Fox Baiting

I have recently had some feedback from members of the public who have concerns about the methods employed by the WCMN to conduct our fox baiting program. The first issue many people raise is the risk to non-target species, especially native animals and that by doing a baiting we are killing all animals. The 1080 impregnated baits are targeted quite specifically for pest animals. In general, foxes, rabbits, dogs and cats are most susceptible, with other animals less so, birds even less susceptible and amphibians and reptiles the least susceptible.

Fox ( Species)	0.2 ( number of baits = lethal dose)	Very susceptible (Comments)
Feral cat/cat	0.5	Very susceptible
Wild Dog/dog	0.7	Very susceptible
Eagle	13	Unlikely to come across or eat this many baits
Western grey kangaroo	300	Not attracted to meat
Eastern grey kangaroo	5	Not attracted to meat
Goanna	33	Unlikely to come across this many baits
Sheep	8	Unlikely to come across this many baits, not attracted to meat or buried food

Data from Animal Control Technologies Fox-Off Brochure

The placement and deployment of the baits is also designed to target foxes. The baits are placed approximately 500m apart in sections of the Wychitella NCR, where foxes are likely to frequent and are buried to a depth of 15cm. This makes it extremely unlikely that native birds or carnivores will dig for them, and herbivores would show no interest at all.

There are very strict regulations about the use of 1080 fox baits and all users must have completed a Farm Chemical Users course to gain an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit, (ACUP), and then complete another course to gain 1080 Endorsement.

Another concern is that the baits will blow on to properties or poison will leach out with rain and contaminate dams. The 1080 compound is impregnated in a processed meat cube about 5cm x 3cm x 2cm, so once buried in the ground it will not blow anywhere. Water and fungi/bacteria break down the 1080 compound over time, but it will not contaminate dams or waterways as it will be so diluted and it is not residual in soils.

The whole purpose of our fox baiting is to protect the endangered malleefowl and other native animals from being preyed upon. If all animals were going to be killed, it certainly wouldn’t be done.

An interesting fact is that the 1080 compound is found naturally in more than 30 species of plants in Australia including the Gigee, Heart-leaf Poison Bush and Box Poison Bush.

For more information you can read the “1080 poison baits for pest animal control” Landcare Notes produced by DSE, which can be found on the DSE website or by searching for ‘1080 Poison’ or contact me on 0438384053 or wendy.murphy@dse.vic.gov.au