Can you afford not to control foxes this year?
With lambs and mutton currently attracting record prices, rangers from the Tablelands Livestock Health and Pest Authority are reminding landholders to take preventative action against foxes to enhance lamb survival.
Foxes can cause large losses in sheep flocks through predation and miss-mothering. It has been estimated that foxes cost agricultural industries and the environment more than $200 million each year.
Mark McGaw, Tablelands LHPA senior ranger, says simple steps can be taken to control foxes and increase your returns.
"While there are preferred times of the year to carry out baiting programs, that is, during dispersal, breeding and whelping, in reality most landholders prefer to bait prior to lambing," he said.
"Foxes, like most pest animals, are best targeted at times when they are most vulnerable and likely to take baits. This is when they looking for additional food and find the baits attractive.
"Don’t wait until your first lambs have been killed to start baiting. When lambs are bringing up to $200 each, consider how much foxes are costing you in lost profits. Be proactive and plan your program in advance."
For baiting on an individual property, Mr McGaw suggested commencing baiting six weeks before lambing and replacing baits continuously leading up to lambing.
"Foxes are territorial animals and so it is essential to bait prior to lambing to remove foxes that currently hold that territory and follow up by removing foxes that take over that territory," Mr McGaw said.
"However the best results can be achieved when landholders get together and coordinate group baiting over a larger area. In this case you don’t have to use as many baits as you get the benefit of your neighbour’s efforts as well."
Mr McGaw reminded landholders of the requirement to hold current AQF 3 chemical card or have successfully completed the new 1080/Pindone training with the LHPA to enable them to obtain 1080 or Pindone baits.
In 2010, the Tablelands LHPA ran 15 successful training courses and will continue to run courses throughout the authority in 2011 whenever there is sufficient interest from local landholders.
For more information on controlling foxes or completing a 1080 and Pindone course, contact your local Tablelands LHPA office on 02 4821 2522 (Goulburn); 02 6226 1155 (Yass); 02 6331 1377 (Bathurst); or 02 6366 8505 (Molong).
Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378