Does baiting influence the relative composition of the diet of foxes?

Abstract

The changes in the diet of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Jervis Bay Region was assessed following a long-term baiting program by analysing the composition of fox faecal excreta (scats). In all, 470 fox scats were collected between April and August 2003 from two baited sites, Booderee National Park (BNP) and Beecroft Peninsula, and from two unbaited sites in the southern and northern parts of Jervis Bay National Park (SJBNP and NJBNP respectively). Diet was compared between these sites and mammalian diet was also compared from scats collected before baiting in 1996 and after baiting in 2000 at Beecroft Peninsula and in 2001 at Booderee National Park. In 2003, the most common species consumed by foxes was the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), except at unbaited NJBNP, where the swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) was the most frequent dietary item. Significant dietary differences were found between unbaited and baited sites, with the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) and P. peregrinus featuring more in the diet of foxes from the baited sites. Marked increases in the frequency of occurrence of P. peregrinus and P. nasuta in fox scats occurred from before baiting through to after baiting. Relative fox abundance, as indexed by the number of scats collected per kilometre, was lowest in Booderee, followed by Beecroft, then SJBNP, with NJBNP having the highest relative abundance of foxes. We suggest that baiting did affect the diet of foxes on both peninsulas and that the dietary changes across baiting histories were intrinsically related to an increase in abundance in some taxa as a result of relaxed predator pressure following sustained fox control. However, the lack of unbaited control sites over the whole study precludes a definitive conclusion.

Attitudes to native bandicoots in an urban environment

“…Bandicoots are known to be a preferred food option for foxes and baiting will cause a reduction in predation (Roberts et al 2006). The generalist and opportunistic habits of bandicoots allow them to persist in fragmented habitats of remnant bushland (Quin 1985;Gordon and Hulbert 1989;Mallick et al 1998;Garden et al 2006;Pickett and Cadenasso 2006).…”

Unintended Consequences of Invasive Predator Control in an Australian Forest: Overabundant Wallabies and Vegetation Change

“…The swamp wallaby ( Wallabia bicolor) is a specialist browsing macropod [33] and is the most common macropod species at BNP. It is also an important component of the diet of foxes in BNP [34], [35]. Less common mammalian herbivores present at BNP are the eastern grey kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus ), red necked wallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus ), common brushtail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula ), common ringtail possum ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus ) and bush rat ( Rattus fuscipes ) [31].…”

Booderee National Park Management: Connecting science and management

“…In addition, an extensive baiting programme for feral predators has been underway for more than a decade in BNP (Roberts et al . ).…”

“…The area also has a well-documented and carefully mapped fire history dating back several decades (Lindenmayer et al 2008b). In addition, an extensive baiting programme for feral predators has been underway for more than a decade in BNP (Roberts et al 2006).…”