Fox Baiting Program: No Cats and Dogs Allowed
Cats and dogs (including dogs on leash) will not be allowed in three reserves from 9 October to 24 November 2023 due to the Hills Shire Council’s Fox Baiting Program.
1080 poison baits, also known as sodium monofluoroacetate, will be buried in three bushland reserves in the Hills Shire, namely the Excelsior Reserve in North Rocks, Ted Horwood Reserve in Baulkham Hills, and Erics Mobbs Reserve in Castle Hill.
Between 9 and 27 October, the baits will be buried by trained staff at a certain depth. Warning signs indicating “1080 FOX POISON LAID IN THIS AREA” and “Dogs (& Cats) are Prohibited” will be installed in the mentioned reserves.
As per the Council, the program is “designed to reduce the risk of bait consumption by native animals and pets. The baits are buried greater than 10cm underground as studies show that most native animals are not interested in or capable of eating buried bait.”
“Foxoff® is designed specifically for fox control. Trained staff will undertake the baiting. Baits will be buried 10cm under the ground to reduce the risk of non-target poisoning,” the public notice read.
In conjunction with the Greater Sydney Local Land Services, the program intends to safeguard local wildlife, which is threatened due to predation by the European Red Fox. A single fox can consume 100 native animals annually, spreading diseases to pets, and is classified as a Key Threatening Process in Schedule 4 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Dogs on leads can return to the mentioned reserve starting Saturday, 25 November 2023.
It is advised to avoid feeding foxes or leaving food scraps, research and share information about foxes’ impacts, and keep pets out of bushland reserves.
To learn more information about the Fox Baiting Program, visit the Hills Shire Council’s website here.
