Heroic hounds hunting Hawkweed
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Snowy Monaro Regional Council and NSW Hawkweed Eradication partners, including National Parks and Wildlife Service, Local Land Services, and the Department of Primary Industries, recently conducted a joint operation using the NSW Hawkweed Detection Dogs.
The team consisting of Council biosecurity staff, Local Land Services, National Parks staff and volunteers, were joined by specialist weed-hunting dogs Connor and Sally at sites in Braemar Bay and Snowy Plain.
“Both Mouse-ear and Orange Hawkweed pose significant risks to our local environments and agricultural lands,” said Mayor Peter Beer, Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
“These species are incredibly hardy and weeds can spread rapidly through a variety of means. This latest operation in the Snowy Monaro demonstrates Council and the NSW State Government’s commitment to proactively addressing biosecurity risks in our region.”
Connor, a working line springer spaniel, Sally, a working line cocker spaniel, and their handler Claire Chiotti of Tate Animal Enterprises assist the NSW hawkweed eradication partners to find the smallest of hawkweed plants. The clever canines are also trained to sniff out alligator weed, parthenium weed, and the rare eastern underground orchard.
The areas searched were cleared of any infestation of hawkweed.