Fox trapping signs on tracks off Snowball Road in the Mundy Regional Park in Kalamunda. Photo: David Baylis.
Camera IconFox trapping signs on tracks off Snowball Road in the Mundy Regional Park in Kalamunda. Photo: David Baylis. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Controversial fox trapping program set to resume in City of Kalamunda

Sarah BrookesHills Avon Valley Gazette

The City of Kalamunda will restart its fox trapping program later this month, just weeks after it was suspended following a Kalamunda family’s pet Labradoodle being injured in a trap set at a local reserve.

Residents took to social media to express their outrage at the practice and that it was not widely publicised fox traps had been set at popular reserves including Ray Owen Reserve and Hartfield Park.

The decision to resume trapping comes after Council-endorsed recommendations from the Kalamunda Environmental Advisory Committee to continue trapping.

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City chief executive Rhonda Hardy said signage would be installed at the sites seven days before trapping started.

“Fox trapping will commence for a period of seven to 14 days from July 23 at Hill Street Reserve designated as Gooseberry Hill Recreation Reserve, Hartfield Park Reserve in Forrestfield in the bushland adjacent to Tonkin Highway, Smokebush Place Reserve in High Wycombe, Maida Vale Reserve and Brine Moran Reserve in Kalamunda,” she said.

“Signage will be installed at the sites seven days before trapping commences to further raise awareness of the upcoming program, at entry points and inside reserves that trapping is taking place. It is important that residents adhere to all signage.”

Ms Hardy said the control of foxes and feral cats was an important part of the protection of local biodiversity and domestic animals.

“The City has in place site monitoring to determine fox activities in reserves and we have received several complaints regarding chicken and rabbit predation by feral foxes in the district,” she said.

“The program targets those areas where fox predation and hiding is known. In some areas, professional trackers find scats and tracks of foxes, in other locations we have filmed the foxes by remote cameras.”

Ms Hardy said it was important dogs were kept on a lead and cats contained within their owner’s properties while the fox trapping was being undertaken.

Last month the CEO said a survey will be launched in coming weeks asking the community to give feedback on fox control methods.

The City said there would still be a survey but did not give a date for when it would be conducted.