MORE than 300,000 foxes have been eradicated under the State Government’s fox and wild dog bounty program, with more than $3 million paid to hunters.
The 300,000th fox scalp was submitted to the Warrnambool collection centre last week, less than three years since the bounty was introduced.
It was submitted by Portland hunter Garry Wombwell last Wednesday, who handed in 261 fox scalps at Warrnambool and a total of 512 since the bounty began in October 2011.
Mr Wombwell has been hunting foxes for 30 years and handed in the scalps on behalf of a small group of local shooters.
He said the program was a great incentive for local shooters to reduce the fox population and help promote the survival of native wildlife.
“Anything to control the fox is a good thing,” Mr Wombell said.
“You can see how many are around and you have to do everything you can – poison, the bounty and recreational shooting – to help control them.”
State Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh said the bounty of $10 per fox scalp and $100 per wild dog skin aimed to compensate hunters for their efforts, and recognised their contribution to controlling these pests.
“The only good fox is a dead fox,” Mr Walsh said.
He said the State Government was committed to an integrated approach to fox and wild dog control which included a combination of baiting, trapping and shooting.
