Last month Gunning District Landcare held two events to support the region’s ongoing efforts to control foxes. These were made possible by a grant from the Managing Established Pest Animals and Weeds (MEPAAW) program, funded by NSW DPI and delivered by Landcare NSW.

The first was a 'Fox Baiting Breakfast', on 5^th June, organised to thank group leaders and fox baiting participants for their significant ongoing efforts to protect stock and wildlife at a landscape scale. The event also provided an opportunity to hear Bob Spiller give a fascinating presentation on the local history of the Feral Fox Fighter program. Bob outlined some of the early efforts to control foxes in our region, and how foxes contributed to the decline of wildlife, including the local disappearance of the Eastern Stone Curlew. He went on to explain how Jerrawa Creek Landcare’s highly successful Tussock Tamers model was adopted to develop the Feral Fox Fighter program and how substantial work went into publicity and enabling access to free 1080 accreditation training and baits. At this breakfast we also heard from our friendly local LLS Biosecurity staff on the outcomes of the recent round of baiting, and there was an open and wide-ranging discussion with LLS staff about ways to improve the program as we move forward.

The second event was a free 1080/Pindone accreditation training session held on 8^th June and conducted by Scott Schlunke, Senior Biosecurity Officer from Yass LLS. This training was very well attended - it was held on a Saturday morning to make it available to people who work off-farm during the week. It was acknowledged again at this training how controlling foxes is the business of all landholders – whether they are large scale sheep or cattle farmers, conservation block owners, hobby farmers, or weekenders. We will to continue to work with LLS and to reach out to all the different types of landholders to ensure we are doing all we can to protect wildlife and stock from foxes in the Gunning region.