Why homesteading can at times be a trial.

We have had serious damage done in our various poultry breeds by foxes in the past but about four years ago we installed Fox Lights (http://www.foxlights.com/).

I discovered these by talking to a local sheep farmer who told me that he had lost lambs to foxes every night up until he installed his first two lights and after that he never lost a lamb to foxes. The following year he installed a further two lights and the year after another two giving him a total of six lights.

We have two lights and have not lost any poultry to a fox since they were installed but we also upgraded our fencing because of the prior losses. Fox lights work but I believe they do need help, secure fencing, locking stock in at night and having a dog that can lay its scent around the place also helps.

I also lay 1080 baits if I feel that there are foxes hanging around and in the past we have had a lot of (35 to 40) foxes take baits as we have infra red cameras that we use to see what is actually taking them. We also allow shooters to walk over our property several times a year to spotlight for foxes and I believe that this is a must as I do not believe that when it comes to foxes that one solution on its own is the best, it may work for a while but in the long term several means of attack are warranted.

Foxes are capable of predating all of the native animal species in an area and if you think foxes are cute then please take into account what the rural areas would be like if fox numbers were not controlled.

I know I'm being too urban by saying that she's cute, but waking up to a decimated chicken coup is not 'cute'. Although we have never had poultry or ducks, I have seen what it does to a 'family on a farm' being there when they discover in the morning most of their chooks either dead or severely injured. Everyone suffers and when you depend on every area of the farm to sustain you, the loss is great. We had some Herefords and we lost one to a plastic bag carelessly discarded. She was the first to drop a calf and she would allow us to pat and rub around her ears. It was devastating because she was not only 'a special girl', but a lot a blood sweat and tears, not to mention money, goes into raising any form of livestock. Between foxes, feral cats and wild dogs, its a wonder we have any native wildlife left. Some family friends had sheep and wild dogs packs were decimating their herd until they got in some alpacas.

Just a point about 1080.

I am not a primary producer but I do have an ACUP (Agricultural Chemical User Permit) issued by the Department Of Primary Industries and with that I have a 1080 certification.

These qualifications are not that hard to come by but it must be remembered that 1080 must be used with extreme care as it is fatal if taken by a domestic dog, either your own or another persons pet or working dog. I am against urbanites obtaining 1080 certification unless they really have a legitimate use for it as there have been cases in the past where it has been used indiscriminately in urban areas.

We have several dogs and when I lay baits they must be penned even for several days after foxes have taken the baits or I have collected them as you can never be sure if a fox has actually swallowed it or dropped it nearby.

There are also fairly strict regulations about contacting neighbours before baits are laid and signs must be posted stating that baits are laid in the area.

If possible shooting is the best answer followed up by the destruction of their habitat.

We have a good dog that will attack a fox and we also have neighbours that shoot/spotlight during the lambing season and this appears to make them more susceptible to the effects of the fox lights.

A good dog is also great for the control of cats as most cats will head up a tree to get away and if you can tether the dog by the tree it gives you an opportunity to get a means of its destruction. We use cat traps if we know that there are cats about but in the 20 so years we have been here we have only caught and destroyed five or six cats on our own property.

One of the disappointing facts about cats that I learnt in the eighties is that they are immune to the bite of the Sydney funnel web spider.

Just picked up my new .243 today. If I was closer I'd come and put in a shift with you VegHead.

Sure Joey, I'll take some snaps tomorrow for you.

I think foxes are rather pretty animals, unfortunately they do need some lead in their diets.

The bounty was there last year $30 for ear to ear.

I bait my fox trap with Indian mynas. Win win.

Thanks Veg, did you make that?
Is the trigger a rod with the food tied to it?
And what are the aprox dimentions?