Wild Dogs, Fences and People in the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia

Abstract

<p>Wild dogs have caused significant damage to the sheep and goat industry in the Southern Rangelands region of Western Australia. Four wild dog-proof cell fences are being constructed in the region to support the management of wild dogs. The focus of this study is the largest of these wild dog-proof exclosures. Covering 7.5 million hectares, the Murchison Regional Vermin Council (MRVC) cell fence project was completed in December 2021 and is designed to keep out wild dogs from the region. The success of the project depends upon the ability of landholders and licensed pest-management technicians to eradicate wild dogs from within the cell so that stakeholders can return to running sheep and goats (small stock) if they wish. Implementation of wild dog control within the completed fence will require the use of traditional tools at a landscape scale involving every landholder. Improving landholder participation by removing barriers to participation and implementing strategies to strengthen drivers can be supported by behavioural science.</p> <p>This research studies landholder motivations for participating in the MRVC cell-fence project and examines the barriers and drivers behind human behaviour that will determine the success of the fence as a wild-dog control tool. The dimensions of the cell fence and the diverse range of ideologies of the people whose properties lie within the exclosure pose a significant challenge to its success. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to reveal that the current level of participation in wild dog control is unlikely to reduce the wild dog numbers to a level where small stock can be reintroduced with confidence into the area. Community engagement practitioners must carefully design interventions to increase the level of landholder involvement in wild dog control. The research discusses these barriers and drivers and applies Michie’s COM-B model of behaviour change to suggest some suitable interventions. </p> <p>The construction of two additional cell fences is ongoing and the lessons learned from this project can be used to improve these and future cell-fencing projects in Western Australia. </p>