Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is calling on all regional landholders to participate in a coordinated fox baiting program this autumn.
To facilitate this biosecurity effort, the board will host a series of fox bait distribution sessions from late February through the end of March.
Landscape officer Ben Tucker said autumn was the most strategic time for intervention.
As young foxes born in spring begin to disperse from their dens to explore new territories, local populations reach their peak.
“Our coordinated baiting program aligns with this dispersal. We strongly encourage landholders to create a buffer before their first lambs hit the ground,” he said.
“By having an established fox baiting program in place early in autumn or before lambing begins, the survival rate of livestock is generally improved.
“We find that if a baiting program only starts when lambs have already dropped, it can be too late and there’s a higher risk of losing livestock.”
Landholders are encouraged to talk to their local landscape officers about integrated control options.
The Invasive Species Council estimates foxes kill about 300 million native animals every year and that as many as 16 mammals have become extinct – mainly or partly because of predation by foxes.
“On Eyre Peninsula, we see fox predation posing a key threat to many of our native species including echidnas, malleefowl and ground-nesting birds,” Mr Tucker said.
“So it’s not just landholders with stock who we encourage to bait – it’s all landholders, who meet the criteria, because foxes are everywhere across our region.”
The 1080 meat baits are prepared by landscape board staff with eligible landholders able to purchase them for fox control for $1.60 per bait, with 20 per cent off that.
Land managers are reminded to bring along a bucket with a sealable lid when collecting baits, or they are available to buy.
The baits are frozen semi dried meat which is required to be kept frozen until use.
Land managers will also be required to provide the section numbers for the properties they intend to bait.
If a landholder is intending to send a third party to collect their baits, please contact the board in advance so that the correct paperwork can be completed and they are able to facilitate the distribution.
Alternative commercially produced fox baits such as Foxoff may also be purchased at some distribution locations. Payment by EFTPOS is preferred.
Distribution dates and locations
Thursday 19 February
– Smoky Bay, at the CFS shed, 9am
– Mudamuckla, at the school, 2pm
Thursday 26 February
– Waddikee, at the oval, 10am to noon
– Darke Peak, at the silos, 2pm to 4pm
– Elliston district, at Larry Honner’s shed, 5pm
Friday 27 February
– Kimba, north of the big galah, 10am to 2pm
Tuesday 3 March
– Goode, at Warren Beattie’s farmhouse, 9am
– Kyancutta at the oval, 10am to 11am
– Cowell, at the silos, 10am to 1pm
– Charra, at the hall, 11am
– Warramboo at the cricket club, 1pm to 2pm
Wednesday 4 March
– Kaldoonera, at Poochera pub, 9.30am
– Arno Bay, at the sporting bodies, 10am to 1pm
– Nunjikompita/Wirrulla, at Wirrulla Hotel, 11.30am
Thursday 5 March
– Calca, at Calca Bluff/Drinanvale Crossroads, 9.30am
– Mangalo, at Cindy and Rod Hannemann’s farm, 10am to 1pm
– Tumby Bay office (25 West Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Port Lincoln office (86 Tasman Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Cummins oval (near the swimming pool entrance), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Inkster, at Hulls driveway, 11.30am
– Chandada, 1.30pm
Friday 6 March
– Minnipa at the sports club, 10am to 11am
– Cleve, at our office (25 Fourth St), 10am to 3pm
– Mount Damper at CFS shed, 12pm to 1pm
Tuesday 10 March
– Penong, at Western United tennis courts, 9am
– Wudinna, at depot (14 Coleman St), 2pm to 3pm
Thursday 12 March
– Haslam, at the CFS shed, 9.30am
– Tumby Bay office (25 West Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Port Lincoln office (86 Tasman Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Cummins Oval (near the swimming pool entrance), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Streaky Bay at depot (13 Bockelberg St), 11.30am
Thursday 19 March
– Tumby Bay office (25 West Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Port Lincoln office (86 Tasman Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Cummins Oval (near the swimming pool entrance), 10.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 26 March
– Tumby Bay office (25 West Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Port Lincoln office (86 Tasman Tce), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Cummins Oval (near the swimming pool entrance), 10.30am to 12.30pm
– Lock district – contact Ian Quinn 0427 261 793 to arrange collection in February-March
