MORE than 140,000 baits will be dropped across the New England by the end of the week, in one of the largest and most high-tech bait bombing campaigns in the region's history.
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The huge 1080 baiting program is designed to help the region's ecology recover from last year's deadly bushfires, according to Local Land Services (LLS).
Mark Tarrant, the Northern Tablelands Pest Animals Team Leader, said more than 400 landholders, three National Parks regions, a State Forest region, multiple LLS officers and Australian Wool Innovation are out tracking down pest species.
Helping to coordinate the small army is "stressful", he said, but it's worth it. "We're definitely having a win," he said.
"Without this program I'd hate to think what the impact of foxes and dogs would be like on livestock production.
"Are we winning? I'm not sure, but this sort of stuff is best practice and goes a long way to help reduce the impacts."
Parks staff this year have a secret weapon. Their Bell Jet Ranger helicopter is loaded up with new technology designed to prevent their bombardier dropping when they shouldn't.
Using bait lines mapped in January, GIS maps are uploaded into the helicopter and can be tracked live using GPS. A new light system shows the crew when to drop.
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The equipment "really, really minimises the risk of baiting in an area where we're not meant to," Mr Tarrant said.
He said the baiting program will help both landholders and the ecosystem.
Last year's fires have left many landholders unfenced and helpless while forcing wild dogs out of burnt National Parks.
"We're definitely seeing more impact from dogs this year which everyone would expect given a lot of infrastructure was taken out with the fires," Mr Tarrant said. The bushfires also devastated the region's wildlife. The baiting campaign will help with recovery by cutting down non-native pest species.