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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Activity of free-ranging dogs (Canis familiaris) in the Arcadia Valley, Queensland

Paul D. Meek A B * , Guy Ballard B C , Darren Marshall D , Lachlan Marshall D , Deane Smith B C and Peter J. S. Fleming https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3490-6148 B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 350, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.

B Ecosystem Management School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department Primary Industries, c/-University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

D Southern Queensland Landscapes, 266 Margaret Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

E Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, 1447 Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.

* Correspondence to: paul.meek@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Handling Editor: Karl Vernes

Australian Mammalogy 45(3) 356-360 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM22033
Submitted: 3 November 2022  Accepted: 18 March 2023   Published: 7 April 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

GPS tracking collars were fitted to five free-ranging dogs (Canis familiaris) in the Arcadia Valley, Queensland to establish baseline movement data in this unique topographical landscape. Activity areas were generated with three home range methods using seasonally constrained fixes. Activity areas (Brownian Bridge and Utilisation Distribution) ranged from 2.9 to 689 km2 in this landscape, and revealed that topographical features previously thought to confine free-ranging dog movement were no barrier to habitat use.

Keywords: control, dingo, free-ranging dog, management, pest control, radio tracking, topography, wild dog.


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