Graziers want foxes to be classified as feral pest in law

ABC RADIO SA
By Cherie McDonald
Updated Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:12pm AEST    

Graziers in far west NSW call for the fox to be classified as
a pest alongside feral pigs and wild dogs. (ABC TV)

 

Audio: Foxes outfox pest title (ABC Rural)

 

 

As fox numbers boom in far west New South Wales, the local pastoralists association is calling for the animal to be recognised as a pest in legislation saying they create as much havoc to livestock as feral pigs and wild dogs.

Already in some states foxes are declared as a pest animal but in New South Wales they're not.
President Chris Wilhelm of the Pastoralists Association of West Darling (PAWD) says he sees the fox as a feral pest.
"Seems a little bit strange that we classify pigs, dingoes and wild dogs as pests under the Act and the fox in its own right is doing as much damage."
"We think the three animals should be classified as pests. Fox numbers concern me all the time because they do account for quite a few lambs."
Invasive species director Glen Saunders for the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says there's provision under the Rural Lands Act to list foxes as pests but it's not as easy as it sounds.
"There's lots of reasons why it's difficult for foxes. They're a cryptic animal and they're really difficult to census. One of the things you've got to do is that you've got to have some sort of criteria for assessment and you've got to be able to demonstrate that on a particular property foxes are an uncontrolled pest. That might be alright in word but in defining that to satisfy in a court of law is really difficult."
Contract shooter in far west New South Wales Steve Lee says a fox bounty is a good way to reduce booming numbers as a reward would encourage shooters to target foxes when out hunting.
"A $10 or $20 bounty on a fox would definitely make it more viable for guys to go out and actually get rid of them. A good fox shooter can probably get up to 50 foxes a night."
Invasive species director Glen Saunders for the NSW Department of Primary Industries disagrees, he says a fox bounty isn't an effective control method.
"They universally don't work as they're just a method of sustained harvesting. Bounties don't drill down to that local level."
"Foxes are taken from large areas on presentation of a bounty but they don't tend to solve local problems as well as a co-ordinated baiting program."