The number of fox scalps collected since Victoria’s fox and wild dog bounty was reintroduced just over a decade ago is climbing towards one million.
Agriculture Victoria describes the bounty as an incentive program designed to encourage community members to help manage fox and wild dog populations.
With foxes and populations of wild dogs widespread and established in Victoria, it has been accepted they cannot be eradicated and so a policy of ongoing management to protect native biodiversity and agricultural production has been adopted.
“The Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty has been running in Victoria since 2011, and in that time, we have collected over 985,000 fox scalps and 4400 wild dog body parts from over 20,600 participants,” an Agriculture Victoria spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said the number of foxes taken each year could vary.
“Fox numbers can vary from season to season based on weather conditions, diseases and parasites, access to food and shelter, and effectiveness of control programs,” they said.
The department has reported that since the bounty commenced in 2011, the Broadford collection centre alone has received more than 42,800 fox scalps.
In 2022 so far, with collections to run through to the end of October, the Broadford centre has accepted 1425 fox scalps.
Agriculture Victoria estimates that foxes cost Australia’s environment and economy an estimated $227.5 million per year and wild dogs cost Victoria’s livestock industry an estimated $13 million to $18 million per year.
The fox and wild dog bounty is a key part of the state’s management of the problem.
Eligible participants submit entire fox scalps for a $10 reward and entire wild dog body parts for a $120 reward during scheduled collection times at the 21 collection centres around Victoria.
Collection centres include Broadford, Benalla, Tatura and Mansfield.
The Agriculture Victoria website says poison baiting, trapping, exclusion fencing, fumigation and appropriate animal husbandry are all part of an integrated approach, but hunting can also play an important role.
The Invasive Species Council exists to fight threats to Australia’s indigenous biodiversity. It blames the cat and red fox for much of the devastation wreaked on native animals.
“Of the 21 completely extinct marsupials and rodents in Australia, the red fox and cat have most probably contributed to the extinction of all but two,” the council’s website says.
“Foxes and cats are also blamed for the loss from the mainland of another nine species that survive on islands, sometimes precariously.”
The council also rates the fox alongside rabbits and cats among Australia’s worst pests.
The 2022 bounty program commenced on Monday, February 28 and runs until the end of October.
• For more information and to view the collection schedule, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/bounty