NO DOGS ALLOWED IN NATIONAL PARKS

MARCH, 2000

In Western Australia, National Parks are usually controlled by the state government office of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).

CALM give the following reasons why dogs are not allowed into National Parks:

Not allowed because:

1. The scent of a dog (even on a lead) lingers and causes native wildlife to vacate areas.

2. Some dogs do knock down little children and they will frolic in crowded situations which may be dangerous in hazardous areas. eg near water, cliff tops, gorges or in any natural environment.

3. Dogs foul the ground where people walk, sit and picnic and their behaviour is unpredictable.

4. People do let dogs loose when rangers in the vicinity and other visitors complain.

5. Wide scale aerial baiting with 1080 has been carried out in the area to control foxes and feral cats. 1080 baits are lethal to domestic dogs.

6. Leaving your dog in the car is not an acceptable answer. In a hot car a dog can die from heat stroke in as little as four minutes.


Dogs sre not allowed into National Parks even on a leash or in an enclosed vehicle.

Other reasons that they didn't give are:

1. Big dogs scare people.

2. Some people cannot control their dogs and they fight with other dogs or bite people.

3. They make barking noises at night.

CALM also say that the majority of National Park visitors do not want dogs in National Parks.

CALM aim to protect indigenous fauna and the rights of other park users.

National Parks are to be a place where people can relax away from the normal hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

BACK

The Bibbulmun Track

You can take dogs on the Bibbulmun Track but not where the Bibbulmun track enters a National Park.

The Bibbulmun Track on occassions passes through and over farmland and other private property. The owners of this private property may have an attitude to trackers taking dogs across their property.

It therefore behoves the owner of the dog to act very responsibly.

For these reasons and the danger of 1080 poisoning a muzzle is recommended at all times.