Farmers in southern Western Australia say that intruders who go into fences for hunting and camping in private country, transform cattle into security risks and enable them to flee on nearby roads.
The cattle producer Geoff Pearson said that one of his real estate that was located along a large regional highway had been targeted in the past three years.
“They cut [the fences]We patch them, they cut them, we patch them. If you don't cut the fences, we have situations in which you only drive directly over the gates, “he said.
“We had cases in which cattle were hit by cars. We had to compensate that [driver] in writing situations.
“Fortunately, nobody was injured … but we have to be based on the bill.”
Carl Fjastad says that the cattle roam risks on streets at all times of the day. ((ABC Open employee Vikkikay61)))
Mr. Pearson, who is also the President of Wafarmers' cattle section, said an estimated 200 transaction incidents would have cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“It's just endless. We can't control it.”
he said.
Bridgetown Farmer Lawson Harper said that the cattle fled the South West Highway two months ago after pig hunter's goal cocks cut on the property of his neighbor.
Mr. Harper said pig hunter also took her hunting dogs and broke into his property, which “burdens” his cows.
“It's just an obvious disregard. I am not sure why it developed, but it seems to be the norm now,” he said.
Mr. Lawson said it was “a matter of time” before someone was injured because the cattle got out and hiked on streets.
Cattle that hike on streets can be a significant security risk. ((ABC News: Kate Forrester)))
Security risk
City of Albany Ranger Carl Fjastad said that last year there were growing concerns in the community to score the cattle with 88 reports on farm animals on streets in the large south.
He said the cattle on streets were a “real danger to street users”, especially at hours of darkness.
“Think of a car that is collided with a cow. This can certainly lead to life -threatening injuries, possibly even to death.”
he said.
The cattle carries the risks for street users when they escape from paddocks and hike on streets. ((ABC Rural: Jane McNaughton)))
Mr. Fjastad said that a driver was lucky enough to escape in a stray cow on the street near Redmond, four hours south of Perth, four hours south of Perth.
Cattle poisoned
The problem is not new to the local farmers.
A decade ago, Brunswick Dairy and beef maker Paul Ieraci checked his limits when he noticed that fencing had been cut and vehicles had driven.
“You hit the panic mode,” he said.
Mr. Ieraci said a neighbor called him and said that they had “met with dead cattle” that they believed that he was.
Paul Ieraci says at least 20 of his cattle died after hunters cut the fence on his property. ((ABC South West Wa: Kate Forrester)))
Mr. Ieraci's cattle had fled through the damaged fence and hiked in Buschland, which was filled with Herzblattgiftbusch.
“I came across the dead cattle, which was pretty heartbreaking,” he said.
Mr. Ieraci said he could save some, but more than 20 Frisian ox and mating heels died.
“It is not our intention to put our cattle in danger and roam them on the streets and highways,” he said.
“But that happens when they do these irresponsible people what they do.“
What can be done?
Mr. Pearson said when people entered his property, he contacted the local police and tried to provide as much information as possible.
Since then he has invested in hundreds of cameras for his property to try to prevent or identify intruders.
A herd of cattle in the south of Wa. ((Delivered)))
Although there was no simple solution, he remained confident that one day he would get the cattle back in his paddock.
A spokesman for the WA police said that a person's property has a crime or that a person owned that “can affect a livelihood of a farmer”.
They said it was difficult to determine how widespread the problem was in remote agricultural areas.
“Many of these crimes are undetected and not reported due to the sheer size of the farms and their remote location.”
The spokesman said.
Anyone who has information about suspicious activities regarding rural properties is asked to contact Crime Stopper.