Almost 2500 fox scalps have been collected from South Australian farmers in the wake of a bounty placed on the feral pest by the SA government.
In August, a $220,000 program was announced, providing a $10 payment for each fox destroyed to help cull the pest and further support drought-affected farmers.
Primary Industries Minister David Basham said the first round of scalp collections across nine regional centres netted almost 2500 scalps.
"Foxes prey on newborn lambs, calves, kid goats and poultry and every pest fox which we can remove is a preventative measure for our farmers," he said.
"In total there were 2429 scalps brought in from a total of 33 claimants for the first round and we expect the numbers to grow when officers hold more collections across our regions.
"Returns were varied across the state with the Limestone Coast region having the most fox scalps."
Mr Basham said early feedback showed many people were collecting scalps with a strong take up expected during the next round of collection days in locations across the state.
Upcoming collection days are planned at the SA Arid Lands Pastoral Field Day at Port Augusta in December, and next year at the South East Field Days at Lucindale in March and Karoonda Farm Fair in April.
Livestock producers with a Property Identification Code are eligible to claim the bounty for each scalp taken to a collection point.
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A minimum of 10 scalps and a maximum of 100 scalps per property can be claimed per collection day - up to a maximum of 300 scalps a year.
Farmers are able to enter into their own arrangements with professional and recreational shooters, but the person who claims the bounty on collection day must be the holder of a PIC.
The fox bounty, which is running in addition to baiting programs to combat the feral pest, will be available for two years, or until the funding runs out.
"The government recognises the importance of biosecurity, including feral pest control, and that's why we are running multi-faceted programs to bring down populations of foxes," Mr Basham said.
- Details: pir.sa.gov.au/fox-bounty
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