Friday, July 6, 2012

Fox on clocks on bricks and blocks

Have you heard that roughly 60% of the fox population is comprised of
first year animals, with less than 3% of the population older than 5
years? Therefore, the foxes you see are likely to be part of a large
floating population of first year foxes looking for somewhere to live,
establishing or filling a vacant territory (according to research).
Foxes have been found to establish a new home range in about 24 hours,
travelling up to 11 km from their birth place to do so.

The research study, led by Scientist Alan Robley at the Department of
Sustainability and Environment, Arthur Rylah Institute, Victoria also
found that is reasonable to expect 3-4 foxes per square kilometres in
temperate grazing lands.

The fact that roughly 60% of the population is comprised of first year
animals is cold comfort to the fact that cubs are sexually mature
after 9-10 month i.e. taking an 11month old fox out of the system is
likely to mean there are still 4 (on average) cubs elsewhere.

Irrespective of this, landholders in Victoria have a legal
responsibility to control foxes. Distemper, hepatitis and mange are
known to be widespread among foxes (DPI 2007). They also carry several
species of tapeworms and roundworms that parasitize domestic animals.
Not to mention the obvious impacts on farming and native species.
There are plenty of ways to justify their control- but how is it best
done?

Before I answer that question, you need to ask yourself several questions first;

1. Are foxes the key problem are there other issues? E.g. lamb
starvation, mismothering or exposure
2. Do you have a goal for undertaking fox control i.e. to reduce
the loss of stock? Management options need to be linked to objectives
3. If you commence a fox control program, are you able to
implement it over a sustained period? This is a key question if the
protection of native species is your objective i.e. long term control
is the only practical option
4. Have you thought about how you are going to monitor and
evaluate the program? In terms of operational monitoring e.g. costs
and resources and performance monitoring using performance indicators
i.e. increase in lamb numbers by x%

Now that you have answered those 4 questions it is time for my answer
(which should come as no surprise) – fox control is best done using a
range of techniques, over a long period of time in coordination with
neighbors (the wider the area the better). The Friends of Venus Bay
Peninsula Inc. and Tarwin Landcare group are coordinating respective
fox control programs with success for the protection of stock and
species such as hooded plovers. The Friends of group have been doing
so for the last 6 years with the support of Parks Victoria and the
DSE. Showing that coordinated long term control, over a wide
geographical area, can be done.

To help you determine what techniques suit your needs, local vermin
control contractor, Peter Wright has kindly provided the following
information:

Fox control options

Shooting
Pros: Cheap, can target individual animals, low off target risk, what
you shoot is what you get
Cons: Limited areas, noisy for neighbours, only get the fox you can see
Note: The use of firearm to control foxes must conform to relevant
firearm legislation

Baiting
Pros: Relatively cheap, targets all animals at all times, effective
all year round
Cons: Risk to off target animals, (dogs and cats) caching of baits,
hard to gauge effectiveness, lot of paperwork and regulations
Note: 1080 pest animal bait products can only be purchased by
authorised persons, these being:
· A person holding a valid Agricultural Chemical User Permit
(ACUP) with 1080 endorsement issued under the Agricultural and
Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use Act) 1992
· A person or entity holding a valid Commercial Operator
Licence (COL) with a vermin destroyer endorsement issued under the
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of Use) Act 1992, or
the staff listed on the COL who have completed a Course in Minimising
the Risks in the Use of 1080 Pest Animal Bait Products for Vertebrate
Pest Control

Trapping
Pros: Off target animals can be released, results can be seen
Cons: Can be expensive, need specialised equipment so not viable for self use

Exclusion fencing
Pros: Permanent year round protection
Cons: Expensive, doesn't remove foxes

Companion animal
Pros: Year round protection
Cons: Doesn't remove foxes

Fumigation
Pros: Takes out mum and the kids while they are in the den
Cons: Dens are hard to locate, only useful during the breeding season
(spring) and unlikely to control the dog foxes