Management of urban animals: the Jervis Bay perspective

Paul Meek

Abstract

Discussions about the ownership and management of urban animals often centres on pets in cities and towns, thus management strategies focus on heavily populated areas. Urban animals are also found and cause problems in small urban settlements where animal control legislation is similar to cities but where there are fewer people and the native wildlife is more diverse and abundant. In Jervis Bay Territory there has been recent controversy about the compatibility of resident dogs and cats with the surrounding National Park. Complaints about troubelsome pets are also increasing. The Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories has plans to resolve these problems. The proposal is to create a Jervis Bay specific management approach to pet ownership in the Territory. A radio tracking study has been undertaken in the area to determine the movements and home range of domestic cats and commensal dogs in the Territory. This paper presents a summary of the proposed plans to improve pet ownership in Jervis Bay Territory and gives some preliminary results of the radio tracking study currently being carried out on cats and dogs in the Territory.

About the author

Paul Meek
Research Officer
Hydatid Control Campaign
Vertebrate Pest Project
Jervis Bay Territory

Paul is currently researching the biology and ecology of foxes, domestic cats and commensal dogs in Jervis Bay Territory. He is also a post graduate student with the Applied Ecological Research Group at the University of Canberra. Paul graduated with a Degree in Applied Science (Resource Management) from Roseworthy Agriculatural CAE in 1987. After short periods with SA National Parks and Wildlife Service and as a vertebrate pest control consultant he held a position as a District Officer with the WA Agricultural Protection Board. In 1989 he moved to Canberra as a Science Officer with the Bureau of Resource Science where he worked on feral pig management and in the Aboriginal Employment and Development Policy section of the Department. Since 1991 Paul has lived and worked in Jervis Bay where he initially studied dog parasites and their control in a population of dogs from Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community. Paul is also implementing a Black Rat ( Rattus rattus) control program on Bowen Island (JBT). He is the consultant to the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories on issues of companion animal management and is an authorised ACT Dog Inspector.

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