The Limestone Coast Landscape Board is encouraging landholders to include a spring fox poison baiting program in their efforts to reduce the predator’s impact.

Limestone Coast Landscape Board Landscape Officer Josh Rosser said Spring was breeding season for foxes, with an increased food demand for rearing young.

“Baiting now, during spring, then again in autumn when foxes are beginning to disperse, is best practice and can achieve a substantial reduction in the population,” he said.

“A successful control program is a win-win to reduce fox numbers before autumn lambing and protect our native wildlife.

“In the Limestone Coast, ground-dwelling birds such as the malleefowl are susceptible to fox predation.”

Mr Rosser said malleefowl were one of only three mound-building bird species in Australia and were listed as vulnerable under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

“Spring is when the malleefowl eggs are incubated in their mounds, meaning now is when the eggs and parents tending the mounds are at high risk from fox predation,” he said.

“Landholders are reminded there is no stand-alone method to control foxes and working with your neighbours has a much greater result.

“The best fox control programs are achieved through landholders coordinating their baiting efforts and utilising a variety of methods such as ground shooting, baiting and den fumigation.”

Landscape Officers are able to supply 1080 fox baits, PAPP fox baits, canid pest ejector capsules, and provide trap hire.

To support ground shooting efforts, PIRSA offer a fox bounty program and provide fox scalp collection days in the Limestone Coast.

Further information about their next collection days are available on their website.