Preparing for reset landscape-scale predator management (Prep4Reset)

Camera trap monitoring has continued 24/7 across the active Prep4Reset sites. Images are being tagged as soon as we return from the field to avoid a backlog of untagged images and delays to analysis. This is essential progress to enable before and after comparison of predator abundance in response to the extended program, and re-invasion rates.
The Western Tracks project commenced, 30 feral pigs radio collared, and wild dog collaring started. These data are fundamental to providing valuable scientific guidance into future planning for management control.

Negotiations with other land managers and LLS regions in NSW and several cross-border regions in Queensland to expand the monitoring and baiting footprint and frequency of baiting in north east NSW and potentially interstate.
This project is highlighting the challenges of remote R&D, with bush fires destroying many camera traps at some of the project sites, resulting in lost data. These camera traps have now all been replaced, and the remaining cameras serviced. There have also been cases of camera theft and vandalization at some sites. Challenges aside, images from the camera traps have been tagged to indicate the species captured, wild dog DNA testing has commenced and some mapping of genomic patterns across the study areas has also commenced.

Unfortunately field sites for this project have been impacted by recent natural disasters including bushfires and wet weather. As access to sites is reinstated, repairs and replacement of equipment will take place. Despite this, development of collaborations and relationships continues with University of New England, NSW Local Land Services (LLS) and National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Negotiations are underway to establish a camera trap monitoring site in the North Coast LLS. A site in western NSW has been included, funded by Western LLS. The site aims to enhance landscape scale control by monitoring wild dog and feral pig movements, which will improve deployment and effectiveness of controls.

The Prep4Reset project has facilitated a range of collaborations and funding, including a 5-year, $30 million Environmental Trust-funded collaborative predator management project in NSW; “Developing strategies for effective feral cat management.” RESET aims to be a national predator management project, and to this end negotiations are underway with NT, WA, SA, VIC and QLD partners to extend the reach of this project.

Three technical staff positions have been filled, progressing field work and data analysis significantly. Newly-designed camera posts should prevent theft, and restoration of sites damaged by natural disasters is underway. New monitoring sites and GPS collaring for wild dogs is being investigated on the North Coast.

Numerous workshops were presented throughout multiple states and territories. Analyses on dingoes was presented to the Royal Zoological Society forum on The Dingo Dilemma in September 2019. A workshop held in April 2019 substantially advanced the theoretical framework underpinning eradication tools.