The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has launched a new fox bounty scheme to kill 200,000 foxes in an effort to reduce the impact of the pest on livestock and poultry.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham said the scheme would provide a $10 payment made for each fox destroyed across the State to help cull the feral pest and further support farmers.
Mr Basham said a fox bounty scheme had been successful in Victoria and would work well with an ongoing baiting program.
“Foxes cause significant economic losses to farmers by preying on newborn lambs, calves, kid goats and poultry,” he said.
“Since they were introduced for recreational hunting in the mid-1800s, foxes have spread across most of Australia with the economic impact of the pest nationwide estimated at around $227.5 million per annum.”
Mr Basham said the program would be limited to claims from livestock and poultry producers, to ensure the funding went directly to benefit farmers and prevent claims being made for foxes killed interstate.
He said farmers could enter into their own arrangements with professional and recreational shooters.
Chief Executive Officer of Livestock SA, Andrew Curtis welcomed the fox bounty program.
“We are well aware that fox bounties are not a silver bullet to completely eliminate the impacts of foxes but the funding support provided to livestock producers will help to lift the standard of our fox control programs,” Mr Curtis said.
Mr Basham said the fox bounty would be available for two years, dependent on funding, and it was expected that fox scalps would be collected at specified locations, quarterly in conjunction with other industry meetings, workshops or field days.
He said a minimum of 10 scalps and a maximum of 100 scalps per property could be claimed at each collection day and each property could claim up to a maximum of 300 scalps per year.
Further information on PIRSA’s fox bounty program can be accessed at this PS News link.
