Bush camping in WA without 1080

G'day Tommy... Maybe if your going to let her wonder around, put a muzzle on her, just to be sure.. Saw people with dogs at Parrys Beach, it's not bush camping, and it has great facilities... but depending on the time of year, as with crowds, is a great spot.. think $50 a week, and you can have a fire.. still for the sake of others, and keeping the peace, if I took my dog camping, I would not let her wonder around. Just my opinion... Youngest lives in Perth, not sure where they take their dog camping, think they more just "wing" it.. Have heard that cats n foxes can carry baits around, and bury them around the place also.. sure if you googled "dog friendly camping Perth" something would come up... good luck with it.. cheers Odog

Don't expect there to be anywhere without risk of baits. Because it is a natural poison to WA it is in continuous use. Try a good mussel that the dog cant eat or drink through. It is not only the baits to worry about but animals killed by 1080 and remains laying around. Mussels worked for us on the farm except for one dog got a but of long dead sheep from earing the poison plant through fence.
Good luck
Neil

Don't know if it would be the same but in SA landowners need to post notices if they are going to use 1080. Often you will see a notice on a fence but on closer inspection it will tell you baits were laid 6 mths ago. Even the national parks (where fido shouldn't be) publicise when they are baiting. Not a pleasant death for your dog if you are unlucky. We carry a muzzle with us for the just in case situation.

Sorry I should have also mentioned, we do have a muzzle for the mutt that we bought for the road trip over here, but she hates it. If she was younger we could probably train her to get used to it, but she's 9 years old and you know what they say about old dogs... Like tying her up, I'd rather leave her at home then make her uncomfortable. She's an absolute sook and she's not shy about bringing everyone else down with her moping if she's not happy.

I was just hoping there might be some 1080-free oases in this great state that only the locals know about. If not, then it looks like mopey goes to the kennel when we go bush.

You really cannot take a dog into 1080 areas without a muzzle. Even if there are no signs baits can be carried by crows or other animals well away from signed areas. Have you investigated various types of muzzles? Our Jack Russell was quite happy with the light one we used for her. It sat under her jaw so she could not eat or pick up food at all but she was not bothered by it enclosing her mouth - if that makes sense. Some muzzles are large and comparatively cumbersome to restrain large savage dogs which is not what you need. Try asking your vet for suggestions. If you can find one that is not too heavy and cumbersome you could try getting her gradually used to it at home. Otherwise she would be better off in a good kennel when you go camping. Lynne

I understand where you are coming from Tommo. Many years ago we were touring in WA and like you love to bush camp. We also had a dog and ended up getting him a greyhound muzzle (they are the very light wire cage ones). You can desensitise pretty much all dogs to something as long as you take your time and and pair it something extremely rewarding for the dog, ie. feed a special treat such as chicken when it is on. Start with having it on for very short periods and gradually increase the length of time she is wearing it.

Anyway, we never felt comfortable camping in a place that had 1080 around due to the potential hazard, so we ended up no staying in those places, and had to join the crowds.

Like others have said baits can be picked up by other animals as well as birds and dropped anywhere. Last year we planned to camp at Cape Conran in Victoria. When we got there there were signs up everywhere saying there was a permanent fox baiting program underway. I rang the caretaker to talk to her about it and she said as long as your pet is on lead they should be ok. We thought no thanks and ended up staying in a caravan park at Marlo.

As to your question, sorry we haven't been over that way camping for a long time so can't contribute with any places that may be safe.

Cheryl