Farmers are struggling as wild dog packs attack livestock in unprecedented numbers.
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00:00Farmers in eastern Victoria are having their livelihoods decimated by unprecedented numbers
00:11of wild dog attacks.
00:13Packs of dogs have been attacking livestock in some areas for the first time ever, with
00:18a good season and excessive deer carcasses left behind by hunters helping them thrive.
00:23Stock and Land went out to visit Glenmaggie sheep and cattle farmer Michael Higgins, who
00:28has lost at least 35 lambs and ewes and 8 calves in recent months.
00:45Strong pup survival rates and an increased population has driven the dogs into lowland
00:49farming country, with day and night livestock attacks getting closer to rural towns.
00:54We also visited farmer Barry Taylor in Newry, who has followed the increasing wild dog population
01:00in the area for the last 30 years.
01:02He said not only are the dogs increasing in number, but they are also increasing in size.
01:06Well the main thing we're doing at the moment is organising this petition and that will
01:11go out to everyone, so everyone else who is interested in this wild dog program need to
01:16look at this petition and if they could please sign it.
01:20We have a problem with this animal on four legs and he's got to be stopped.
01:24The farmers are adamant that these wild dogs are not the native or claimed native dingoes,
01:30that they are black, black and white and mixed in colour, and are a hybrid of sorts that
01:34is not worth protecting.
01:36A wild dog unprotection order remains in place in the north east of the state up until October
01:421st this year.
01:44Farmers are calling for it to be extended and they say there needs to be increased funding
01:47for the control of wild dogs in the area.