RLPB trial to see foxes declared pests

Foxes have joined the ranks of wild dogs, rabbits and feral pigs as declared pests and are now subject to more stringent and uniform control programs thanks to a new trial in the Northern New England Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) district.

A pest control order for foxes has been declared in the D division of the Board district west of Glen Innes for a trial period of three years under the Rural Lands Protection Act.

All landholders within this region will be required to participate in mandatory group fox management programs in a bid to reduce the costly impact of these animals on agricultural industries and the environment.

The State Council of Rural Lands Protection Boards and the Northern New England RLPB have been working with a number of agencies to get the trial off the ground and bring greater consistency to fox control and eradication programs.

The first broad scale programs are due to commence within the trial area in April.

In conjunction with the trial, the Northern New England Board will run a comprehensive education and awareness program for landholders in the affected area.

State Council Pest Animal and Travelling Stock Reserve Manager, Tim Seears, said RLPBs have long lobbied for foxes to be declared pests in certain regions and therefore subject to mandatory baiting and shooting programs.

"Foxes are estimated to cost agricultural industries and the environment more than $200 million each year.

"Without a pest control order for foxes there is no legal obligation for landholders to undertake control programs. When there are only sporadic and isolated programs being run, mostly by sheep producers, they are not successful long term.

Manager of the Northern New England RLPB, Melissa McLeod, said the trial offers a unique opportunity to use legislative requirements to apply fox control uniformly across an entire region.

"This trial will also allow us to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this approach and whether it can be expanded to other areas across the state.

"We have seen in the past that ongoing intensive fox control programs and a collaborative approach among all land holders and agencies is the most effective way to control fox populations," she said.

Further information will be distributed by the Northern New England RLPB to affected landholders in coming weeks.