Important warning for owners of working dogs and pets

WARNING: 1080 WILD DOG AND FOX BAITING OCT 14 to NOV 22

Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) will carry out wild dog and fox baiting on its mine site, surrounding land as well as land it manages as environmental offsets.

We will lay baits between October 14 and November 22 at the HVO North and HVO South mine sites and on HVO offset lands in the following areas:

• Between the Golden Highway and New England Highway between the Redbank Power Station at Warkworth and the Liddell and Bayswater power stations
• Knodlers Lane, Maison Dieu
• Land adjoining 60 and 62 Pothana Lane, Belford
• Mitchelhill offsets in the Muscle Creek area
• Box Tree Clearing Trail, Putty
• Goulburn River Offset, 2329 Comialla Road, Cassilis.

What is 1080 baiting and how is it done?

Baiting with sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) minimises the impact of the introduced European red fox on native fauna and agricultural production. Lethal baiting is the most effective broad-scale method currently available. Foxes are amongst the most sensitive species to the effects of 1080.

1080 is an odourless, tasteless, concentrated solution with a coloured dye to identify the toxin. It is put it into fresh, dried or processed meat baits.

We will carry out our baiting under conditions set down in a specific permit issued by the Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority under the Federal Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 as well as conditions set down in the NSW Pesticides Act 1999.

Warning to residents with working dogs and pets

1080 is toxic to a wide range of species. Dogs are extremely sensitive, and most other mammalian carnivores are highly sensitive to 1080 poisoning.

To avoid accidental poisoning of working dogs and pets, please keep them at home during this period.

The prognosis for poisoned dogs is extremely poor unless you induce vomiting shortly after ingestion of the bait and before clinical signs are evident.

If your pet is affected by poison but is NOT yet showing signs of poisoning

Induce vomiting by giving one of the following:

• washing soda crystals (sodium carbonate) – 3 to 5 crystals orally, DO NOT use laundry detergents or powders
• table salt – 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 cup of water; more or less depending on the size of the dog
• dilute hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) – 3 to 5ml.

Also:

• Seek veterinary assistance immediately.
• Clean up vomit immediately as it is toxic.

If your pet is showing signs of toxicosis (retching and vomiting, frenzied behaviour, convulsions, difficulty breathing):

• DO NOT induce vomiting, seek veterinary attention immediately. 
• Clean up any vomit as it is toxic.

More information

Please call HVO on 1800 888 733.