Almost 2500 fox scalps have been collected from South Australian farmers in the wake of the State Government’s bounty being put on the heads of the feral pest.

In August 2021, 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 and Regional Development 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,” Minister Basham 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.

“The feedback in most areas was that many people are collecting scalps and we expect to see a strong return across the state at the next round of collection days.” 

Upcoming collection days are planned at the SA Arid Lands Pastoral Field Day in Port Augusta in December 2021 and field days in Lucindale and Karoonda in March and April next year.

Livestock producers who have a Property Identification Code (PIC) are eligible to claim the bounty for each scalp taken to a collection point.

A minimum of 10 scalps and a maximum of 100 scalps per property can be claimed per collection day. Each property may claim up to a maximum of 300 scalps per year.

Farmers may enter into their own arrangements with professional and recreational shooters, but the person who claims the bounty at the 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.