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Home > Invasive Species > Invasive Animals > Foxes in Tasmania > Information for Landowners

Information for Landowners

This page provides specific information for landowners and land managers who may be involved in the Fox Eradication Program's eradication and/or monitoring activities.

**Fox eating bait on mainland**
Photo: Daryl Panther

The Fox Eradication Program needs access to areas where foxes may be found

Tasmania has large areas of highly suitable habitat for foxes (termed ‘core fox habitat’).

An accumulation of physical evidence collected from core fox habitat since 2000 indicates that an unknown number of foxes (both male and female) have been or are present in Tasmania.

The greatest opportunity to prevent fox establishment is to put all foxes at risk while the fox population is at a low density.

Our best chance of doing this is to target all areas in which foxes are most likely to be found. This is what the Fox Eradication Program (FEP) is doing under the Precautionary Baiting Program which will target all core fox habitat in Tasmania.

This strategy aims to place all foxes at risk through exposure to lethal baits.

If your property contains or is in close proximity to core fox habitat, it will likely be included in a fox baiting program and the FEP will need your permission to access it.

Landholder support, through allowing property access, is vital for the eradication of foxes in Tasmania.

Quite simply, if large gaps exist in our fox baiting programs then they are likely to be less effective and foxes in the landscape may not be put at risk from lethal baits.

You can help Tasmania to be fox free again

If access to your property is requested for fox eradication and/or monitoring activities, please support fox eradication by permitting access to your property. Property Access Agreement forms distributed by the FEP provide the landowner with the option of permitting or denying access for any or all fox eradication and monitoring activities.

If contacted by the FEP, promptly signing and returning the Access Agreement - whether access is permitted or not - will help reduce the need for follow-up phone calls or visits by FEP staff. If property access is provided, the FEP will always contact and advise landowners of any intent to access their property.

Following receipt of signed Access Agreements, the FEP will then keep landowners informed about any eradication or monitoring activities planned for a property.

We’re always happy to answer any questions. For further information, please call us on (03) 6336 5320 or email invasivespecies@dpipwe.tas.gov.au.

Three months after baiting is completed, our monitoring team will return to search the area for any evidence of surviving foxes. This is carried out by investigators with the assistance of scat detection and scent-tracking dogs. For further information, visit the Fox Monitoring Programs page.

Baiting Program Information for Landowners

Fox baiting with 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) is a crucial part of the integrated fox eradication effort. Fox baiting with 1080 poison is widely recognised as the most effective method of targeting foxes in the Tasmanian landscape. 1080 is the same poison that is widely used across mainland Australia to assist in controlling the fox population that is currently estimated at 7 to 30 million.

The Tasmanian 1080 fox baiting program has been very carefully designed for Tasmanian conditions to ensure risk to non-target animals is minimised.

1080 is used in a very low dosage in fox baits (3mg per bait). 1080 has a much higher toxicity to foxes than native wildlife and can be used in very low dosages to specifically target foxes. It is a poison that is well suited for fox baiting in wildlife rich environments.

Visit the Fox baiting and local wildlife web page for further information about 1080 risk to foxes compared with native wildlife (including specific 1080 risk assessments for the spotted-tailed quoll and Tasmanian devil).

Fox baits are meat based and are buried 5-10cm deep, with bait stations located approximately 150-250m apart, marked and recorded using GPS. We aim to achieve a bait density of 1 bait per 10 hectares (10 baits per km²). Fox baiting is undertaken on an individual property for a period of up to 28 days and at the completion of a baiting program all reasonable effort is made to retrieve remaining baits.

Please review these sites for other conservation programs successfully using fox baits for positive environmental outcomes:

Notification of Baiting

The Fox Eradication Program takes all reasonable measures to ensure that areas being baited are clearly identified to the general public and are known to nearby residents and communities.

Baits are only laid on a property with prior written permission from the landowner.
Notification of baiting on a property is provided via letters to all adjoining properties (a minimum of 3 days notice is provided).
Notification of baiting is provided through community education activities.
During baiting, highly visible warning signs are used to alert people of baited properties.

Important Information

Careful design of the Tasmanian fox baiting program has ensured that the risk to non-target animals from 1080 fox baits is minimised. By being aware of the dangers you assist us to manage the risk.

Pet owners are also asked to remain vigilant in preventing pets from entering baited areas.To minimise the risk to non-target animals please be aware of the following:

Domestic pets and working dogs should not be allowed unrestrained access to, or preferably be excluded from, baited areas during the period of the baiting program to prevent them having access to baits.
If the situation warrants it, muzzling dogs will help prevent them from eating baits. The Fox Eradication Program may supply muzzles to landowners if they indicate they are not able to effectively restrain their dogs.
Landowners, residents and visitors must not touch baits or disturb in any way 1080 bait stations on a property.
If you find a fox carcass please do not disturb it but immediately notify the Fox Eradication Program on 1300 369 688 (24 hour hotline). It is vitally important that the carcass be investigated in situ as soon as possible to allow appropriate follow-up procedures and investigations to take place.

Human Poisoning

1080 poison is a Schedule 7 poison and there is no known antidote. Fox baits contain only a very low dosage of 1080 and there is little risk to humans from poisoning by 1080 fox baits.

Please remember that 1080 bait stations on a property should not be disturbed in any way.

In the unlikely event of a suspected human poisoning, immediately contact the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126.

In Case of Suspected Dog Poisoning

If you suspect that a dog has ingested 1080 poison, immediate action is essential:

If you have observed your dog consuming what you believe to be a bait containing 1080 it is essential not to wait until obvious signs of poisoning appear. Take the dog to the nearest vet without delay (ring the vet to warn them you are coming, and advise of the nature of the problem)
If the dog is not yet showing any signs of poisoning, and if there will be delay in getting the dog to the vet, then you may attempt to induce the dog to vomit by administering 30g of salt in 250 ml of water (this needs to be done as early as possible after ingestion of the bait). Care needs to be taken when inducing vomiting as the dog may be hypersensitive and react violently. If the initial attempt to induce vomiting is not successful, see immediate veterinary attention rather than wasting time by repeated attempts.
If possible, keep any material that is vomited to be given to a vet for analysis. Do not handle baits or vomit directly. Use gloves and place them in sealed plastic bags. Also, make sure any additional vomit is cleaned up as soon as possible as the vomit can poison other animals.
Do not try to induce vomiting if the dog is already showing signs of poisoning, unless advised otherwise by your vet. If the dog is convulsing, keep fingers clear of its mouth.
Keep your dog quiet and securely restrained during transport to prevent it hurting itself or others, and to slow the rate of energy use.
Notify Fox Eradication Program as soon as possible of suspected dog poisoning on 1300 369 688 (24 hour hotline).

Please remember that dog owners have an obligation to ensure that their dogs remain under effective control at all times. Dog owners are also asked to remain vigilant in preventing dogs from entering baited areas.

Did you know there have been recent changes to dog control legislation? See: New dog control laws

**Map of core fox habitat and locations of fox physical evidence (2000-2009)**

Core Fox Habitat

Although detection of individual foxes is problematic, all physical evidence of fox activity collected in Tasmania to date has come from what is considered core fox habitat.

Core fox habitat is classified as an area that is highly suitable for foxes due to the type of landscape present.

Core fox habitat is generally made up of fragmented landscapes, where there exists bushland or other vegetation for cover near open areas for foraging.

It typically includes agricultural areas, open woodlands and grasslands in Tasmania. Such landscapes provide abundant food and shelter for foxes.

Physical evidence since 2000 indicates that foxes are or have been widespread or wide ranging within this core fox habitat in Tasmania during the past 10 years.

As a consequence of the evidence, combined with the knowledge that foxes are highly mobile and elusive animals, the FEP is undertaking a statewide Precautionary Baiting Program to target all core fox habitat within Tasmania.

This approach was recommended by Landcare Research New Zealand following their independent review of the Fox Eradication Program in 2009 (available below) and is recommended by experts in foxes and pest animal control.

This strategy is likely to give the fox eradication effort the greatest chance of success.

Review of the Program to Eradicate Foxes from Tasmania, August 2009
(PDF: 2.35 MB / 55 Pages)

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.

Forms:

FEP Property Access Agreement
(PDF: 109 KB / 2 pages)

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.

Brochures:

FAQ Landowners Information Sheet - April 2012
(PDF: 247 KB / 2 pages)

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.

Fox Eradication Program (FEP) Information Sheet - April 2012
(PDF: 507 KB / 2 pages)

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.

1080 Fact Sheet - August 2010
(PDF: 183 KB / 2 pages)

This is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file and requires the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is easy to download and is free of charge.

Related pages:

For further information:

Contact: Invasive Species Enquiries

Invasive Species Branch
171 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5320
Fax: 03 6336 5453
Email: invasivespecies@dpipwe.tas.gov.au

Media enquiries should be directed to 03 6233 3625.

Report fox sightings and other evidence to the FOX HOTLINE 1300 FOX OUT (1300 369 688)

Tasmania Online | Service Tasmania

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