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Sheep grazing on the Northern Tablelands under dramatic skies

Pest Control Northern Tablelands NSW - Professional Feral Animal Management

By Tristan, AHCPMG304 Certified

The Northern Tablelands is one of NSW's worst-affected regions for wild dog attacks on livestock, with significant losses to sheep and cattle producers from Armidale and Glen Innes to Walcha and Uralla every year. Effective control requires coordinated programmes working alongside Local Land Services wild dog management plans.

What Feral Pest Challenges Does the Northern Tablelands Face?

The Northern Tablelands (also known as the New England region) is some of the finest grazing country in Australia. Elevations of 800 to 1,400 metres, reliable rainfall, and improved pastures make it ideal for fine wool merinos, prime lambs, and cattle. But this productive country sits right alongside the timbered ranges of the Great Dividing Range escarpment, and that boundary is where the wild dog problem begins.

Wild dogs are the most destructive feral pest on the Northern Tablelands and have been for decades. The timbered escarpment country running from Nowendoc through Walcha, east of Armidale, and up towards the Gibraltar Range provides perfect harbour for wild dogs: dense cover, reliable water, and abundant native prey. But when food runs short or pups need feeding, dogs move out onto the open grazing country and the results are devastating. Industry bodies estimate wild dog attacks cost Northern Tablelands producers millions of dollars annually in direct stock losses, veterinary costs, reduced production from stressed animals, and the labour costs of mustering and monitoring. Some long-established sheep operations east of Walcha and Armidale have been forced to switch to cattle entirely because the dog pressure made sheep production unviable.

Foxes are the second-most significant predator on the Tablelands. While they don’t attract the same attention as wild dogs, foxes are responsible for substantial lamb losses across the region. A single fox can take multiple lambs per night during the lambing period, and the cooler Tablelands climate means lambs are particularly vulnerable in their first few days. Fox predation rates of 10-20% of lambs are commonly reported on properties without active control programmes.

Feral pigs are an increasing problem, particularly on the lower elevation country around the western slopes and along the river systems feeding into the Namoi and Gwydir catchments. Pigs damage crops, root up improved pastures, foul water sources, and destroy fencing. Their numbers have grown substantially in the last decade as seasons have favoured breeding.

Feral deer are a growing concern on the Northern Tablelands, with fallow and red deer populations expanding through the timbered areas. Deer compete with livestock for pasture, damage fences, and can carry and spread diseases.

Rabbits remain a problem in localised areas, particularly on lighter soils and around rocky outcrops where warrens are hard to access.

How Does Feral Up Service the Northern Tablelands?

We deliver targeted pest control programmes designed for the specific conditions and challenges of the Northern Tablelands. Our approach is built on local knowledge, coordination with LLS programmes, and proven methods.

Wild Dog Control

Wild dog control is our most critical service on the Northern Tablelands. Our licensed operators conduct ground-based shooting programmes using thermal imaging and night-vision equipment to target dogs along the escarpment margins and on grazing country. We time our programmes to complement LLS coordinated baiting campaigns, targeting dogs that have survived baiting rounds or moved into gaps between baited areas. We work with wild dog management groups and individual landholders to deliver sustained pressure on dog populations.

Fox Control

Our fox control programmes are timed around lambing season for maximum impact. Pre-lambing control operations in autumn and early winter reduce fox numbers when it matters most. We use thermal-assisted night shooting to efficiently cover large areas of open grazing country, and our operators know the denning sites, travel corridors, and feeding patterns that foxes favour on the Tablelands.

Feral Pig Control

Feral pig control on the Northern Tablelands targets the lower elevation areas and river systems where pig numbers are highest. We use night shooting with thermal optics and trapping programmes suited to the terrain. Pigs concentrate around water sources in cooler months, making winter the most effective period for control operations.

Feral Deer Control

Feral deer control requires a patient, targeted approach. Our operators identify deer travel corridors, feeding areas, and harbourage zones through pre-operation surveillance, then deliver focused control programmes that reduce deer impact on your property and fencing.

Rabbit Control

We provide targeted rabbit control for properties where rabbit damage is affecting pasture productivity and land condition, using methods suited to the Tablelands’ terrain and soil types.

Why Does Local Knowledge Matter on the Northern Tablelands?

The Northern Tablelands is country where local knowledge isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Feral Up’s founder, Tristan, grew up on the Northern Tablelands and understands this landscape intimately. That knowledge runs through everything we do in this region.

Effective wild dog control requires understanding how dogs use the landscape: which ridgelines they travel, where they cross from the ranges onto farming country, which creek systems they follow, and how their movements change with the seasons. This isn’t information you can get from a map. It comes from years of working this country, talking to landholders, and learning the patterns.

The Tablelands climate also shapes our operations. Winter nights regularly drop below zero, and fog can settle in the valleys for days. Snow falls on the higher country several times each year. Our operators plan around these conditions, not in spite of them. Cold, clear nights with frost are often the best conditions for thermal-assisted control work, as animals are highly visible against the cold ground.

We understand the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services region and work alongside their wild dog coordinators, community management groups, and baiting programmes. This coordination ensures our ground-based control complements the broader landscape-scale efforts that are essential for managing wild dogs across the region.

What Areas Do We Cover on the Northern Tablelands?

We service properties across the entire Northern Tablelands region, including:

  • Central Tablelands: Armidale, Uralla, Guyra, Ben Lomond
  • Northern areas: Glen Innes, Emmaville, Deepwater, Tenterfield
  • Southern areas: Walcha, Nowendoc, Woolbrook
  • Western slopes: Inverell, Bundarra, Barraba
  • Eastern escarpment: Ebor, Dorrigo hinterland, Wollomombi, Hernani

Whether you’re running merinos on the open downs west of Armidale or cattle on the timbered fall country east of Walcha, we have the capability and knowledge to deliver effective pest control on your property.

How Do You Get Started with Pest Control on the Northern Tablelands?

Getting professional pest control on your Tablelands property is straightforward:

  1. Contact us for a free phone consultation: tell us about your property, what stock you’re running, the pest problems you’re experiencing, and what losses you’ve seen. Call us or fill in our online contact form.
  2. We arrange a property assessment: one of our operators will assess your property, identify pest activity and key pressure points, and review access and terrain considerations.
  3. Receive a tailored pest management programme: we’ll provide a detailed proposal outlining the recommended approach, timing aligned to your production calendar, expected outcomes, and costs.
  4. Implementation begins: our licensed operators carry out the programme, providing detailed post-operation reports including pest numbers, locations, and recommendations for follow-up management.

Wild dogs, foxes, and feral pigs cost Northern Tablelands producers millions of dollars every year. Every lamb lost to a fox, every sheep mauled by a wild dog, and every paddock torn up by pigs is money off your bottom line. Professional, coordinated pest control is the most effective way to protect your livestock and your livelihood.

Don’t wait for the next attack. Contact Feral Up today for a free consultation and find out how we can help manage feral pests on your Northern Tablelands property.

Our Services in Northern Tablelands

Feral Pig Control in Northern Tablelands Fox Control in Northern Tablelands Feral Deer Control in Northern Tablelands Wild Dog Control in Northern Tablelands Rabbit Control in Northern Tablelands

Frequently Asked Questions

How bad is the wild dog problem on the Northern Tablelands?

The wild dog problem on the Northern Tablelands is among the worst in Australia. Industry estimates suggest wild dogs cost NSW sheep producers over $25 million per year, and the Northern Tablelands bears a disproportionate share of those losses. Some producers in areas like Walcha, Nowendoc, and the eastern fall country have been forced out of sheep production entirely due to repeated dog attacks. Attacks typically increase during late winter and spring when wild dogs are raising pups and ranging further from the escarpment country. A single wild dog can kill dozens of sheep in one attack, and the stress on surviving stock causes ongoing production losses through reduced fertility and weight gain.

Do you work with Local Land Services wild dog programmes?

Yes, we actively coordinate with Northern Tablelands Local Land Services and their wild dog management programmes. LLS runs coordinated baiting programmes, maintains the wild dog barrier fence, and supports community wild dog management groups across the region. Our ground-based shooting programmes complement these efforts by targeting dogs that have survived baiting rounds or moved into areas between baiting events. We participate in the planning process with LLS coordinators and neighbouring landholders to ensure our work fits within the broader landscape-scale control strategy.

What area do you cover on the Northern Tablelands?

We service properties across the entire Northern Tablelands region, from Tenterfield in the north to Walcha in the south, and from the eastern escarpment country through to Inverell and the western slopes. Key areas we service include Armidale, Glen Innes, Walcha, Uralla, Guyra, Tenterfield, Inverell, Emmaville, Ebor, and Nowendoc. We also service properties along the Great Dividing Range escarpment where wild dog pressure is most severe. Our operators know this country well. Feral Up's founder grew up on the Northern Tablelands.

How much does pest control cost on the Northern Tablelands?

Costs depend on the pest species, property size, terrain complexity, and the scope of the programme. Wild dog control programmes on larger properties with difficult terrain are naturally more involved than fox control on open grazing country. We provide a free phone consultation and a detailed quote before any work begins, so you have full clarity on costs. Many producers find that the cost of professional control is a small fraction of their annual stock losses to feral predators, making it a sound investment in protecting their flock or herd.

Do you run coordinated programmes across multiple properties?

Coordinated programmes across neighbouring properties are the gold standard for feral animal control, and we strongly encourage them. Wild dogs and foxes range across enormous areas, and controlling them on one property while neighbouring country goes untreated just pushes the problem around. We can help organise group programmes that bring together multiple landholders to achieve landscape-scale results. This approach improves effectiveness and reduces costs per landholder. We also link in with existing LLS wild dog management groups where they operate.

When is the best time of year for pest control on the Tablelands?

Timing depends on the target species. For wild dogs, late winter through spring is critical, as dogs are raising pups, ranging further, and attacking more stock. A well-timed programme before lambing can significantly reduce predation losses. For foxes, autumn and early winter control before lambing season gives the best protection for newborn lambs. Feral pigs are active year-round but are easier to locate in cooler months when they concentrate around water sources and wallow areas. We recommend discussing timing with us during your initial consultation so we can build a programme around your production calendar.

What about cluster fencing as an alternative to shooting?

Cluster fencing (where a group of properties installs exclusion fencing to keep wild dogs out) has been highly effective in parts of western Queensland and is gaining interest on the Northern Tablelands. We see professional pest control and cluster fencing as complementary rather than competing approaches. Fencing keeps dogs out of enclosed areas but doesn't reduce the overall wild dog population, and dogs eventually find gaps or dig under fences. Ground-based control reduces the source population pressure on your fencing investment. For properties considering cluster fencing, we can provide ongoing pest control within the fenced area and help manage predators that breach the perimeter.

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