The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

FOX VULPES VULPES
Occurrence in the Survey Area
Currently uncommon. During the 2011 surveys foxes were detected
only three times: a scat on Surveyors Creek Trail, a camera trap
record on Ginkin Spur and tracks on a 1080 mound on Oaky Camp
Trail. Intensive fox control is performed at JKCR to protect the
brush-tailed rock-wallaby population as part of the FoxTAP. Baiting
is performed continuously on the reserve plus supplementary
trapping and offsite baiting. The program has recently expanded to
adjoining pine plantations, and bait uptake was high in the first
Fox. Photo © OEH
session (M. Jones pers. comm.). Fox activity at JKCR during the
period 2007-2009 was generally low (FoxTap unpublished data). In
the absence of control measures, foxes would be expected to be abundant at JKCR.
Regional Occurrence
The fox is common and widespread in the region (DECC 2007). It is listed as being at high abundance
in the Blue Mountains Region pest management strategy (DEC 2007). Foxes are ubiquitous
throughout vegetated, rural and urban areas of the eastern half of NSW.
Impacts in the Survey Area
Foxes are a key threatening process under the TSC Act and EPBC Act. A Threat Abatement Plan
(TAP) was endorsed in 2001 that outlines management priorities for NSW (NPWS 2001b). Foxes prey
on native species or compete with them for food and other resources; in particular ground-dwelling
and semi-arboreal mammals, ground-frequenting birds and turtles (Dickman 1996a, NPWS 2001b).
Within JKCR foxes have contributed to the decline or local extinction of a number of species, including
the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, brush-tailed phascogale, long-nosed potoroo, red-necked pademelon
and bettongs. Currently, the priority species that are most at risk are the brush-tailed rock-wallaby
(with young most at risk), spotted-tailed quoll, brush-tailed phascogale, eastern horseshoe bat and
eastern bentwing-bat. Foxes have been known to capture bats as they leave roosts.
Management Considerations
Maintain current fox management in accordance with the FoxTAP (NPWS 2001b). On
completion of the program baiting should be continued if a review has shown it to be effective.
Data generated from the FoxTAP should be entered into corporate databases.
If populations of the following species be rediscovered they should be a target for fox control:
long-nosed potoroo, red-necked pademelon or bettongs.
Trail building or disruption to the understorey benefit the fox and should be avoided. Closure
of unnecessary trails is recommended.
Support a cross-tenure approach to fox
management through continued cooperation and
integration of programs with neighbours.
Secondary control measures, such as shooting
and trapping are recommended to remove bait-shy
individuals.
Undertake feral cat control in conjunction with any
fox baiting programs.
Special effort must be made to keep up-to-date
with the latest recommendations regarding
avoiding off-target baiting of quolls, given the high
value population that occurs at JKCR.
Alternative delivery methods should also be trialled
(e.g. M44 ejectors) however the impact on spottedtailed
quolls should be considered.
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The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve