. Mucking around with baits is like using coal for power, kind of still in the dark ages. Perhaps the powers that be like it how it is. Maybe genetic modification makes then uneasy about the future, bit like renewable energies.

[bob10]

Still mystifies me why genetic modification is not on the agenda. Mucking around with baits is like using coal for power, kind of still in the dark ages. Perhaps the powers that be like it how it is. Maybe genetic modification makes then uneasy about the future, bit like renewable energies.

Perhaps it is because they don't know what they are going to get. I know nothing about genetic modification, but it would be not good to start with a dingo, say, and end up with a ancient wolf.

[newhue]

Maybe Bob, but I think they do know as it would most likely be a gene that makes the boys only shoot boys. Over time they all die out due to no partners. With cats it's more a fear of upsetting all the human owners that wild moggy humps the treasured family pet one night while its out roaming and killing. Probably its the same with dogs.
To try and make owners newt their animals if they are not a registered breeder is already a failure. The belief they are a better dog with all its bits still prevails strong, so we will always have wild dogs. Plus there is cost owners disagree with even though they can afford the dog or cat. Many farmers have no issue killing the dog if it's no good, perhaps like a greyhound, so newting is just not going to happen for them. Its possible half of wild dogs originate from farmers in the first place. But to play god and genetically modify a gene is like driving a political titanic. So the powers keep the humans happy and muck around on the fringe with baits. In the mean time plenty of wildlife and farm stock die, and life goes on for the ferals as they bread faster than they die. And our fearless leader calls for engenuity.

Just my spin

[scarry]

A lot of the wild dogs also came from pig hunting dogs that were lost or left behind for whatever reason.

The responsible guys these days have trackers on them.

[newhue]

good on them. In someway though you'd imagine if they cared for the dog, or finding their kill you'd hope more than the responsible ones.

It certainly is a big problem, and needs be address in a large way.