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| Threats Posed by Foxes in TasmaniaFox with prey (bandicoot)
(Photograph by Clive Marks) |
How would foxes impact on Tasmania’s wildlife?
How would foxes impact on Tasmania’s agriculture and horticulture?
How would foxes impact on domestic animals?
What diseases do foxes carry and spread?
What impact would foxes have on other Tasmanian Industries?
Further information
The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) is an efficient and extremely adaptable predator, which is listed as a national threat on the Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. The fox can eat almost anything and, although primarily a carnivore (meat eater), will also eat insects and fruit when preferred prey is scarce. Due to its diet adaptability, the fox can survive in a wide variety of habitats, including urban, alpine and arid (desert) areas, and has been a very successful coloniser of the Australian continent.
Foxes were introduced into Australia in the 1870's for recreational hunting. Their subsequent spread was rapid and they are now responsible for environmental and agricultural impacts valued at over $225 million per annum.
The help of a watchful community is vital to ensure success in eradicating foxes from Tasmania. All members of the public are asked to remain vigilant for foxes, particularly at night when foxes are most active, and to report all fox sightings or any possible evidence of fox activity to the 24 hour fox hotline:
1300 FOX OUT (1300 369 688)
! Rural landowners are encouraged to further assist the Fox Eradication Program by watching out for foxes, fox dens, prints and unusual animal kills on their properties. Please remember, if you shoot a fox, or find a dead fox, do not move the body but rather contact the Fox Hotline immediately so that the carcass can be properly examined in situ before being removed for further analysis. Please do not approach suspected dens, as they may have multiple exits and any foxes present could detect your presence and escape.
! Recreational and professional hunters are asked to be vigilant for foxes whilst hunting. Should a fox be encountered we recommend that the animal is shot if a kill can be achieved and it is safe to do so. Foxes are classified as vermin in Tasmania and no special permits are needed to shoot them (other than a current Tasmanian Firearms Licence). Please report any killed foxes to the Fox Hotline so that the carcass and surrounding area can be investigated.
The success of the fox eradication program is critical to Tasmania’s future. Should foxes become established in this beautiful and unique state, the impact upon our wildlife, natural environment, agriculture and associated industries would be devastating.
The threat of foxes to Tasmania is clearly an issue of great concern and every effort must be made to return Tasmania to a fox free status.
Tasmania is home to a wide diversity of native wildlife that has flourished in the protection offered by this island state’s isolation. However, due to the absence of large carnivores, the Tasmanian wildlife has not evolved with avoidance strategies to evade a predator as efficient as the fox. Tasmania is the final refuge for a long list of species that have all but disappeared from the mainland, including the eastern quoll, bettong, native hen and pademelon. Other species, such as the Eastern barred bandicoot, occur in high numbers in Tasmania, but are on the verge of extinction on the mainland largely due to fox predation. Also at risk, the young of unique species such as the Tasmanian devil and spotted tail quoll (that are left unattended in dens) are highly vulnerable to foxes. Many other species would also suffer from the intense competition offered by foxes.
In the past, devils have probably been playing a role as a 'buffer' species for any foxes that have entered or been introduced into the state, providing competition that prevented their establishment. However, the demise of Tasmanian devil as a result of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease partly removes this barrier and makes our efforts at eradication and the prevention of further incursions even more vital.
If foxes fill the void recently created by lower devil numbers, it could prevent the Tasmanian devil from re-establishing should the disease be eliminated either through human intervention or natural dispersion in the population.
Should foxes become established in Tasmania, over 70 native vertebrate species would be at risk. Of these, 34 species have locally restricted ranges, 16 are suspected to be already declining in distribution and 12 species are threatened according to Commonwealth or State threatened species legislation. It is quite possible that at least 5 species will be driven to extinction. Numerous invertebrate species are also at risk.
Locally widespread species like ducks, shorebirds, ground nesting birds, blue tongue lizards, mountain dragons, skinks, frogs, little penguin and platypus are also highly at risk.
The flow-on effects through food chains and ecosystem balance must also be considered an unknown factor should foxes establish in the State.
The fox has an enormous impact on Australian agriculture and the economy. Foxes are estimated to kill 5-10% of lambs Australia-wide but research has shown that kill rates may be underestimated and really is as high as 30% in some areas. In exceptional circumstances, foxes may attack sub-adult and adult sheep and goats and sometimes small calves. Losses to Tasmania's lamb and wool industries from foxes would be in the vicinity of several million dollars per annum.
Horticultural enterprises, such as vineyards and orchards, may experience losses of fruit to foxes, either from fruit eaten directly, or through damage to, for example, grape bunches, which are then unsaleable. Foxes also have an unusual habit of chewing on irrigation emitters such as plastic drippers, and can destroy thousands of dollars of irrigation infrastructure in this manner.
Foxes regularly prey upon domestic chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, as well as goat kids. In fact, the young of all free-range poultry are preferred and easy targets for the fox.
Surplus killings will sometimes occur in enclosed spaces such as chicken coops, with discarded feathers and headless bodies usually being an indicator of fox predation. Foxes are also noted for caching (burying) surplus food and carrying small carcasses (dead bodies of animals) back to their dens to feed their young.
Foxes carry many diseases that can infect both native wildlife and domestic animals (and particularly dogs), including hydatids, distemper, parvovirus, canine hepatitis, heartworm and sarcoptic mange.
In Europe, the fox is a major carrier of rabies. Should rabies ever be introduced into Australia, foxes would play a key role in its spread and make eradication of the disease very difficult.
Nature-based tourism is an increasingly important component of the Tasmanian economy as tour operators and visitors alike realise the unique natural resources that Tasmania has to offer. Visitation statistics show that 70% of tourists participate in a nature-based tourism activity whilst in Tasmania. The loss of our unique wildlife to foxes could cause a significant reduction in these levels and jeopardise many jobs within this industry.
Report fox sightings and any possible evidence of fox activity to the FOX HOTLINE on 1300 FOX OUT (1300 369 688)
Contact: Fox Eradication General EnquiriesFox Eradication Program
167 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5320
Fax: 03 6336 5453
Email: Fox.Enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Media enquiries should be directed to 03 6233 6340.
Report fox sightings and other evidence to the FOX HOTLINE 1300 FOX OUT (1300 369 688)
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