Residents are urged to keep their pet dogs away from the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park due to fox baiting being undertaken in the area.
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Parks and Wildlife Service nature conservation coordinator Ben Lullfitz said the 1080 poison baits were regularly laid in the national park to protect native species from the threat of foxes, as part of the department’s Western Shield wildlife recovery program.
“The poison used in these baits is naturally occurring in the WA environment, so native species have a higher tolerance to it. The concentration of poison in the baits will kill introduced species such as foxes, cats and dogs,” he said.
Mr Lullfitz said the baiting was necessary to protect endangered native animals such as chuditch, quenda, and western ringtail possums from the threat of foxes.
“Foxes and feral cats have been key factors in the decline of native mammals, birds and reptiles in WA, and monitoring has shown that fox numbers have reduced by at least 55 per cent in baited areas in the South West,” he said.
“I urge pet owners to observe signs in and around baited areas advising about the baiting program and the risk to pets.”
For more information about baited areas visit dbca.wa.gov.au/westernshield.
