The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is urging people to keep their pet dogs away from Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park due to fox baiting being undertaken in the area. DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service nature conservation coordinator Ben Lullfitz said 1080 poison baits were regularly laid in the national park to protect native species from the threat of foxes, as part of the department’s Western Shield wildlife recovery program. “Pet owners should be aware that large areas of State forest, national parks and nature reserves are baited with 1080 baits throughout the year, including some in the Margaret River area,” he said. “The poison used in these baits is naturally occurring in the WA environment, so native species have a higher tolerance to it. …

Youth-based conservation and education program, Bush Rangers WA, celebrates milestone. Bush Rangers has the highest participation of Aboriginal students, female students and students with disability of any Cadets WA program. Western Australia's biggest cadets program, Bush Rangers WA, has celebrated its 20th year. Attending the annual Bush Rangers conference today in Perth, Environment Minister Stephen Dawson commended the program that encourages secondary school students to develop practical nature conservation skills and contribute to their local community. Since its inception in 1998, the program has seen more than 18,500 young people take part, contributing 1.9 million volunteer hours to conservation and community projects. There are currently 67 cadet units around the State from Kununurra to Esperance, comprising of more than 3200 secondary school students. Students take…