The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is urging people to keep their pet dogs away from Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park due to fox baiting being undertaken in the area.
DBCA Parks and Wildlife Service nature conservation coordinator Ben Lullfitz said 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.
“Pet owners should be aware that large areas of State forest, national parks and nature reserves are baited with 1080 baits throughout the year, including some in the Margaret River area,” he said.
“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.”
Mr Lullfitz said the baiting was necessary to protect endangered native animals such as chuditch, quenda, quokkas 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.
“Around one million baits are laid annually across nearly four million hectares of department-managed land in WA to protect native wildlife under the program.
“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 please contact your local DBCA district office or visit www.dbca.wa.gov.au/westernshield.