March fox baiting season underway

Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPBs), NSW Agriculture and landholders are again joining forces in the fight against foxes, with a baiting campaign underway in central and southern NSW.

The campaign is part of the 'Outfox the Fox' program, which involves the biennial baiting of foxes at critical breeding times.

NSW Agriculture protection officer Suzy Balogh said the program coordinates fox baiting by landholders on a large scale, as well as the RLPBs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and others.

It aims to ensure a maximum impact on fox populations and reduce the chance of foxes moving back into baited areas from neighbouring lands.

"Strategic group baiting is best carried out in March, when juvenile foxes are trying to establish their own territory," Ms Balogh said.

"This should be followed up by group baiting later in the year, about two weeks before lambing or when vixens are seeking more food before having pups."

'Outfox the Fox' continues to have strong involvement from producers in the Dubbo, Forbes, Gundagai, Goulburn, Young, Wagga Wagga, Condobolin, Molong, Central Tablelands and Mudgee-Merriwa RLPB areas.

The group fox baiting program proved so successful last year in the Goonoo State Forest and Coolbaggie Nature Reserve, near Dubbo, that one property owner recorded a 94 per cent decrease in fox numbers.

Landholders typically lay an estimated 1.2 million fox baits in NSW. RLPBs will issue about 45,000 baits this month alone as part of the 'Outfox the Fox' program.

Ms Balogh said all landholders in NSW, including those with small farm holdings, are welcome to join the baiting.

Landholders should also be aware that if they are in an area where baiting is underway, they should ensure their dogs are tied up.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald said the State Government was committed to supporting research and development into pest management.

"This includes the joint funding of a $687,000, three-year research program investigating ways to improve fox control in NSW," Mr Macdonald said.

"The program, also funded by the Bureau of Resource Science, started this year and is being run through the Vertebrate Pest Research Centre in Orange.

"The State Government also launched a successful feral animal control program in the Western Division last year, to capitalise on the impact of the drought on feral animal populations.

"That $1 million program resulted in about 10,000 feral pigs destroyed through an aerial culling campaign alone and significant numbers of foxes destroyed.

"I commend the RLPBs, as well as the National Parks and Wildlife Service and other groups, for their vital work in helping landholders with feral animal control.

"Feral animals can cause significant damage to rural properties, attacking stock, damaging native vegetation and fencing and possibly carrying disease."

For more information on how and when to bait foxes, contact your local RLPB or see www.agric.nsw.gov.au

Media contacts:
Suzy Balogh, NSW Agriculture, Orange (02) 6391 3804; 0427 202 192 and Trudy Glasgow, NSW Agriculture, (02) 6391 3312; 0427 217 354

RLPB contacts:
Central Tablelands RLPB - Dennis Ferson (0407013628)

Condobolin RLPB - Barry Maybury (0428953887)

Dubbo RLPB - Lisa Thomas (0427465634)

Forbes RLPB - Brad Hazell (0414259064)

Goulburn RLPB - Mark McGaw (0428484674)

Gundagai RLPB - Col Elphick (0427012739)

Molong RLPB - Col Somerset (0428710003)

Mudgee-Merriwa RLPB - Mal Leeson (0428721862)

Wagga Wagga RLPB - Trent Fordham (0427481821)

Young RLPB - Chook Hayes (0427201177)