Consolidating Success of the Feral Fox Fighters Program in the Gunning Region

Gunning District Landcare is working closely with Local Land Services and the local community to maintain and strengthen the highly successful coordinated fox baiting program in the region.

Consolidating Success of the Feral Fox Fighters Program in the Gunning Region

Gunning District Landcare is working closely with Local Land Services and the local community to maintain and strengthen the highly successful coordinated fox baiting program in the region.

Stronger Together -

MEPAAW-SE-04

The issue

Gunning District Landcare is proud of its involvement in coordinated fox baiting. We are grateful to the Landcare pioneers in the region who were instrumental in setting up the Feral Fox Fighters Program in the early days. We wish to consolidate the successes, as well as build and improve the program to effectively manage foxes and their continuing negative impacts. In particular, we wish to embrace and encourage the increasingly diverse mix of landholders in the region to become involved in the effort to protect local stock and wildlife.   

The solution

A $2,000 grant from the MEPAAW program enabled us to hold two events that worked towards consolidating success and building the coordinated fox baiting program in the Gunning region.

The first was a 'Fox Baiting Breakfast', which was organised to thank group leaders and fox baiting participants. The event also provided an opportunity to learn about the local history of the program, hear about the outcomes of the recent round of baiting, and participate in discussion with LLS staff about ways to improve the program as we move forward.  

The second event was a free 1080/Pindone accreditation training session, held on a Saturday morning to reach people who work off-farm. This training was very well attended, and has helped to grow the number of people involved in managing foxes and other pest animal species in the region. 

The impact

These two events have strengthened the working relationship between Gunning District Landcare and Local Land Services in the joint mission to run a highly effective coordinated fox baiting program. The 'Fox Baiting Breakfast' provided a platform to acknowledge and thank group leaders, and for active baiters to contribute their experiences and advice on how to improve the program. The 1080/Pindone accreditation training enabled new people to gain the skills and accreditation to become involved for the first time. Both events also created opportunities for people to strengthen connections and meet other landholders and LLS staff from across the region.

Key facts

  • The 'Fox Baiting Breakfast' provided an opportunity for fox baiting group leaders and other participants to talk directly with LLS Biosecurity Officers and the Goulburn Local Manager.
  • 18 people took part in the 1080/Pindone Accreditation Training, with a broad diversity of landholders represented: from long term to brand new; from tiny to large holdings; from production farms to conservation blocks; and, from full time farmers to 'weekenders'.

Project Partners