Team up to tackle foxes together
With fox activity increasing during the breeding season, South East Local Land Services is encouraging landholders to work together with neighbours and participate in upcoming coordinated spring fox baiting programs running from late June through July and August.
Foxes are a widespread pest animal across the South East, preying on lambs, poultry and native wildlife, while also spreading disease and impacting agricultural productivity and biodiversity.
South East Local Land Services says coordinated, landscape-scale baiting programs remain one of the most effective ways to reduce fox numbers and achieve longer lasting results.
Biosecurity Officer Rachel Elliot with South East Local Land Services said group baiting programs deliver stronger outcomes for both agriculture and the environment.
“Foxes move across multiple properties and large areas of landscape, so coordinated control is far more effective than isolated baiting efforts,” Rachel said.
“When neighbours bait at the same time, it reduces the chance of foxes simply moving from one property to another and helps achieve a broader knockdown of local populations.”
As part of the coordinated programs, South East Local Land Services provides free baits to participating landholders, with baits delivered to organised local collection points to support safe and efficient distribution.
Coordinated programs also help reduce risks to domestic pets by ensuring neighbouring landholders are aware of when baiting is occurring across the district.
“Working together means everyone knows when and where baiting is taking place, which improves communication and helps reduce risks to working dogs and domestic pets,” Rachel said.
Landholders wanting to participate must hold current accreditation to use vertebrate pesticides, or arrange for an authorised person to lay baits on their behalf.
Free online Vertebrate Pesticide Induction Training is available for landholders needing accreditation.
Landholders interested in joining a local coordinated baiting group or learning more about upcoming programs can contact South East Local Land Services on 1300 795 299 or visit Local Land Services website for bait collection in the South East region.
Media Contact
For more information, please contact Chris Finley at chris.finley@lls.nsw.gov.au