(BIRDING-AUS) Tasmanian Foxes

["Scott O'Keeffe" <>]

Lawrie-

 

On the other hand, proper use of 1080 baits might be the only thing that deals with this problem decisively.  Foxoff baits are designed to attract foxes, and if correctly used there should be a low incidence of non-target impacts.  At this point, all sorts of people are jumping up and down about butchering Tasmanian Devils.  However, the risk of a small number of non-target kills pales into insignificance compared to the risk posed by the establishment of foxes on the Island.  Foxes could wipe out thousands upon thousands of native animals if they become established.  They should be contained immediately using the most effective means, even if there is some risk of non-target impact.  Conservationists cannot afford to be sentimental about this.  The dangers are very real-  foxes could be an absolute catastrophe for wildlife.

 

Fox shooting does not in itself offer a realistic, reliable alternative, particularly if undertaken by persons who are not extremely good at this sort of thing.  All that will happen is that the foxes will become gun-shy, and a method which might have some limited uses will be lost.  This whole thing must be handled by people who have extensive experience in successful fox control.

 

If the foxes are successfully eliminated, we need to implement strict procedures to reduce the chance that this could happen again.

 

 

Scott O'Keeffe

-----Original Message-----
From: [On Behalf Of Lawrie Conole
Sent: 24 February 2002 22:26
To: Robert Read; Birding-aus
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] (BIRDING-AUS) Tasmanian Foxes

Robert Read wrote:

 

> In other words it is going to need Federal support.
In your letter to the responsible Federal minister and other representatives, you should also include reference to the fact that predation by the Fox is already listed by the Feds as an endangering process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - see:

 

The highly successful use of 1080 bait (as Fox-off) on the mainland might not be appropriate in Tasmania due to the widespread occurrence of the Tasmanian Devil and Spot-tailed Quoll which might be unintended victims of "indiscriminate" poisoning.  Organised fox hunts by shooters would offer a more targetted approach - other methods might also be effective.

 

The establishment of Foxes in Tasmania is a calamitous development, and we should all be both alarmed and activist in response.

 

L.

 

 

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Senior Zoologist
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