Victorian Government’s fox bounty passes 250,000 mark
JAMES WAGSTAFF THE WEEKLY TIMES MARCH 19, 2014 12:00AM

VICTORIA’S fox bounty has passed the quarter-million scalp mark.

Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh yesterday said 250,253 fox scalps had been handed in since the bounty began in October 2011.

He said farmers and shooters had been “rewarded with $2.5 million in bounty payments for their efforts”.

Under the bounty, shooters receive $10 a fox scalp and $100 for wild dogs. The wild dog bounty doubled from $50 at the start of last year.

Last October more than 870 wild-dog pelts had been handed in under the scheme.

Mr Walsh said a strong start to this year’s collection had bolstered the fox-scalp tally, with 7000 handed in since the start of this month.

“The only good fox is a dead fox, and I am pleased the … successful initiative is helping farmers deal with these vicious pests,” he said.

He said the strong support of the bounty “highlights the inadequacy of the previous Labor Government’s Fox Stop program, which eradicated just 20,034 foxes in three years”.

“This bounty has eradicated 12 times as many foxes in less time,” he said.

Mr Walsh last year told The Weekly Times the Government would “look to extend’’ program if re-elected in November.

Labor last year said the Government had done “reasonably well’’ on fox control but poorly overall on pest and disease management.

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