Baiting for foxes
Baits containing 1080 and PAPP are used for feral fox control in South Australia. Baiting is an efficient way to control fox populations and reduce their impacts on agricultural production and native species.
Careful planning and application of your baiting program will maximise its effects and minimise impacts on non-target animals.
Baiting should be used with an integrated control plan using different control methods.
When to bait foxes
Baiting can occur all year round but is best in spring when adults are finding food for their cubs and in summer when the juveniles are moving into new territories.
Using 1080 fox baits on your property
Your property must be at least 5 hectares (12 acres) to bait for foxes.
If your property is less than 5 hectares, you can form a group with neighbours to make up 5 hectares for a coordinated group baiting program. Group baiting programs must be coordinated with an accredited landscape board officer.
How to order baits
Contact your Landscape South Australia (LSA) Board for information on how to get, store and use 1080 or PAPP baits on your property.
Landholders and managers must sign an Approval to Possess 1080 and PAPP Bait form when they collect baits.
If you cannot collect baits in person, or if you are not the person who will conduct the baiting on your property, you must nominate an agent and fill out an Approval for Nominated Agent to Collect form (). The agent must bring this completed form with them to collect the baits.
Canid pest ejector (CPE) units can also be purchased through local agricultural retailers.
Laying baits
Always follow the directions for use and bait label for the baiting product and read the safety data sheet when using baits.
1080 bait for foxes
1080 bait for foxes
Canid Pest Ejector 1080 fox capsules
Canid Pest Ejector 1080 fox capsules
Foxecute (PAPP) fox bait
Foxecute (PAPP) fox bait
Fresh meat baits for foxes must be laid on the day that they are prepared; they cannot be stored or frozen.
Baits should be placed approximately 250 m apart and buried to a depth of 8-10 cm; use a maximum of 10 baits per square kilometre. Fox baits must be placed at least:
- 500 m from a dwelling (other than own dwelling) or public building
- 20 m from permanent or flowing water bodies
- 5 m inside boundary fences, allow greater distances wherever possible
- 20 m from the edge of public roadways without a boundary fence
A few well-positioned baits can be more effective than laying more poorly positioned baits. Suitable locations for baits include, near to:
- private roads
- tracks
- livestock pads
- higher ground
- water sources
- areas with thick vegetation.
Notify your neighbours before using poison baits
You must notify all neighbours at least 72 hours before any poison bait is laid on a property. This includes neighbours separated by a road.
To notify your neighbours, use the baiting foxes and wild dogs neighbour notification letter template ( or ).
All notifications must be recorded on a neighbour notification record sheet ( or ) and kept for 2 years.
Display a sign
When you bait, you must place baiting signs on:
- all property entry points
- fences that border public roads
The signs inform people that it is not safe for domestic animals and livestock.
Signs are provided by your landscape board.
After laying baits
Baits should be checked 2 to 3 times a week. Baits that have been taken should be replaced with commercially manufactured baits.
It is rare to see dead foxes after baiting. Foxes may remove the bait, cache it, or consume it away from the property. Death is not immediate after a fox eats a bait.
Laying bait at the recommended interval (one every 250 m) will minimise the risk of foxes removing and storing multiple baits.
What to do if it rains
After rainfall, all baits should be collected and replaced with fresh ones.
The 1080 poison will dilute when baits get wet. Foxes that take diluted baits may get a sub-lethal dose. The surviving fox can become bait-shy and difficult to control.
Disposing of untaken baits
You should pick up baits after 1 week if they are not taken by a fox. The 1080 poison degrades over time and laid baits can become sub-lethal to foxes after 2 weeks, particularly in moist, warm soil.
Untaken baits and baits degraded by rain must be disposed of by either:
- deep burial (below 0.5 metres)
- incineration
Regardless of rainfall and timelines, always assume 1080 baits are lethal to your dogs and other animals.