THE feral fox is a lovely animal: alert, intelligent and playful with a beautiful coat and tail.
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Why then is it so unloved that Landcare groups across the Yass Valley and Upper Lachlan districts are asking locals to join together in combating it?
Because the fox, an introduced feral pest is a very cunning, elusive, opportunistic, pernicious and pervasive predator.
The damage it wreaks makes it the enemy of farmers and anybody who cares for our environment.
According to Professor Tony Peacock, Chief Executive, Co-operative Research Centres Association and leading authority on invasive species “the European fox is the most serious feral predator in Australia today”.
Every sheep breeder knows the impact foxes have on lambing percentages.
And, unless we act to control them, the loss of some native animals to foxes may be irreversible.
Foxes are listed as a key threatening process to biodiversity conservation under Federal legislation.
This means their impact is so significant that they are a national threat to the protection and conservation of native wildlife.
They have already caused the extinction of many small and medium sized native animals.
Right now they are a major threat to 14 species of birds, 48 mammals, 12 reptiles and two amphibians.
Can we learn how to live with foxes from St Francis?
WE don’t know if St Francis of Assisi, a famous Italian Catholic Friar in the early 1200s, and now the patron saint of animals and the environment was ever called on to prevent fox attacks.
However, he was asked by the villagers of Gubbio for help when a savage killer wolf eluded all their attempts to remove it.
St Francis was able to broker a deal between the villagers and the wolf under which the villagers fed the wolf and it no longer had any need to attack people.
It lived to a ripe old age and was much loved by the people.
Alas, we do not have a fox whisperer with the abilities of St Francis with us today. We must look elsewhere for an answer.
Science and the long experience of knowledgeable farmers tell us that the most effective and longest lasting way to have a real impact on the feral fox is for groups of neighbours to work together.
The more people working together and the larger the area they cover, the better the outcome will be.
Get involved in fox action groups
IS your holding 10 hectares or more in size?
If so, Landcare groups across the Yass Valley, Gunning, Sutton and Wallaroo districts ask you to join their Feral Fox Fighters project to help reduce the damage and suffering the fox causes. You can do this by joining a local Fox Action Group undertaking co-ordinated fox control work under the supervision of Local Land Services feral animal experts.
“We realise that at first glance some people might think it strange Landcare is asking people to help us poison foxes,” Genevieve Starr, President of Jerrawa Creek Landcare, which is actively involved in this project, says.
“But it is just as important for our environment and agricultural productivity as planting trees and erosion control.
And we are very comfortable that by working in partnership with South East Local Land Services we will ensure this necessary ongoing task is done effectively, safely and ethically.”
Nicki Taws of Greening Australia and author of “Bringing Birds Back” also backed the project.
“Greening Australia has been working with land managers across the district to restore thousands of hectares of native vegetation to improve biodiversity and productivity,” Ms Taws said.
“This has provided habitat for a wide range of native birds including rare and declining species.
Foxes are an ongoing threat to a number of bird species, particularly those that nest or feed on the ground.
Fox control is an essential step in gaining maximum benefit for birds from all the hard work of revegetating.”
Free Feral Pest Control Training
LOCAL Landcare groups have combined with South East Local Land Services in providing free short courses for people new to fox and other feral pest control.
It is mandatory that people using approved fox poison hold an appropriate safety certificate.
These free training courses meet this requirement and will ensure people can participate in fox control work safely and get the best results possible on their properties.
Places on these free courses are limited. They will be held around the Yass Valley and Gunning districts in February.