- Never feed dingos, this includes ‘directly’ giving them food or ‘indirectly’ by not disposing of food scraps correctly.
- Make sure children are supervised at all times and never left to wander or play too far from an adult.
- If you’re going to partake in one of the Island’s many bush walks or even just a stroll down the beach, never do so alone.
- Stay in one of the many fenced off camping facilities.
- When leaving your campsite or going to bed for the night, ensure all food containers are locked or inaccessible. This may include stacking heavy items on top of food tubs or physically locking them shut.
- Store rubbish and food scraps in a lockable bin. There are many designated waste stations around the Island, once you have stock-piled too much rubbish to effectively contain, a quick trip to drop it off at the bins provided is all that’s required. Never leave full rubbish bags laying around your campsite.
- When disposing of fish frames and old bait, do so by digging a hole of 50cm depth or more, below the high tide mark and burying the remains.
- Read all safety signage. Rangers may have specific rules for different locations or recent safety information, so take the time to read the signs you encounter on your trip.
What should I do if I encounter a dingo?
- Stand still facing towards the dingo with your arms folded across your chest. You want to present as a big object so stand up nice and tall.
- If it’s safe to do so, slowly back away from the dingo while still facing it.
- Once you’re a safe distance away, wait for the dingo to leave before continuing on your way.
- If the dingo/s follow your retreat, loudly and confidently call for help. Do not turn away from the dingo.
- Once help arrives it’s most likely the dingo’s will move off.
NEVER:
- Try to pat or interact with the dingos
- Run away
- Wave or flail your arms around
- Take your eyes of the dingos
If you do have a negative incident with a dingo, be sure to report it as soon as possible to the Parks and Wildlife Rangers on the Island either in person or they can be contacted by phone on 13 74 68. Seeing a wild dingo is still one of the large draw cards that attracts tourists to Fraser Island and by managing and controlling the interactions dingos have with humans, the safety of both parties will benefit in the long run.