FLOOD, FIRE & PESTS
alpaca instead of their own mum. BAITING Fox Off is known as a 1080 bait. Its potent ingredient is a natural substance that can be found in several species of Australian plants. Native animals, which have been exposed to such plants for millions of years, are relatively tolerant to the poison, while introduced animals such as foxes and rabbits are susceptible. SHOOTING A nightly ritual of spotlighting, especially at the peak of lambing season, goes a long way to a reducing fox numbers. The sound of guns going off gives the message to foxes to choose softer targets elsewhere. At the time of peak lambing, when baits are often ignored, it pays to introduce free feeding stations on
well-known routes they take across a property. Place "on the nose" ewes that have died during lambing in a low, flat area for fox scavenging. These should be well away from the main flock and lambs. The idea is to give foxes a free feed away from newborn lambs. These feeding stations should be within a flick of a spotlight and a well-placed bullet. Also consider organising a fox drive with your nearest field-and-game association. For a donation of $30 to $50 from each farmer, the field-and-game group might well clean up the majority of foxes on a Saturday afternoon in return for a few snags and drinks at the end. Importantly, notify local police before each shoot. FOX FACTS
AMAZING MATING FACT Due to the absence of sperm in the testes of male foxes from September to March, they are infertile during this period. According to Agriculture Victoria, vixens’ mate once a year and mating occurs over a three to seven-week period from min-June to the end of July. Pregnancy lasts for 51 – 53 days and litter sizes vary from three to five cubs per vixen. AS CUNNING AS ….. Foxes are difficult to control because, apart from being stealthy, having few natural predators in Australia and being highly suspicious of humans, they hunt alone and can travel up to 15km a night and don’t always return to the same site to rest. Sometimes in search of food they will visit the same site several times in a night.
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