A parliamentary question addresses fox bait allocation and control methods for farmers in WA. The Minister clarifies baiting regulations and outlines alternative control options.

AnsweredQoN 424Legislative Council
Asked
8 May 2008
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

FOX CONTROL
(1) Could the minister please explain how the Department of Agriculture and Food calculates the number of baits allocated to a farm? (2) Given that a farmer with 4 000 hectares is restricted to 200 baits a year, what alternatives, apart from shooting, are available to farmers for fox control? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for providing notice of the question. (1)-(2) There is no restriction on the number of baits for fox control allowed per farm over the course of the year, but I can understand how people believe that is the case. The maximum rate of lay allowed for fox baiting at any one time is five baits per 100 hectares, or one square kilometre. Landholders are allowed to bait as frequently as required to control foxes and other species, provided they submit the appropriate application to bait to the relevant Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers and that the application passes the risk assessment and is deemed appropriate by the authority’s authorising biosecurity officer. Apart from 1080 baiting and shooting, trapping is the only other control option for foxes. Only live-capture cage traps can be used and the trapped foxes must then be euthanased humanely. Live trapping is considered to be less effective than baiting and shooting.
(2) Given that a farmer with 4 000 hectares is restricted to 200 baits a year, what alternatives, apart from shooting, are available to farmers for fox control? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for providing notice of the question. (1)-(2) There is no restriction on the number of baits for fox control allowed per farm over the course of the year, but I can understand how people believe that is the case. The maximum rate of lay allowed for fox baiting at any one time is five baits per 100 hectares, or one square kilometre. Landholders are allowed to bait as frequently as required to control foxes and other species, provided they submit the appropriate application to bait to the relevant Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers and that the application passes the risk assessment and is deemed appropriate by the authority’s authorising biosecurity officer. Apart from 1080 baiting and shooting, trapping is the only other control option for foxes. Only live-capture cage traps can be used and the trapped foxes must then be euthanased humanely. Live trapping is considered to be less effective than baiting and shooting.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for providing notice of the question. (1)-(2) There is no restriction on the number of baits for fox control allowed per farm over the course of the year, but I can understand how people believe that is the case. The maximum rate of lay allowed for fox baiting at any one time is five baits per 100 hectares, or one square kilometre. Landholders are allowed to bait as frequently as required to control foxes and other species, provided they submit the appropriate application to bait to the relevant Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers and that the application passes the risk assessment and is deemed appropriate by the authority’s authorising biosecurity officer. Apart from 1080 baiting and shooting, trapping is the only other control option for foxes. Only live-capture cage traps can be used and the trapped foxes must then be euthanased humanely. Live trapping is considered to be less effective than baiting and shooting.
I thank Hon Nigel Hallett for providing notice of the question. (1)-(2) There is no restriction on the number of baits for fox control allowed per farm over the course of the year, but I can understand how people believe that is the case. The maximum rate of lay allowed for fox baiting at any one time is five baits per 100 hectares, or one square kilometre. Landholders are allowed to bait as frequently as required to control foxes and other species, provided they submit the appropriate application to bait to the relevant Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers and that the application passes the risk assessment and is deemed appropriate by the authority’s authorising biosecurity officer. Apart from 1080 baiting and shooting, trapping is the only other control option for foxes. Only live-capture cage traps can be used and the trapped foxes must then be euthanased humanely. Live trapping is considered to be less effective than baiting and shooting.
(1)-(2) There is no restriction on the number of baits for fox control allowed per farm over the course of the year, but I can understand how people believe that is the case. The maximum rate of lay allowed for fox baiting at any one time is five baits per 100 hectares, or one square kilometre. Landholders are allowed to bait as frequently as required to control foxes and other species, provided they submit the appropriate application to bait to the relevant Department of Agriculture and Food biosecurity officers and that the application passes the risk assessment and is deemed appropriate by the authority’s authorising biosecurity officer. Apart from 1080 baiting and shooting, trapping is the only other control option for foxes. Only live-capture cage traps can be used and the trapped foxes must then be euthanased humanely. Live trapping is considered to be less effective than baiting and shooting.

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