Leslie Massey
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are an invasive species in Australia, causing serious conservation problems. They were introduced by settlers in the 1830s and have since spread throughout most of the continental mainland, including large cities like Melbourne. Foxes are generalists, able to survive in most environments, and their populations are denser in urban and agricultural areas where food is plentiful. They are known to prey on small to medium-sized mammals, birds, and even baby koalas, contributing to the decline of several native species.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of foxes | 7.2 million (2012 estimate) |
| Range | Throughout most of the continental mainland |
| Densities | Higher in urban areas and agricultural landscapes |
| Cities | Melbourne, Sydney |
| Impact | Negative: foxes are an invasive species that prey on native animals, spread disease, damage infrastructure, and spread weeds |
| Impact | Positive: Suppression of rodents, rabbits, and feral cats |
| Conservation status | Classified as one of the most damaging invasive species in Australia |
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What You'll Learn
Foxes in densely-populated areas
Foxes in Australia pose a serious conservation problem. The red fox population in the country is estimated to be over 7.2 million and growing, with a range extending throughout most of the continental mainland. Foxes are found in various environments in Australia, including urban areas and agricultural landscapes. They are particularly prevalent in densely-populated cities and towns, such as Melbourne, where they can take advantage of plentiful food sources and limited control measures.
In suburban areas, foxes can be commonly spotted in parks and backyards, with an estimated density of up to 12 foxes per square kilometre. Their presence in these areas can be concerning due to their potential impact on human health and society. Foxes are known to kill and injure livestock, pets, and culturally important native animals. They are also carriers of parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. Additionally, they contribute to the spread of weeds and damage infrastructure through behaviours like chewing on irrigation pipes.
Foxes are highly adaptive and have few specific habitat or dietary requirements, making them successful hunters and scavengers in human-dominated environments. Their densest populations often occur in urban and agricultural areas, where they can easily access food sources such as rodents, rabbits, and even feral cats. This has led to concerns about the impact of foxes on native ecosystems, as they have been implicated in the extinction and decline of several endemic terrestrial marsupial species.
To address the challenges posed by foxes in densely-populated areas, local eradication programs have been implemented. However, eradication has proven difficult due to the foxes' denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting habits. As a result, the focus has shifted towards management strategies, such as the introduction of state bounties and targeted control programs. These efforts aim to mitigate the negative impacts of foxes on the environment, agriculture, and human communities while also recognising the potential benefits of their presence in suppressing rodent and rabbit populations.
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Foxes in Tasmania
Foxes, specifically the European red fox species, were introduced to Australia in the 1830s by settlers. They have since become one of the most damaging invasive species in the country, causing the extinction and decline of several native marsupial populations. While they are found in most parts of the Australian mainland, their presence in Tasmania has been a subject of debate and controversy.
In 2001, allegations emerged that hunters had deliberately released around a dozen foxes into the Tasmanian environment. This sparked concerns about the potential impact of foxes on the local wildlife and led to a government-led eradication program. The Tasmanian Fox Taskforce was formed, and targeted baiting was conducted throughout the 2000s, ending in 2013. This effort cost over $50 million, but no evidence of foxes was detected since 2011.
The debate over the presence of foxes in Tasmania has been intense, with some claiming it as a hoax while others presented DNA evidence and reports of sightings. In 2012, Stephen Sarre of the University of Canberra published a paper claiming that "Foxes are now widespread in Tasmania" based on the analysis of thousands of fecal samples. However, this conclusion was disputed by outside researchers who questioned the methodology and suggested the possibility of false positives.
Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the Tasmanian government maintained its efforts to eradicate foxes. In 2015, a study indicated that if foxes had ever been present in Tasmania, they were likely extinct by that time. The uncertainty surrounding the existence of foxes in Tasmania highlights the challenges of wildlife management and the importance of rigorous science to protect Australia's unique biodiversity.
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Foxes as invasive species
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are considered one of the most damaging invasive species in Australia. They were introduced to the British colonies of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) in 1833 and to the Port Phillip District and Sydney Regions of New South Wales in 1845 by settlers to uphold the traditional English sport of fox hunting. Since then, they have spread throughout most of the continental mainland, with the exception of tropical areas of northern Queensland, the Kimberley, and the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Red foxes have had a significant ecological impact in Australia, being implicated in the extinction and decline of several native species. The West Australian conservation department, CALM, estimates that introduced predators like red foxes are responsible for the extinction of ten native species in that state alone. The spread of the red fox population corresponds directly with the declining populations of several endemic terrestrial marsupials, including the brush-tailed, burrowing, and rufous bettong, the Greater bilby, numbat, bridled nailtail wallaby, and the quokka.
Red foxes are also found in higher concentrations in densely populated suburban areas and large cities like Melbourne. Their burrowing behaviour has allowed them to achieve niche differentiation with feral dogs and cats, contributing to their success as apex predators. Foxes prey on small or young animals, lambs, poultry, and livestock, and can spread diseases to domestic animals. They are known to inflict significant damage on the sheep and goat industries and occasionally damage irrigation systems and horticultural crops.
The control and eradication of red foxes in Australia has proven challenging. Methods such as shooting, trapping, fencing, baiting, and using livestock guardian dogs and competitive species (like dingoes) are employed. While baiting with poison is effective and economical, it requires careful management due to the potential risks associated with the use of restricted chemical products. Local eradication programs exist, but the focus is on management through the introduction of state bounties. Within smaller fenced reserves, eradicating red foxes can enable the reintroduction of extirpated mammal species.
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Foxes as disease carriers
Foxes are known to carry several diseases that can be transmitted to humans, domestic animals, and pets. They are considered a pest in Australia, impacting agricultural production through predation, transmission of disease, the spread of weeds, and damage to infrastructure. Foxes are highly adaptive and can be found in both regional and urban areas, with their highest densities found where resources are most abundant.
European foxes, in particular, have been implicated in the decline and extinction of many small- to medium-sized rodent and marsupial species in Australia. They also prey on bird species, with almost any animal up to 5.5 kilograms at risk of becoming a target of fox predation. The combined environmental and agricultural impacts of foxes cost Australia more than $200 million each year.
Foxes are known to carry and transmit diseases such as rabies, parvovirus, canine distemper, leptospirosis, sarcoptic mange, and hydatid tapeworm. While rabies is not currently present in Australia, it could have devastating consequences for native animals and domestic livestock if it were introduced. Foxes are known vectors of rabies in other parts of the world and could contribute to its spread in Australia.
In addition to rabies, foxes can spread canine distemper, which can affect humans, livestock, and native animals. Mange, a skin disease caused by mites, is also commonly transmitted by foxes and can affect both wild and domestic animals. Foxes have also been implicated in the spread of parasites such as sarcoptic mange and hydatid tapeworm, which can be harmful to humans and animals.
Flying foxes, a specific type of fox found in Australia, have been identified as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira spp., including the grey-headed flying fox and the black flying fox. These flying foxes have also been exposed to zoonotic viruses, such as the Hendra virus, which can be transmitted to humans through horses, and the Australian bat lyssavirus, which requires direct contact with an infected animal.
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Foxes in agricultural areas
Foxes are found throughout all Australian states and territories, except Tasmania. They are present in over 75% of the country and are the most widespread carnivore in the world. Foxes are particularly prevalent in suburban and urban areas, with higher densities in cities like Melbourne, where resources such as food, water, and shelter are more readily available.
In agricultural areas, foxes are attracted to fragmented landscapes that offer a diverse range of habitats, food sources, and cover. They can cause significant economic damage to agriculture, costing Australia more than $200 million annually in environmental and agricultural impacts. Foxes are opportunistic predators and highly adaptable, feeding on small to medium-sized mammals, rodents, and carrion. They have also been known to climb trees to hunt for birds, baby koalas, and sugar gliders, posing a threat to arboreal species that were previously considered safe from foxes.
The impact of foxes on native ecosystems is a complex issue. While they are considered invasive and detrimental to many native species, some researchers argue that their presence may have certain benefits. For example, foxes can help suppress the numbers of rodents, rabbits, and feral cats, which are also invasive species in Australia. However, the overall consensus is that foxes are a significant conservation problem in Australia, contributing to the decline and extinction of several native marsupial species.
Managing fox populations in agricultural areas is challenging due to their denning behaviour and nocturnal hunting patterns. Poison baiting is currently the most effective broad-scale method of fox control, but it does not eliminate the entire population. Other control techniques include shooting and den fumigation. Local eradication programs exist, but the focus has shifted towards management and the introduction of state bounties. Within smaller fenced reserves, eradicating foxes can facilitate the reintroduction of extirpated mammal species.
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Frequently asked questions
Foxes are found in most environments in Australia, including urban areas, agricultural landscapes, and large cities like Melbourne.
Yes, foxes pose a serious conservation problem in Australia. They are considered one of the most damaging invasive species, impacting native species and ecosystems.
European red foxes were introduced to Australia by settlers beginning around the 1830s, initially for traditional fox hunting.
Foxes impact the environment through predation, transmission of diseases, competition for food and shelter, and the spread of weeds. They have been implicated in the extinction and decline of several native species.
Some researchers argue that foxes can help suppress the number of rodents, rabbits, and feral cats in Australia. Eradication of foxes could inadvertently harm native ecosystems.
