Fox scalps delivered to collection days reap $50,000

Lamb losses hit the bottom line hard and this season, with abundant paddock feed and healthy prey in big numbers, fox numbers are certainly rising and producers are on alert.

So far, more than $50,000 has been paid to SA livestock producers through the statewide bounty program.

Robertstown producer Dale Button has been hitting the paddocks with a few mates to control numbers in the district.

"It takes a coordinated approach and through baiting and shooting, we seem to be able to reduce losses a bit," he said.

After a 10-year hiatus, the Buttons have reintroduced baiting about a month before lambing begins in April.

"We randomly spot foxes - just sitting and waiting. So, baiting works but it is beneficial to have a riffle when checking mobs during the day," Mr Button said.

Ewe condition is central to lamb survival during a fox ambush, Mr Button says.

"If a ewe is in the best possible condition, it will fight off predators. Their condition flows into so many aspects of lamb survival."

Feral rabbits are in abundance across the state and are providing foxes with a regular food source and keeping them in pretty good survival shape, according to PIRSA biosecurity operations coordinator - pest animals' Annette Scanlon.

"Reducing feral rabbits on-farm is just as important as baiting for foxes," she said.

"Poison bait use is currently the most effective broad-scale method of fox control but an integrated approach with a combination of strategies and techniques will help landowners manage foxes on their land."

Bounty collection days were held on the Eyre Peninsula, Limestone Coast, and at Yankalilla during March, with 2113 fox scalps collected.

"Landowners could also consider using Canid Pest Ejector units, which is an effective way of deploying 1080 to foxes," Dr Scanlon said.

The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board annual fox bait distribution days were held between February and March across 13 sites in the region.

District manager Kylie Moritz said more than 8000 fox baits were sold.

"Along with fox baiting conversations, we also had various conversations about rabbit baiting," she said.

"Many landholders took the opportunity to collect rabbit bait and bait layers to tackle the issue of rabbits on their properties."

A new regional fox bait app to collect fox bait information and data has also been launched for producers.

"This app will enable collation of all the fox bait sales across the region and provide a visual display map showing where fox baiting is occurring across the regional landscape," Ms Moritz said.

"It will show where people are baiting, where foxes are potentially more of an issue to primary producers and where we have gaps in the baiting program."

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