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New Package Of Fox Control Measures

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) today announced a new package of fox control measures after a scientific evaluation found the fox bounty was relatively ineffective in reducing fox populations.

By Department of Primary Industries - 12th August 2003 - Back to News

"The evaluation found that the fox bounty, in place since July 2002, has had little long-term impact on fox populations," DSE Director, Land Management, Chris McRae, said.

"Under the fox bounty, fox populations in less than four per cent of the State were reduced sufficiently to keep their level down for the long term.

"In contrast, localised baiting is estimated to result in potential reductions in populations in treated areas of more than 60 per cent."

The new package of measures will include co-ordinated baiting programs in areas where they are most needed and effective.

Another new program - titled Southern Ark - will aim to reduce fox populations on one million hectares of public land in East Gippsland, also using co-ordinated baiting. It will inform fox control programs on public land in other parts of the State.

"Coordinated control programs based on baiting enable resources to be directed to high priority areas. There is good evidence of the effectiveness of such programs run on both public and private land in Victoria and elsewhere," Mr McRae said.

Fox control facilitators would be employed around the State to oversee the new program for private landowners.

Among the functions of the new fox control facilitators will be:

· Coordinating targeted baiting campaigns in priority areas;

· Acting as a focus for all local fox control efforts;

· Being a first point of contact for landholders seeking baits; and

· Organising education campaigns in how best to use fox baits.

"The facilitators will co-ordinate and encourage fox control efforts in their local communities and provide advice and support to landowners on how best to tackle the fox problem.

"Meanwhile, the Southern Ark project will aim to tilt the balance back in favour of native animals on public land by using carefully targeted baiting and monitoring.

"Ongoing assessment of the new programs will equip us even better in the future to fight foxes.

"We will also support the establishment of regional Fox Action Plans in catchment management areas where foxes are an agreed concern.

"But it’s also important that individual landholders maintain their own control efforts, such as shooting, to complement the baiting campaigns that will be carried out."

The fox bounty trial will wind up from today. Foxtails may still be handed in over the next fortnight at the times listed on the attached table.

Fox expert Dr Clive Marks carried out the evaluation of the fox bounty which can be found in full on the DSE website at www.dse.vic.gov.au

"An extensive scientific analysis of the fox bounty system has shown that it caused little significant long-term reduction in fox populations," Dr Marks said.

Dr Marks’ evaluation found:

· Fox density in many agricultural areas of Victoria is conservatively estimated to be four foxes per square km.

· An annual reduction of more than 2.6 foxes per square km would be required across the State to achieve long-term reductions.

· The fox bounty trial caused a reduction of more than one fox per square km in only 13 per cent of the State.

· Reductions approaching the required 2.6 foxes per square km occurred in only 3.8 per cent of the State.

· This level of reduction is unlikely to contribute in any significant way to population reduction on a broad scale.

· Some areas experienced greater reductions than others, but these were likely to be negated by reinvasion from areas where control was less intense.

· In most regions, the impact of the bounty may have been to stimulate reproductive rates through moderate reductions in abundance and disruption of social groups. This is likely to lead to a return to pre-bounty fox density or greater over subsequent breeding seasons.

For further information regarding the Enhanced Fox Management Program please contact the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or visit the Department's website at www.dse.vic.gov.au.

Depots and fox tails (collected up to 2^nd August 2003):

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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