Feral animals

Foxes are twice as common in urban areas than in agricultural zones. Studies show that in areas where fox baiting has been carried out, native animals recover and return to their now-safe natural habitats.

Willoughby City Council is a partner with twelve other Councils, Taronga Zoo and the National Parks and Wildlife Service in a fox-baiting program. This program has been successful in reducing fox numbers in Willoughby, and Council is optimistic that native animal populations will grow. Long-nosed bandicoots are already returning to fox-free areas.

Council has a permit from the Rural Lands Protection Board which has strict guidelines for baiting.

Fox poison is only placed when there is clear evidence that a fox is living in the area. To check the presence of foxes, clean bait (not poisoned) is buried deep beneath a circle of sand. If fox paw prints are found on the sand, then a poisoned bait is buried.

The approved poison used is Foxoff® ‘1080’ Fox Bait. It is a canine-specific poison which means that Australian wildlife is less susceptible but domestic dogs are easily affected. This is why dogs are not allowed in bush reserves during the six-week baiting period.

Note: There are no active fox baiting programs scheduled at this time.

To report a fox sighting please use Feral Scan.

Cat trapping has been introduced to help prevent cats from straying, becoming feral and harming the environment. Feral cats are difficult to manage due to uncontrolled breeding and their impact on wildlife, including birds and small native animals. They can also harass domestic pets and cause nuisance behaviours such as territorial marking around homes and gardens.

Council sets cage traps for suspected feral or stray cats in bushland reserves only and does not use poison. Traps are baited (for example, with sardines). If a pet cat is trapped, it is taken to a local vet to check for a microchip. Microchipped cats are returned to their owners, and a fine will be issued if the cat was caught in a Wildlife Protection Area. Pet cats should never be allowed to enter reserves.

Residents can help by keeping their cats away from strays and feral cats to prevent unwanted breeding and the spread of disease. Never feed a stray cat unless you intend to care for it as a pet—stray cats form a direct link between domestic and feral cat populations.

Rabbits are a problem in urban environments and reserves. In backyards they eat vegetables, dig holes and leave behind large amounts of faeces. In bushland they damage native vegetation and prevent regeneration by eating seedlings.

Willoughby is part of a regional rabbit management plan to control rabbits in bushland areas. The best methods to achieve this are still being discussed.