Triandra Track on Castle Hill closed from Monday
Date published: 14 May 2021
Townsville City Council will begin trapping wild dogs on Castle Hill from Monday for the safety of track walkers and their pets.
The Triandra Track on the West End side of Castle Hill will be closed until 28 May while the trapping is carried out.
Council Community Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability Committee chairperson Maurie Soars said that staff had identified a need to carry out trapping for the safety of residents.
“Wild dogs – which include feral dogs and hybrids – will often become aggressive if approached and we do need to manage their numbers in highly visited and populated areas such as Castle Hill,” Cr Soars said.
“The trapping area is closed to the public throughout this period, but we do ask residents to keep their dogs leashed when in the area and to make sure they are microchipped and registered with Council.”
Cr Soars said Council staff and contractors take every precaution when carrying out trapping programs in residential areas to ensure pets are kept safe.
“Council staff and contractors are very experienced in trapping wild dogs, and to minimise the risk to pets and other wildlife, no bait is used in the traps,” Cr Soars said.
“Any domestic dogs or dogs suspected to belong to someone that become trapped will be taken to the Animal Care and Adoption Centre for a microchip scan and behavioural assessment.”
Wild dog control is legislated under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
