June 7th 2011

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Fox trap sabotage claim Dog walkers blamed for early end to vermin campaign

Fox not on the run: Soft jaw traps hold feral animals like foxes without breaking legs or cutting into flesh until the trapper returns next day to euthanised them according to strict rules. Trapped dogs are taken to a pound or released, depending on the protocol and location of a trapping program. They limp off with a swollen foot at worst. Picture: Virgil Janko

By Mike Hast DOG walkers are being blamed for sabotaging fox traps in the coastal strip at Crib Point last month, setting back a government-funded feral animal control program. Almost a quarter of about 40 soft jaw traps set in bushland off main walking tracks have been set off with sticks or pulled out of the ground by humans. The sabotage has forced fox trappers to abandon setting more traps after weeks of tracking fox movements. Foxes have become shy of walking through the areas disturbed by humans and have changed their habits. “It’s hard enough catching foxes without this interference,� said professional trapper Virgil Janko. “We’re only in here for a few weeks each year; it’s important work and we’re asking dog walkers to give us a chance to do it. It’s inconvenient when we close off part of a reserve, but you can still walk along the main tracks through the reserve. We’re asking people to stick to the rules, keep their dogs on leads, stay on the main tracks and, obviously, don’t disturb the traps.� Mr Janko said he had detected size 9, 10 and 11 footprints near the disturbed traps as well as dog pawprints. “Most of the footprints are from blokes, but there have

been women in here, too.� He said the tampering had occurred from day two of a twoweek program. “It’s very disappointing. You’re trying to get a fox to stand on a square inch of ground to set off the trap. It’s taken 10 weeks of survey work to decide where to place the traps.� He said foxes became “super suspicious� once they smell the fresh scent of dogs and changed their route. Soft jaw traps do not injure an animal, but hold it until the trapper returns next day. Foxes are euthanised according to strict rules. Dogs are taken to a pound or released, depending on the protocol and location of a trapping program. “It’s not like the bad old days when traps broke and lacerated legs,� Mr Janko said. “I’ve caught many dogs over the years. When you let them out, they just limp off with a swollen foot at worst. Fox control along the Western Port shore is a long-term integrated feral animal control project funded by the federal government’s Caring for our Country program. Cecelia Witton of Crib Point– Stony Point foreshore committee said the sabotage had happened before but was worse this year. “We’re annoyed at the waste of time and money.� Continued Page 4

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