RESIDENTS near the Palm Grove National Park backing onto Curtis Road are living in fear of a pack of dogs which they said have killed pets and wildlife.
Brendan Andrews has lived on his five-acre block since mid-2021 and in February last year when he was unable to get his cat back inside for the night discovered on his camera footage she’d been taken by one of the dogs.
“Bits of her were found in the neighbouring property a week later,” he said.
In November last year he found a dead pademelon next to his garage and the cameras showed a dog dropping it there in the night.
Brendan said he believes it is a dingo with four now mature pups. He is uncertain if the pups are pure dingo or if the dog has mated with a domestic dog.
“Two pups look strong dingoish and one is entirely black,” Brendan said. “Three came into the barbecue area at 3am. The mother has come as close as 10 metres from me just on dusk.
“I don’t think the mum is aggressive with me, but I would not want to be a child or small woman or certainly a pet. They are getting bolder.
“My partner used to go for walks but she’s not game to go out now.
“You have to conduct your life that they may be a threat, because that risk is real. I don’t wish ill on the dogs but wish they weren’t here.”
Brendan contacted Scenic Rim Regional Council who put out a cage for a couple of weeks but failed to trap any of the dogs.
“The dogs are too clever,” he said, but again cameras revealed there were three dogs nearby.
He later contacted National Parks and Wildlife who came put more cameras out over a two and a half months period.
In a statement the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation spokesperson said their cameras confirmed the wild dogs were not coming from the national park and therefore the council was best placed to deal with the issue.
They were not able to confirm whether the dogs were dingoes.
Scenic Rim Regional Council director of planning, regional development and environment Leo Jensen said council is continuing to respond to concerns and work with the owners of three properties.
“If necessary further action may include engaging with other stakeholders such as Parks and Wildlife,” Mr Jensen said.
“Council is continuing to work with the property owners based on risk assessments which take into account the populated area and dwellings with a focus on public and environmental risks, which include people, public activity, pets and wildlife.”
He said simple measures to limit the threat of wild dogs include not feeding them and controlling food sources, confining pets, and, if possible, using guardian animals.
Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Euan Ritchie said the dogs caught on camera certainly looked like dingos but only genetic testing can confirm this.
“Dingoes are not dangerous if you respect them and follow advice given to people on K’gari and elsewhere,” Professor Ritchie said.
He said their numbers don’t grow year on year as they limit breeding in relation to social structure and resources.
“Relocating dingoes is a very bad idea and likely to cause more problems and possible death of the dingoes being relocated,” Professor Ritchie said.
