| The Feral Fox |
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| Species For Which Foxes Are A Known Or Perceived Threat |
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| Known Threat Malleefowl Little Tern Western Quoll Rufous Hare-wallaby Greater Bilby Numbat Eastern Barred Bandicoot Black footed Roock-wallaby Long-footed Potoroo Loggerhead Turtle Green Turtle |
| Perceived Threat Baw Baw Frog Night Parrot Orange-bellied Parrot Western Ground parrot Mount Lofty Southern Emu-wren Black-breasted Button-quail Djoongari Burrowing Bettong Julia Creek Dunnart Northern Bettong Mountain Pygmy-possum Mulgara Kowari Greater Stick-nest Rat Bridled Nailtail Wallaby Dibbler Brush-tailed Rock wallaby Gilberts Potoroo Hastings River Mouse Central Rock-rat Striped Legless Lizard Leathery Turtle Western Swamp Tortoise |
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| European Red Fox - Vulpes vulper |
| Introduced in Melbourne in 1855 for recreational hunting. In 50 years had spread to W. Australia. Now found through most of the mainland, except tropical regions. Not in Tasmania until recent accidental exposure. |
| Ecology - They survive in many different habitats, from arid to alpine as well as urban areas. Most abundant in lightly wooded and agricultural areas. Primarily carnivores but will also eat insects and fruit. In pastoral regions they eat mainly lambs, rabbits, house mice, and carrian. In alpine and arid regions subsist on native mammals. Foxes breed once a year. |
| Control - Baiting is usually the most effective, except may affect native carnivores. Most success in W. Australia with use of 1080 poison and aerial baiting. Aerial baiting most effective because it reduces wariness of foxes. Aerial baiting not allowed anywhere else though, because of higher risks to native fauna. Baiting is also only effective within that zone and they must create a barrier to prevent reintroduction . Preferred baits: injected eggs, dried meats, fresh meats, commercial products. |
| Biological - No pathogens yet to control foxes safely. Possible targeting of fertility. Still in experimental stage. Has been some work done in Tasmania. (Dennis, 2002) Hormone treatment to induce sterility is the main strategy, however, population must be significantly reduced before fertility control is viable. |
| Habitat management - Reducing paths in the brush where the foxes live, and baiting the areas they are in. Need more open habitats. Adding continuous canopy and shrubs reduces marsupial vulnerability. |
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