Dingo , Warrigal Canis lupus dingo
What do they look like ? Well known , large dog with ginger ( rarely white or black ) fur and white ‘ points ’, though occasionally black or white . Pure bred Dingos have a white tipped , brush-like tail and do not have dewclaws on their hind legs . Animals with a dark line down the back or speckling are likely to be hybrids with escaped domestic dogs .
Where do they live ? Dingos occur in all land and vegetation types . Caves , hollow logs and trees are used as lairs .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? The size of a Dingo ’ s territory depends on availability of prey and terrain . They have strong cooperative instincts and tend to live and hunt in packs , communicating with a distinctive yelp or howl . They do not bark like domestic dogs . Very adaptable , they feed on a wide variety of animals from insects to mammals and may occasionally eat fruits . Common mammalian prey is rabbit to wallaby sized . Breeding season is usually May / June , and unlike domestic dogs , Dingos reproduce once annually .
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? Mostly seen alone and usually quite wary of humans . Characteristic howling , heard at night or early morning , particularly during winter months . Dingo prints along station tracks are also a common sign .
What management actions affect this species ? Human control measures affect the dingo . Although it is a native animal , the Dingo is also classified as a pest species because of its impact on domestic stock . Baiting , shooting and trapping control measures have eliminated Dingos from parts of south east Australia . Cross-breeding with domestic dogs is one of the biggest threats to Dingo survival .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Dingos are Australia ’ s key mammalian predators , and as such they play a critical role in moderating populations of small mammals and wallabies , their preferred prey . Studies suggest that Dingos can also control feral cat , fox and pig numbers , delivering a huge conservation benefit to native fauna .
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