LARGE FERAL HERBIVORES
Large Feral Herbivores continue to have a constant population within the PRBG region. The PRBG run one aerial program each year, focused on areas in consultatin with members and key regional stakeholders.
Complying with national and WA animal welfare standards and codes of practice, the PRBG coordinates aerial culling of large feral herbivores using declared pest funds (pastoralist/State funds), along with funding support from DBCA Parks & Wildlife and Rio Tinto Iron Ore.
The Judas Donkey program in the east Pilbara was put on hold in 2020 due to insufficient funds and LFH priorities in the West Pilbara - the Pilbara RBG hopes to attract new and ongoing funding to re-start this successful program.
The Pilbara RBG is keen to involve other funding partners for areas not currently funded.
WILD DOGS
An annual community aerial and ground coordinated baiting program for wild dogs involving pastoral properties takes place across the region during September. The PRBG supports Pilbara pastoral stations as PRBG members to carry out their own on-ground wild dog control activities throughout the year by providing wild dog chemical.
Wild Dogs continue to be the biggest problem in the region attacking young cattle. Not only do wild dogs cause direct stock losses, they also cause income losses through injury and attack damage to livestock that devalues livestock when taken to market, along with excluding them from others.
Wild dogs require a wide range of control measures, with even wider costs and approaches.
DECLARED WEEDS
Weeds in the PRBG region has recorded infestations of Mesquite, Parkinsonia, Noogoora Burn, Opuntia Species, Rubber Vine, Calotropis, and Bellyache Bush. Whilst these are recorded within the region the PRBG will work stakeholders on any other declared pest weeds as identified.
The PRBG works closely with the Pilbara Mesquite Management Committee (PMMC) on controlling these invasive declared weeds species. Through this relationship PMMC are able to further leverage additional funding from other regional stakeholders such as Rio Tinto, Roy Hill, Onslow Salt, Citi Pacific Mining, DBCA, Rangelands NRM and City of Karratha, ensuring the contribution from PRBG is having a greater benefit across the region.