The City of Melville, Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle

COOPERATIVE FOX CONTROL PROJECT

CASE STUDY

In June 2008, the City of Melville and Town of East Fremantle received

funding to the value of $13,500 from the Perth Biodiversity Project’s Targeted Grants program for their collaborative project titled

“Cooperative Fox Control”. The project aimed to control the fox popula-tion along the Melville—Fremantle foreshore.

Foxes have played a major role in the decline of a number of native species

throughout Australia. They are opportunistic and will take advantage of whatever food source is available at the time. They are mainly carnivorous and seek out all

kinds of prey from small to medium mammals, including domestic pets, to birds, reptiles, invertebrates and fruit. They are known to eat only part of the prey and

leave the rest. Foxes are having a major impact on the wildlife in Perth. They target many different

species; even the iconic black swan is known to fall victim to these animals. Both adults and cygnets are attacked.

Foxes can reach quite high densities in urban areas, up to 10 foxes per km2, due to the abundance of food resources and suitable shelter. They also pose a risk as

potential hosts of exotic diseases such as rabies, which threatens human and animal health.

Impacts of Foxes on Biodiversity Conservation

All dens and fox locations were mapped and are being implemented

into the City of Melville GIS mapping system. Future fox control will utilise this knowledge to target specific areas in the City of Melville,

Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle areas. The City of Melville will continue to engage fox control specialists to maintain the program and

will map populations using the in-house GPS system.

Mapping Fox Population

Photo: Animal Pest Management Services

The City of Melville, Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle

COOPERATIVE FOX CONTROL PROJECT

CASE STUDY

The City of Melville, Fremantle and Town of East Fremantle have worked together in

a cooperative approach to fox control. The partnerships developed with this project have achieved far greater outcomes than that which may have been achieved by in-

dividual organisations. Working together to control fox populations will result in a more sustainable and effective outcome. The coordinated approach to control the

fox population and destruction of dens prevents the migration and re-establishment of foxes along the foreshore from one council area to another.

Council Partnerships

• The number of foxes controlled was

so successful that there has been lit-tle, if any recruitment into the popu-

lation 6 weeks (May-June2009) after finalisation of the project.

• The project raised awareness in the

local community about the impacts of foxes in urban bushland areas.

Outcomes

Adult male fox captured during the project

Cage set in a yard in East Fremantle

Photo: Animal Pest Management Services

Photo: Animal Pest Management Services

What can you do to help?

A fox removed from its territory will quickly be replaced with another. There-

fore it is advisable to concentrate on eliminating things that are attractive to

them (such as habitat or food). • Clean up food scraps, pet food left

outside and excess fruit dropped by fruit trees.

• Cover your compost heap or bin. • Never make foxes pets by feeding

them. • Lock up chickens, ducks, guinea pigs

and pet rabbits in a roofed and ro-bust enclosure at night.

• If you see a fox in your area, contact

your local shire/council ranger or • environmental officer.