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The red fox is a highly successful invasive pest species in Australia, causing significant distress to agriculture and the environment. Introduced by European settlers in the 1800s for sport hunting, foxes have spread rapidly across the country, now occupying almost 80% of Australia's landmass, excluding some islands, fenced reserves, and the tropical north. Foxes have been directly linked to the extinction and decline of native species, including the desert rat-kangaroo, and are carriers of diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to humans, pets, and livestock. With fox densities highest in urban and agricultural areas, the environmental and economic costs associated with their presence are substantial, and various control and eradication strategies have been implemented with varying levels of success.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of foxes in Australia | 1.7 million |
| Number of native animals killed by foxes annually | 300 million |
| Percentage of Australian landmass occupied by foxes | 80% |
| Number of Australian islands occupied by foxes | 50 |
| Regions where foxes are largely absent | Tropical northern Australia, Tasmania |
| Densest fox populations in Australia | Melbourne, Warren and Jarrah Forest in Western Australia, Eyre and Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, NSW's Blue Mountains |
| Average distance travelled by male foxes from parents' territory | 68km |
| Average distance travelled by female foxes from parents' territory | 14km |
| Average number of foxes per square kilometre in Melbourne | 16 |
| Number of reptiles killed by foxes annually | 88 million |
| Number of Australian reptile species killed by foxes | 108 |
| Number of mammal species lost in Australia since European settlement | 20 |
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What You'll Learn
Foxes in Tasmania
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were introduced to Australia in the 1830s and have since become one of the most damaging invasive species in the country. Foxes have been directly implicated in the extinction and decline of native species, including the desert rat-kangaroo and the brush-tailed bettong. Foxes also carry and spread diseases, such as rabies, mange, and distemper, which can be transmitted to domestic animals and humans. The impact of foxes, combined with habitat degradation, is believed to be the main cause of the decline of native animal populations in Australia.
Foxes were introduced to the island of Tasmania as early as 1833, but they did not establish a permanent population before 2010. The Tasmanian devil and the now-extinct thylacine are believed to have outcompeted the foxes. Since 2010, there has been confirmed evidence of foxes in Tasmania, and they are now considered a significant threat to the island's biodiversity and agriculture. The Tasmanian government has implemented an eradication program, using poison baiting, to try to eliminate the foxes and protect native wildlife such as the eastern bettong.
The presence of foxes in Tasmania has been a subject of debate, with some disputing the authenticity of carcasses, scats, and other evidence collected. Between 1998 and 2012, four carcasses, 61 scats containing fox DNA, and nearly 3000 public reports of fox activity were recorded. DNA evidence from scat samples suggests a small but widespread fox population in Tasmania. Critics have argued that the evidence is flawed or hoaxed and that there is a lack of proof in the form of trapped or photographed animals.
The Tasmanian Fox Free Taskforce (FFT) was established in 2001 to address the increasing evidence of foxes in the state. The FFT focuses on responding to public sightings of foxes and other evidence through a 24-hour hotline, with baiting and trapping conducted at the local district level. In 2006, the Tasmanian and Australian governments committed to a 10-year fox eradication program, known as the FEP, which operates in three phases across the state. The first phase involves community engagement and seeking consent to access properties for baiting and monitoring. The second phase entails strategic baiting with 1080 poison, followed by the removal of untaken baits to monitor uptake and minimise toxin residue risks.
Despite the efforts of the eradication programs, the impact of foxes on Tasmania's environment and agriculture could cost the state over $20 million annually. The early action taken by the Tasmanian government to address the fox incursion is considered wise, given the potential damage these invasive predators can inflict.
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Foxes as invasive species
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is a highly successful invasive species in Australia. The species was introduced by European settlers in the 1800s for sport hunting purposes. Since then, the red fox population has spread rapidly across the country, occupying almost 80% of Australia's landmass. Foxes are now found in all states and territories except tropical areas of northern Queensland, the Kimberley, and the Top End of the Northern Territory.
The red fox is an apex predator in Australia, with few natural predators of its own. The absence of large mammalian carnivores, except for dingoes, has allowed the red fox to thrive. The spread of the red fox population corresponds directly with the decline of several native species, including the brush-tailed bettong, burrowing bettong, rufous bettong, Greater bilby, numbat, bridled nailtail wallaby, and the quokka. The West Australian conservation department, CALM, estimates that introduced predators like the red fox are responsible for the extinction of ten native species in that state alone.
Red foxes have also been implicated in the spread of exotic diseases and parasites, such as mange and distemper, which can be transmitted to domestic animals and pets. Foxes are known vectors of rabies in other parts of the world, and their presence in Australia could significantly contribute to its spread if the disease were introduced. Foxes also impact agriculture by preying on livestock such as lambs, kid goats, and poultry, causing significant economic losses.
Despite the negative impacts of the red fox in Australia, some researchers argue that there may be benefits to their presence. Foxes can help suppress the number of rodents, rabbits, and feral cats, and their eradication could inadvertently harm native ecosystems. However, the overall consensus is that the red fox is a significant invasive species that poses a serious conservation problem in Australia.
Various control programs have been implemented to manage fox populations, including baiting, exclusion fencing, targeted shooting, and bounties. While these efforts have had some success, the red fox remains a challenging and damaging invasive species in Australia.
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Foxes and agriculture
The red fox is an invasive species in Australia, introduced by European settlers in the 1800s for hunting purposes. Foxes have since spread across the country, causing significant damage to agriculture and the environment. They are known to prey on lambs, poultry, and livestock, inflicting substantial losses on the sheep and goat industries. Foxes also carry and spread diseases, such as mange and distemper, which can be transmitted to domestic animals and even humans. The potential introduction of rabies by foxes poses a severe threat to native animals and livestock.
Foxes are opportunistic predators and highly adaptive, thriving in both regional and urban areas. They are most abundant in fragmented agricultural landscapes, where they find a diverse range of habitats, food sources, and cover. Foxes have relatively large home ranges and can travel up to 10-15 kilometres per night in search of food. Their breeding habits contribute to their rapid spread, as they breed once a year with females maturing at 9-10 months and 85% breeding in their first year.
The impact of foxes on native wildlife is devastating, threatening various bird, mammal, and reptile species. Foxes have been directly linked to the extinction and decline of several endemic marsupials, including the desert rat-kangaroo and the greater bilby. Foxes have few natural predators in Australia, with mortality primarily resulting from human intervention or drought. Their presence also negatively affects ground-nesting birds, turtles, and small or young animals.
Control and eradication of foxes have proven challenging due to their denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting habits. Poison baiting, shooting, trapping, fencing, and the use of livestock guardian dogs are common control methods. While trapping can be effective in well-defined areas, it is often time-consuming and labour-intensive. Successful fox management requires a coordinated and integrated approach, combining multiple strategies and collaboration with neighbours.
Despite the negative impacts of foxes on agriculture and the environment, some argue that their presence may offer benefits. Foxes can help suppress rodent, rabbit, and feral cat populations, and their eradication could inadvertently harm native ecosystems. However, the overall consensus is that foxes pose a significant threat, with their introduction contributing to the extinction of native species and ongoing environmental degradation.
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Foxes and disease
Red foxes are an invasive species in Australia, posing a serious conservation problem. They are opportunistic predators with few specific habitat or dietary requirements, and they can be found in most environments in the country. Foxes have been directly implicated in the extinction and decline of several native species, including the desert rat-kangaroo, the brush-tailed bettong, the burrowing bettong, the rufous bettong, the Greater bilby, the numbat, the bridled nailtail wallaby, and the quokka.
Foxes are not only a threat to native wildlife but also to livestock, pets, and humans. They are known to kill and injure livestock, such as poultry and lambs, and can transmit diseases to both humans and domestic animals. Foxes are hosts and vectors of parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans, livestock, and pets. They can spread exotic diseases and parasites, such as mange and distemper, which can be harmful to domestic dogs and other animals.
The spread of disease by foxes can have significant physical and mental health impacts on humans, particularly farmers. Foxes are also a potential biosecurity risk, and there is concern that they could contribute to the spread of rabies if the disease were ever introduced to Australia. Rabies is a disease that mostly affects members of the dog family but can also be passed on to humans, livestock, and native animals. While rabies is not currently present in Australia, the presence of foxes increases the risk of its introduction and spread.
Fox control and eradication programs exist, but they can be time-consuming and labour-intensive and challenging due to the foxes' denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting habits. Baits containing poison, such as 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) or PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone), are commonly used for fox control. Fox hunting is legal in all states, and they are typically shot with the aid of spotlighting at night or attracted using fox whistles during the day. Other control methods include the use of guard dogs, alpacas, and exclusion fencing to protect livestock from foxes.
The reintroduction of competitive species, such as dingoes, has also been suggested as a method to control fox populations. Research has shown that the presence of dingoes not only decreases the presence of foxes but also increases native fauna. Overall, the presence of foxes in Australia has had significant ecological, agricultural, and health impacts, and managing their populations is crucial to mitigating these effects.
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Eradicating foxes
Red foxes pose a serious conservation problem in Australia. They are established pest animals in Victoria, and adversely impact agriculture and the environment. They are also believed to be the primary cause of the decline of numerous Australian small mammal species, and have been directly implicated in the extinction and decline of populations of the family Potoroidae, including the extinction of the desert rat-kangaroo.
Foxes were introduced to Australia in the mid-1800s for hunting purposes. Populations quickly spread across the country, closely following that of rabbits, another invasive species. Foxes are highly adaptive and can be found in both regional and urban areas, with their highest densities being found where resources are most abundant. They are also found in ever-higher concentrations in densely populated suburban areas, as well as in large cities such as Melbourne.
Since European settlement, mainland Australia has lost at least 20 mammal species, far more than any other country over the same time period. The red fox may be the most destructive species ever introduced to Australia. The environmental cost associated with foxes is significant, so any large-scale reduction in fox densities could generate substantial environmental benefits. Fox predation has been listed as a key threatening process under the Australian Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Local eradication programs exist, although eradication has proven difficult due to the denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting of foxes. Within smaller fenced reserves, eradicating feral cats and red foxes can allow the reintroduction of extirpated mammal species. Eradication can be very time-consuming and labour-intensive. At the Australian Wildlife Conservancy's Pilliga reserve, a red fox nicknamed Rambo evaded all attempts to trap, poison, or shoot him for four and a half years, delaying planned mammal reintroductions until the fox's presumed death in 2022.
There are four control options that can produce sustained reductions in fox impact. First, poison baiting using 1080 can give good results, as foxes readily take poison baits. The Tasmanian State Government is attempting to push the fox population towards extinction using broad-scale poison baiting. This is controversial but is the most sensible response to the risk that foxes will do to the Tasmanian environment what they have already done to mainland Australia. Western Australian state government authorities also conduct aerial and hand baiting on almost 35,000 square kilometres to control foxes as part of the Western Shield pest management program.
Second, trapping and shooting can have an impact on fox populations, but only if done intensively in well-defined areas where rates of re-invasion are low. Third, bounty schemes that encourage broad-scale fox removal by shooters are likely to be ineffective and wasteful. Finally, the reintroduction of Tasmanian devils to the mainland could help decrease fox populations, as evidenced by the past eradication of foxes from Tasmania.
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Frequently asked questions
Foxes occupy almost 80% of Australia's landmass, including 50 Australian islands. They are largely absent from tropical northern Australia, Tasmania, the Kimberley, and the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Foxes were introduced to Australia by European settlers in the 1800s for sport hunting. Populations quickly spread across the country, closely following the spread of rabbits, another invasive species.
Foxes are a highly successful invasive species and are considered one of the most damaging in Australia. They have been directly implicated in the extinction and decline of native species, including the desert rat-kangaroo and the crescent nailtail wallaby. Foxes also spread diseases, damage infrastructure, and kill livestock, causing significant economic impacts.
Fox control methods in Australia include baiting, trapping, shooting, and bounty schemes. While these methods have had limited success, they can be effective in well-defined areas with low re-invasion rates. The Western Shield pest management program in Western Australia and the Victorian State Government's bounty program are examples of fox control initiatives.
