There have been reports of a jump in the number of foxes, rabbits and cats on properties as the grain harvest wraps up for another year.
Narrogin-based Department of Agriculture and Food senior biosecurity officer Mike Clark, who is on the steering committee for the community based feral animal control program Red Card for Rabbits and Foxes, said the good finish to the season had provided plenty of green feed for feral animals, as well as preferred species.
‘Anecdotally, we’ve heard people reporting increased numbers and I’ve seen this travelling around,’ Mr Clark said.
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READ NOW‘We’re now asking landholders to think about planning their culling programs.
‘The best time to bait is late summer into autumn and then again in spring, and it needs to be done in a consistent, co-|ordinated manner with other landholders.’
Red Card for Rabbits and Foxes is in its 10th year, with Wheatbelt NRM’s Jacquie Lucas now working as the program’s new co-ordinator.
‘Part of the program is a community fox and rabbit shoot, of which we now know the dates,’ Ms Lucas said.
The shoots will run from February 21 for three days and then again on the weekend of March 28.
The period for hot baiting will run from the February 15 through until the April 15.
Mr Lucas said accreditation for using 1080 baits could now be made online through the Department of Agriculture and Food WA.