achieved is through the use of 1080 (sodium 
monofluroacetate) poison. 
The use of 1080 is prejudiced by its historical 
context where broad-scale baiting programs were 
employed in the control of native herbivores. 
However, the acute sensitivity of foxes to 1080, in 
combination with the natural tolerance of many 
of our native wildlife, enables the use of 
extremely low doses of 1080 (3mg per bait) to 
ensure species selectivity. 
based (less herbivore uptake), buried (5-10 cm) to 
reduce exposure to wildlife and are widely 
separated (approximately 200 m) to reduce 
multiple bait takes by any one animal. As a final 
measure, uneaten baits are removed after 14-28 
days. 
Following baiting in an area, post-baiting 
monitoring will be carried out by the FEP to 
identify foxes that may have survived baiting. 
Survivors will then be targeted with detection and 
removal operations. A key component of these 
operations will be the use of fox tracking dogs, 
which are currently in training. The dog teams 
have been undergoing training in Tasmania to 
ensure their efficiency in locating foxes while 
avoiding non-target scents within the Tasmanian 
landscape. We hope that the dogs will be ready 
for operations by the end of the year. 
Eradication is the goal. The integration of 
strategies, tools and programs recommended by 
expert advice will improve the likelihood of 
achieving this goal. However, without community 
support, success is not likely to be achieved. 
How can you help? 
Landowners can contribute by providing access to 
property for fox baiting, monitoring and 
investigation activities. Property access will be 
vital for the effectiveness of the strategic baiting 
program. 
All landowners in areas of recognised fox core 
habitat will, at some point in the coming years, be 
contacted requesting access permission. We 
encourage all members of the community to 
participate in this important program. 
We also need a community that is vigilant and 
reports any fox sightings or possible fox activity 
through the 24 hour hotline 1300 369 688 (1300 
FOX OUT). All reports are confidential and your 
information may be vital to the fox eradication 
effort. 
Should eradication not be achieved the result 
would be catastrophic for Tasmania. Only through 
a cooperative community effort will Tasmania 
again be fox free. 
Further information can be obtained through the 
FEP website; www.dpipwe.tas.gov.au/fox or by 
contacting Dave Sayers, Community Liaison 
Officer, on (03) 6233 8483 or email 
David.Savers(a)dpipwe.tas.gov.au . 
Peter Murrell Reserve Pitfalls—Primary Sorting Finished! 
Kevin Bonham 
n the July bulletin, Abbey reported on the 
sorting of 16 of the 42 invertebrate samples 
from Peter Murrell Reserve during our sorting day 
at the Uni in June. 
c 9 * + Recently I finished sorting and tallying 
4-» ® (S the other 26 (and also checking and 
fxL* where necessary, finishing those done 
in June). Abbey and I were going to 
* share this task, but I owed her lots of 
Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club 
BULLETIN 340 October 2010 p4 
