A DOZEN domestic dogs, foxes and a cat have been captured by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Redland City Council rangers working on North Stradbroke Island.
Rangers believe the trapping, capture and surrender of animals has ended a brutal six-week-long wildlife toll.
A QPWS spokesman said rangers trapped three dogs, a further two were captured by Redland City Council animal management unit, one dog was surrendered while five foxes and a cat were trapped by a council contractor and the Naree Budjong Djara joint management work unit.
Rangers started a trapping program after devastating attacks on wildlife, with the issue reaching crisis point last month when more than 20 kangaroos were killed in four weeks.
After years of warnings to Redland City Council about dog problems on the island and mainland areas, five roos were killed in two days as dogs left to roam formed hunting packs.
A man fishing on the beach also was attacked and rangers had to close Main Beach Camp Grounds to tourists while they tried to trap loose dogs.
The QPWS spokesman said humane soft-jawed traps were used.
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”The intensive trapping program was carried out between 28 February and 20 March,” he said.
“No dog tracks have been identified on management trails in the national park and recreation area since that date.
“Rangers are continuing a trapping program in the management area, aimed primarily at foxes.”
He said intensive trapping would resume if there were any further problems although it was highly likely the problem had been resolved.
“(The department) hasn’t received any further calls about dogs attacking wildlife,” he said.
”...In the event of any future incidents, organisations responsible for land management on the Island have now established a coordinated inter-agency procedure for reactive control of problem dogs.”
A council spokesperson said no formal reports of wildlife deaths had come through since the trapping although there had been an unconfirmed report of a possible roo attack by a visiting dog at Point Lookout.
“No injured roos have been sighted,” she said.
“No dogs have been impounded since 10 March 2018, which would suggest that there has been some level of improvement in residents restraining their dogs on the island.
“Officers conducting patrols of the island have seen some improvement with dogs being exercised on lead, however there are still incidents being investigated that relate to dogs being off lead and other dogs that have been able to escape their properties.
“As the main area of focus is state land and as a minority land owner, no further trapping is planned on council land.”