Fox Control

Council's fox baiting program occurs during April-June and August-September each year and dog walking of any kind must be suspended in baited areas.

Next fox baiting: Monday 27 August

Exclusion period: Friday 5 October

The end date incorporates a mandatory four-week exclusion period following cessation of baits being laid. The end date may vary, please refer to signs at reserves.

Dogs are prohibited from entering all baited reserves for the duration of each program and exclusion period.

Cats are permanently prohibited from these reserves which are Wildlife Protection Areas under the NSW Companion Animals Act (1998).

The program is conducted in the following areas:

Extensive public notification prior to the program commencing each year is carried out, including ads in the Mosman Daily; a letterbox drop to residents neighbouring Balls Head, Berry Island and Badangi Reserves; signage erected at all formal entrances to the Reserves; and information regarding the program here on the website. Local veterinarians are also advised of the program's commencement and provided with information to pass on to their customers.

Bating is also undertaken in a continuous and ongoing manner in Sydney Harbour National Park and Sydney Harbour Federation Trust estate at Middle Head by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Exclusion is necessary as "FoxOff" poison baits, 1080 (sodium monofluroacetate) poison, is highly lethal to cats and dogs.

Every aspect of the program's implementation has been developed to minimise the potential for an off-target poisoning. Monitoring of the bait stations will be conducted twice daily, and poison baits will only be laid when the presence of a fox is confirmed in a particular bait station location. An emergency action plan is in place should the unlikely event of an off-target poisoning occur.

Q. Will my dog be safe if it’s kept on a lead? A. In short, no. Foxes favour using roads, pathways and bushland walking tracks for moving through their territory. Baits are laid next to tracks so as to take advantage of this behaviour.

Q. Is it ok to walk on the Balls Head circuit road or have my dog on the grass at Berry Island? A. Unfortunately not. Foxes are known to cache (hide) surplus foods – it is this behaviour that fox baiting programs mimic in the way baits are deployed. Whilst our baits are usually placed away from these areas the potential exists for foxes to take a poison bait and place it elsewhere – such as within or close to these areas. To protect your pet, it’s imperative that you follow signage and avoid entering baited reserves.

Q. What is the veterinary treatment for 1080 fox bait poisoning? A. 1080 fox baits are lethal to dogs and cats and there is no antidote available.

In 2000 North Sydney Council joined other public land managers in the Sydney north region to implement coordinated fox baiting of urban bushland reserves and local National Parks.

The aim of this regionally coordinated program is to reduce the impacts of fox predation on native wildlife inhabiting northern Sydney's urban bushland environment. Over the years that the program has been operating in northern Sydney, a significant improvement has been seen in the sustainability and diversity of native wildlife occurring in remnant urban bushland across the region. Brush turkeys for instance have returned to bushland in our area, which is likely to be a direct response to diminishing fox numbers resulting from this regionally coordinated, multi-agency approach to pest management.

For further information, contact the Bushland Management Coordinator on 9936 8100.