Feral foxes and wild deer

By Danny Buttler
FOXES and deer are breeding in unprecedented numbers, causing massive damage to the region’s stock and vegetation.
A feral animal eradication field day will be held in Tynong North later this month in an attempt to stimulate community action on the issue.
President of the Cannibal Creek Landcare Group, Gerry Cunningham, said animal losses and damage to plantings had sparked the need for urgent action.
“We have a problem with feral deer and foxes are thick on the ground,” he said.
Rabbits continue to be a major problem after the failure of calicivirus while domestic dogs and cats continue to plague landholders.
Mr Cunningham said new arrivals in country areas sometimes failed to control their pets, while escapees from deer farms added to the burden on farmers and Landcare groups.
“The fallow deer are doing a lot damage to new tree plantings,” he said.
“They are on the increase, breeding up after escaping from deer farms.”
It is legal to hunt fallow deer on private land, while foxes and rabbits have long been declared as pest species.
The increase in housing around farm and bushland has made it more difficult to shoot or bait pest animals.
The risk of a stray bullet causing damage increases with housing density, while baits can be lethal to both pests or pets.
“People get very nervous about baiting … we have a lot of people who are not used to having land,” Mr Cunningham said.
“We also have a problem with domestic dogs running wild together.”
Mr Cunningham hopes the reintroduction of a $10 fox bounty will help reduce numbers of the crafty canines.
But arming the community with knowledge on how to deal with a variety of feral species is seen as the best weapon against unwanted animals.
The pest eradication field day will offer advice on baiting, trapping and shooting as well as hearing from experts in the field.
The day will be held from 9.30am to 2pm on Sunday 27 May at the Tynong North Meeting Rooms.
A barbecue lunch will be provided.
For further information contact Gerry on 0434 291 272.