Thousands of aerial baits are being deployed across northern South Australia to kill wild dogs that have been destroying livestock after heavy storms and flooding damaged the Outback Dog Fence. A total of 2,000 baits have been dropped to stop wild dogs from migrating south through an estimated 40 breaches in the fence over a 250-km (155-mile) stretch between Coober Pedy and the Ikara/Flinders Ranges. Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said in a release on Thursday that heavy rainfall has caused widespread damage across the region. “Unfortunately, the Dog Fence has sustained some damage from the recent rainfall event across northern South Australia and the extra aerial baiting will help protect our livestock industry from the scourge of wild dogs while repair work is undertaken,” he said. “Wild dogs rip nearly $89 million a year from the Australian economy, with South Australian producers losing more than 20,000 sheep …