Successful fox program at Plenty Gorge Park
Hunters have notched up a tally of more than 50 foxes in Plenty Gorge Park so far this year, thanks to a partnership between Parks Victoria and the local branch of the SSAA. This is four times more than the average number of foxes caught in past trapping programs and far more cost effective as well. Previous soft jaw trapping programs have cost up to $1000 per fox.
One of the main factors in the success of the program is ‘fox whistling’. By imitating the sound of an injured animal, the hunters can attract foxes to within a safe firing range. Some say foxes will come as close as 5m away using this technique.
The three-year program to reduce the large fox population in the park started in January 2009. It’s aimed at protecting threatened native animals such as the growling grass frog, fat-tailed dunnart, clue bill duck and brush-tailed phascogale. The Plenty Gorge Project leader Abe Andrews says they are looking forward to continuing on with the program and reaching the next milestone of 100 foxes.
Each week, members from SSAA Victoria spend Tuesdays and Thursdays in the park taking aim at these unwelcome predators. Only trained and accredited hunters can take part in this program and it is illegal for any other members of the public to shoot in the park.
Local Parks Victoria Ranger Jeremy Tscharke says safety is a key issue because Plenty Gorge is so close to residential areas.
“Safety is a high priority and a hundred ‘safe shoot zones’ have been set up in the park where the whistling is done. Only shotguns with small pellet size and a range of 50 metres are used, and signage is always put up when hunting is underway.”
“The locations also have good visibility so that the dedicated spotter can see any people or animals that might come near the area. Only two hunters are active at any one time and both have good inter-communication,” he said.
SSAA Victoria President Bob Cooper says they are extremely pleased with results so far, “This has been a very successful pilot program and we’re looking forward to extending it, together with Parks Victoria, into other park areas,” he said.
Plenty Gorge is just one example of the growing number of partnerships between Parks Victoria and SSAA branches across the state. Their success is proving to be a great asset in reducing the number of pest animals in Victorian parks and reserves. The end result is that native wildlife, plants and natural environments are all benefitting from having fewer predators.
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