Sadly, the 1080 poison that is found in many parts of country Australia is continuing to claim the lives of travellers’ dogs in and around rural campsites.
1080, or sodium fluoroacetate, is a lethal pesticide used to kill feral animals that impact agricultural activities or threaten native biodiversity.
Jane Canfield and her partner, Creese Syred, were camping just north of Wilcannia in the NSW far west when their 10-month-old border collie, Doble, fell victim to the poison.
The Guardian reports that the couple had parked 1.4 kilometres down a dirt track off the main road and there were no fences or signs in the vicinity. The dog reportedly ran around while Jane and Creese set up camp but didn’t range more than 20 metres from the vehicle.
Many dogs like to explore the campsite, but it can be dangerous. PIC: Helena Lopes / Pexels
Then, a few hours later, the pair watched in horror as their much-loved pet screamed, convulsed and frothed at the mouth, before dying.
“He was under the truck, he was whacking his head on the trailer, he was somersaulting around,” Creese told the Guardian. “I stood back and for the next 20 minutes had to watch him die.”
This is certainly not the first time that the pet of a travellers has fallen victim to 1080. A few years ago, grey nomads, Ross and Lynne, lost their mini Foxie to the poison and were eager to tell their story afterwards in order to raise awareness of the dangers.
The Guardian reports that Australia is one of the few countries that are still using the pesticide, most having phased it out due to the risks it poses to non-target animals.
1080 is regulated by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and further governed by state and territory authorities, which are responsible for ensuring its safe use.
The NSW EPA told the Guardian that, on average, it gets 10 reports a year of domestic dogs poisoned by 1080. However, some groups suspect that many other cases go unreported.
Many farmers though consider 1080 a critical tool in the management of pest species, and the NSW Farmers Association estimates that wild dog attacks on livestock cost the national economy more than $89m a year.
National Wild Dog Facilitator, Greg Mifsud, previously explained to the Grey Nomads website why 1080 was so important in controlling Australia’s feral animal population … and he offered some advice to grey nomads on what they can do to help keep their pets safe.
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Nowhere did i see the suggestion of using a muzzle on your dog. When i stop/camp the dog gets the muzzle put on before leaving the vehicle. I to lost my 4 legged friend to 1080 bait many years ago , crossing the Nullabor. Do not rely on signage , as the baits can be carried by birds from one area
to another. Just as the story tells it. It is an horrific death and there is nothing you can do , unless
you carry a firearm. Don’t rely on having them on a lead while walking them. They will pick up a bait
without you knowing and before you know it they go into the most horrific fits. Even if you are close to a town with a vet there is very little chance anything can be done. By the time you notice something is wrong with the dog it is to late. No apologies for my disturbing story.
There needs to be much clearer warnings about 1080. While stopped at Milparinka recently a local warned me not to walk my dog near the creek due to 1080. She had lost two cats. There was no other warnings to be seen.
1080 is a disgusting poison & no animal should die like that… ever. It should be banned & hunters should be allowed to hunt feral dogs,cats & foxes which is what 1080 supposedly targets. The lack of wildlife on WA’s roads (no birds, Roos, foxes ….. nothing) is a testament to 1080’s effectiveness , but at what cost? WA has signs on EVERY national park, I am paranoid about losing my dog so she wears this
Not really a smart solution. In the real world it comes down to costs/economics.
In addition, it would be more dangerous/ interesting with a whole lot of “shooters” out there putting not only your little pets at risk but you may get in the firing line as well. Bottom line, stick with the doggy mouth guard.
Obviously, you have no knowledge about hunters and pest control or the manner in which hunts are conducted.
I have don’t have a problem with the doggy mouth guard or hunters, but I do have a problem with not only putting our pets but our native wildlife at risk of a horrific 1080 death.
I also have an issue with your unqualified statement;
“it would be more dangerous/ interesting with a whole lot of “shooters” out there putting not only your little pets at risk but you may get in the firing line as well”
It is a great pity you didn’t do some research on the subject prior to going to print as farmers have used hunters for pest control for years.s.
Spot on mate. Its been my experience of late is that If you don’t travell with a pet, your the minority!!
Do you realise that crows wash 1080 baits to soften turning the water 1080 toxic…All animals VOMIT when 1080 poisoned , often kms away from any bait stations and this 1080 vomit is as toxic as any 1080 bait…The rest of the world manages very well without this evil, even America where this poison is manufactured
The most crual poison Ive experienced is Mixomotosis used to kill rabbits in Aus.
1080 should be banned! Simple
Could you tell me where I could get one of those full face mesh things. I saw a FB post once but didn’t look into it.
From my experience I have witnessed plenty of signage. Owners’ responsibility to care for their pets.
Where? Not on the Eyre Peninsula or Nullarbor.
As a dog owner of 2 who were 1080 poisoned by 1080 that TRAVELLED onto my farm that is a dangerous uneducated statement…many dogs have a low 1080 reading around 1g (a fox bait is 3g.) indicating it was possibly the Vomit from a 1080 victim that came onto my property kms. away…the emotional toll , the loss of family members, the $ loss of over $20,000 and no counseling has taken its has been almost impossible to cope with.
Not in SA
1080 is brutal way to kill animals should be banned in all states skilled shooters paid to kill feral species would be much better and create jobs
Most of the people travelling in caravans do not realize what 1080 is until it’s too late. If it is continued to be used place information about it at rest area’s etc as the signs are hard to read travelling at the speed limit
1080 is a disgusting and brutal posion not fit for management of anything. A lazy blunt instrument that causes great suffering. Dingoes are not wild dogs. They are native apex predators. Many farmers dont use this method of so called pest management. Note the language around it. Dispicable process. Use muzzels and speak up about this appalling poison at every chance.
Coolgardie WA. So far this year 3 dogs have died due to 1080 poisoned baits. WA Agriculture say on their website to leave your dogs at home. Whoever is dropping the baits is driving around their property throwing baits out the window of the ute as they drive around their property. This is not the first case its been going on for a number of years and baits are found on the sides of tar sealed ad dirt roads one only a week ago.
Agriculture WA say that no baits have been issued for this area. Baits can be viable for months in arid conditions and have a shelf life of 12 months. 1080, Pap and Strychnine baits are used. PAP has an antidote but out bush that is of little use.
Online training to obtain this poison tells you how to use it. Bury it 100 mm in the ground and tether it. Remove uneaten baits and dead animals. Logon and try the online course yourselves just for the hell of it. I did and I spent 3 months studying and researching this nasty poison.
Over the last 70 years Sodium Fluroacetate or 1080 has been used by Primary Producers to try and control Pests that damage their produce or animals. 70 years one would think that something is not working. You would think that by now some other nasty poison would have been created that actually works?. 1080 is affecting everything that eats it including insects that are eaten by birds.
An animal that eats 1080 and goes through one of that most nasty ways to die then becomes a bait when its is dead. AVPMA does not consider humaness it its assessment of this poison. This poison is not as regulated or controlled as it should be as anyone in Australia can obtain this poison and use it either responsibly or without due care to any non targeted animal.
To hold your favorite pet as it dies is one of the most distressing experiences of my life.
“only domestic dogs die from 1080”
The only way to stop indiscriminate killing of non targeted animals is ban the use of it.
No state of Australia is safe to let your Domestic Non Targeted friend to wander and enjoy the experience. The is poison everywhere since any landowner or parks and wildlife group can now feel free to drop baits anywhere they please and no one has to let you know where or when.
I would suggest that anyone in Australia who has experienced a 1080 Domestic Dog death contact the Health Department as quite frankly you or rather we are wasting our time by emailing any other group or governmental department.
While I have had a dog die of 1080 poison I do not think banning its use is the answer. Wild doqs (feral domestic dogs) are a big problem for sheep and cattle producers and feral cats are a big risk to native fauna. If there was anything more effective than 1080 then it would be used. It should be remembered that Sodium Fluroacetate is present in many Australian native plants and many of our native animals have a tolerance to it.
I have shot a lot of animals that are in pest proportions on properties and can attest to hunting as not being a viable control option. It all helps of course but I have spent many hours hunting wild dogs in areas where they are reported to be high numbers but have not seen, let alone shot any – seen plenty of dog tracks. Stock losses continue so the dogs are obviously there. All the ones that I have shot have been opportunistic targets that have appeared while I have been hunting something else.
Agricultural industries are no different to any other industry. They aim to use the most effective and efficient production methods. To suggest that they use 1080 through laziness or convenience is an insult to the people who put in long hours to produce the products that help to sustain our our economy and the standard of living that we enjoy. If there is anyone that has anything to offer in the way of a better solution then I am sure there are plenty who would like to hear about it.
Fluroacetate is present in native plants not Sodium Fluroacetate which is man made in USA.
And yes after 70 years of trying to kill off pests which include Australian Native animals some other methods should be tried. Obviously Sodium Fluroacetate does not do the job anymore as wild dogs have become familiar with this bait and shy away from it.
Researchers have set up baits near water holes and tracks of dogs go around the baits. Its the Loners or younger members of the packs and “Domestic Dogs” that get baited and cause most of the damage.
You could liken the use of poisoned baits to fly spray. You never will kill off all the flies.
ZP3 zona pellucida 3
https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/74/3/511/2666837
https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar?q=s+gupta+zp3&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
https://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/casn330.pdf
There has and is research on how to suppress fertilization in wild animals over the past 20 odd years. I would think that if this was able to be achieved then it would take roughly 10 years to decrease the population of wild dogs without killing our Domestic Dogs.
The baits could be dropped aerially maybe twice a year during breeding seasons and cause the populations to drop. If your dog ate it then they would not die but merely become infertile for a season.
But who am I but another person who lost their best friend to someones incompetence or just purely an evil incident caused deliberately such as what happened out here when someone throw baits over the back fences and killed off at least 7 domestic dogs.
If the 1080, PAP and Strychnine baits were banned then the chances of your dog dying this nasty inhumane death would drop.
thank you for your info….My dogs were 2 out of 12 1080 baited in my area…All dogs were home SAFE on their own land….The baits travelled to us…Pathology reports give a low toxic count. 1g…A whole fox bait is 3g….We are looking at the vomit of a poisoned “fox”? poisoning many of the dogs…A Poisoned animal vomits many times many Kms. away from where they found the bait….The death by Torture by 1080 never leaves those that have to see it.
I am a farmer and i find your comments insulting….We, in my area are now lose 1080 free and we are now way ahead in control and keeping our animals safe…..Your research is Sodium Fluroacetate is flawed and need more research…There are now many stations through Australia who are living WITH the Dingo and are having great success..Why dont you contact them, they welcome visitors.
great information……I am a farmer and have had 2 digs 1080 poisoned because the baits MOVE…Also the vomit is 1080 toxic….Because my area had a high number of dogs die from moving 1080 baits we are now lose 1080 bait free…..We do not Need 1080 , it is a lazy way of trying to control which as you said after 70yrs does not work
1080 must be banned. It is evil. There are no warning signs across the Nullarbor. Roadhouses have a small sign. !! When I stayed in the caravan parks. I was told to keep my dog close to the caravan. That is bs!!
To anyone travelling with their “fury mutt” who isn’t aware of the presence and risks of 1080, what rock have you been living under for the past seventy years that it has been used in Australia?
1080 is primarily used to kill introduced species. However, this poison is an indiscriminate killer. Poison laid for rabbits is normally in the form of baited carrots and oats, but any other animal occupying a similar niche such as the kangaroo are just as likely to eat the poison.
1080 not only has devastating consequences for the animals who directly consume it, but .. scavengers and carnivores are killed through secondary poisoning when they feed upon unrecovered carcasses. Indeed 1080 spreads so thoroughly through an ecosystem that insectivorous birds have been killed in baited areas by eating insects who have fed on carcasses and poisoned food.’
Australian native species that are highly sensitive to 1080 poison include herbivores – possums, macropods , wombats and spotted tailed quolls to mention just a few. In my opinion this insidious and inhumane poison should be banned.
Just one question, when has anyone seen the carcass of a wild dog ? I have ridden through many miles of Australia and not once have i seen a dead dog that would represent one of these so called target animals.
Also not even a wild dog deserves to die in this manner. If a poison can not kill in under 2 – 3 mind then it should 100% be banned.
M44 or Canid Ejector.
Nasty idea uses Cyanide and I feel should be banned as well.
Agree with Dave. We now use a muzzle on our dog after witnessing a dog die of the 1080.
Unfortunately other people are trying methods that may not seem reasonable to you, for pest control to try and protect thier livelihoods. If you are travelling it is your responsibility to safe gaurd your pet regardless. If you are driving up dirt tracks and pulling over where ever you seem fit, perhaps you should reconsider your actions. It is unfortunate that some animals that are domestic pets come into contact with the poison. But stop trying to shift the blame onto others for your choices.
Seventy years after its introduction into Australia 1080 is simply not working yet thousands of the tax payers dollars are being used for the manufacture and use of 1080 poison in Australia.
We are lied to and told it is naturally occurring in plants, yes it is, but the one that is used is a chemical compound. It is an inhumane and cruel poison which kills target animals and non target animals. It is also affecting Australia’s biodiversity and natural order of things. Take a drive out Moree way NSW and you will not see any native animals, not even insects on your windscreen. In my opinion 1080 should be banned.
Western Australia Agriculture bottom line is
“The safest option is to not take your dog at all but leave it in the safe hands of a carer or at a boarding kennel”
https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/sites/gateway/files/1080%20baiting%20information%20sheet%20for%20pet%20owners%20.pdf
Along with Parks and Reserves basically Western Australia is poisoned with 1080. It lasts for months in Arid conditions and has a shelf life of 12 months. Usually some one who has gone through the certification program can keep placing baits on their property for 5 years. Meaning that if they do not pick up the uneaten baits then that land has baits for 6 years.
Aerial baiting programs do not require removing uneaten baits or dead animals. The bush in WA is not a safe place for Domestic Dogs.
GNRBA advertised for 20 tonnes of bait in local newspaper. The baits are the size of the palm of your hand.
Rumors around town about the Nullarbor rest stops are dangerous places for your pet.
https://gnrba.com.au/downloads/supportinfo/GNRBA%20Wild%20Dog%20Management%20Plan%202020-2024.pdf
People just dong understand…The government propaganda seems to have people actually believing it….The government says “1080 loses its toxicity once it comes in contact with water, BUT that same government laces water troughs with 1080 to kill wild goats
My son has property in the Mid-north of SA. It is surrounded by land owned by the NPWLS and the area is regularly baited. We visit and free camp on his land but am ever watchful of our little dog [a JacChi] as he will no doubt be attracted to the poison bait in the area. What more can you do? Stay home? Don’t take my dog? Now, I appreciate the cost to the farming community caused by feral animals, and I am sympathetic to the need to cull these predators, but this issue has another major side effect. According to the NPWLS rep I spoke to at the most recent Caravan and Camping show held this year in Adelaide, baiting is the primary reason why dogs are not permitted in National Parks. I for one, till now anyway, have been most outspoken against what I considered to be a harsh reaction against dog owners. I hope, if a resolution to the issue of baiting is found that dog owners seeking to enter national parks are considered in the process.
I have had 2 dogs 1080 baited while on our own property…the death is the most horrific torture and took 1-2 hrs. I am a farmer and don’t have any need for 1080….The baits move via foxes, birds but also the Vomit from any poisoned animal is as toxic as the bait and can be found kms. from the baiting site…Please vote to ban 1080
There is NO way to keep your pets or native birds and animals Safe if there is 1080 laid within kms. of you…..These baits move, birds, animals caching..Crows 1080 poison the water washing the baits to soften…When an animal is 1080 poisoned they VOMIT kms. away from the bait site, This Vomit is 1080 toxic and will kill…
So Cruel. Ban immediately 1080
1080 should be banned..fullstop
Let’s start a petition