A team of landholders from north Kellerberrin has claimed
victory in a local feral pest hunt.
The Red Card for the Red Fox program aims to coordinate
community action for better control of feral foxes, cats and rabbits, and has
been underway across the central Wheatbelt during March and April.
The shoot, organised by the Kellerberrin Shire, was held in
March and April, over two weekends.
Wheatbelt NRM sponsored the Highest Points Trophy and the
community BBQ as part of the Caring for Our Country Program. Wheatbelt NRM’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Mick Davis
said eight teams competed from around Kellerberrin district.
“Because of the combined effort, 328 foxes were culled along
with 22 cats and 72 rabbits,” Mick said.
The winning team was North Kellerberrin, made up of Andrew
Cox (North Kellerberrin), Brian Wilkins (Doodlakine), Bryce Wilkins (North
Kellerberrin) and Ben Chandler (South Doodlakine), who tallied 61 foxes and
four cats.
“These events are a more effective way of controlling feral
animals,” Mick Davis said. "Foxes and cats prey on our native wildlife, which often includes threatened or rare species"
"Without active feral control like the Red Card program, species like the Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, which live in the Kellerberrin District would already be extinct"
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| Photo by Phil Lewis, WWF |
Landholder Ben Chandler from south Doodlakine, who was part
of the winning team, said the event helped get more people involved.
“It makes it easy, usually if you go out fox shooting it’s
only a couple of hours by yourself,” Ben Chandler said. “But when you have an event like the Red Card program, it
gives you a motivation to all get together.
“Otherwise you would never get together and shoot so many
foxes.”
If you are interested in becomming involved in the Red Card for the Red Fox program, contact Mick on 0428 969 096 or mdavis@wheatbeltnrm.org.au
Or, visit the Red Card website at http://www.redcard.net.au/
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