How to be a biosafe traveller

It’s a treat to explore our beautiful state, with its bustling agriculture and unique landscapes and lifeforms. To preserve all this, it’s important to be mindful of biosecurity when you travel. This keeps you, your family and the livelihoods of future generations safe. 

Biosecurity when on the move

Stay on the trail

Stick to the designated path. The paths are there for a reason - they protect fragile habitats and native animals. In some cases they also help keep disease (such as dieback) confined. Not to mention that if something goes wrong, it’s easier for help to find you if you’re on the trail.

• WA Police - How to safely bushwalk, prospect or travel the outback
• Parks and Wildlife Service - Know before you go
• Tourism WA - Travel tips

Pest check

Before and after you go for a wander, check yourself and your companions for ticks, and check dogs for ticks, fleas or burrs. Ticks can be a source of disease for both humans and dogs, so make sure you know how to check for and remove ticks before you travel.

• CSIRO: Tick tactics on the go
• How to check a dog for ticks:  Watch a video here. 
• How to remove a tick from a dog: Watch a video or read this.

Weed check

Brush off your gear and shoes before you get in your car to leave. If you’re travelling with a dog, make sure to brush down your furry mate’s coat and paws too! By leaving seeds and plant parts in the same area you found them, you help prevent invasive plants moving from one region to another.

Read on for our tips about keeping your dog safe and our land biosecure when you travel.

Keeping your dog safe while travelling

Travelling in the company of your best furry mate is a wonderful experience, but there are risks to your pooch. Remember these four points and act on them when you travel to keep your pet and our native animals safe.

Check local rules

Double-check the regulations of the place you’re travelling to. Some regions have specific rules or restrictions on dogs in national parks, reserves or public spaces. 

Keep your dog on a leash

Your dog should be on a leash at all times. This prevents your pooch disturbing livestock or native wildlife. It also reduces the risk of your dog accidentally eating poisoned bait, or spreading pests and diseases from one area to another. 

But my dog wouldn’t hurt a fly!

Even if your dog is harmless, native animals and livestock don’t know this - they see a predator. Even a short chase by your dog can result in stress, exhaustion, injury and death. Vulnerable baby animals can be separated from their parents in the panic of escape. Plus, repeated disturbances by dogs can mean that native animals leave an area altogether.

It’s also possible the animal will decide to fight back. For example, kangaroos are easily able to kill a dog. Monitor lizards have dangerous claws. Livestock often have defenders in the form of working dogs and farmers with guns and poisoned baits.

Keep your dog safe. Keep it on a leash.

Beware of baiting

In regional Western Australia, particularly in the midwest, baiting programs that use 1080 are carried out all year round. 1080 is a pesticide which kills animals that aren’t native to Australia. It’s used to control wild dogs, foxes, feral cats, feral pigs, and rabbits. It is very unlikely that a dog which eats a bait will survive.

• Don’t assume that 1080 warning signs will be around if the bait is being used. 
• Check with a property owner before entering their land.
• Assume that 1080 is in the area at all times. 

If your pet is poisoned, seek immediate veterinary help or contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

More information about 1080:

• DBCA - Learn about 1080 baiting

Dispose of waste responsibly 

Pick up after your dogs and dispose of waste in the designated bins. Even if you're out in the middle of nowhere then you still need to pick up the poop. This is important because dog poop is a disease risk and environmental pollutant. It:

• can contain various intestinal parasites (worms) which are harmful to humans as well as other animals. 
• can contain bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella, which are harmful to humans as well as other animals.
• can contain parvovirus (often called parvo), which is usually fatal to dogs. Parvovirus can survive in the environment for up to two years. Even if your dog has been vaccinated, there is still a risk it can contract parvo. Foxes can also carry parvo (and other diseases dangerous to domestic dogs), which is another reason to keep your dog on a leash. 
• contains high amounts of nitrogen* and phosphates*, which can trigger explosions of algae and weed growth, especially if it leeches into water systems.

*This doesn't mean it's a good fertiliser. In fact, dog poop contains so much nitrogen it burns plants.

But I'm in the middle of nowhere and there's no bins!

Double-bag each poop and put the bags in a larger rubbish bag. You could put this rubbish bag in a bucket with a lid. Take it back with you and dispose of it in the first appropriate bin you see once you get back to town. 

Thank you for doing your bit for biosecurity.