The effect of diet, behavior and habitat of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) on the native ecosystem at king park, perth, western australia

DOCUMENTATION PAGE WITH ABSTRACT Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Thesis Title The effect of diet, behavior and habitat of red foxes Vulpes Vulpes on the native ecosyst

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Study Mode : Full- time

Major : Environmental Science and Management

Faculty : International Programs Office

Batch : 2015 – 2019

Thai Nguyen, September 2019

DOCUMENTATION PAGE WITH ABSTRACT

Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry

Thesis Title

The effect of diet, behavior and habitat of red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes)

on the native ecosystem at King Park, Perth, Western Australia

Kings Perth is one of the largest city parks in the world, covering an area of

400 hectares, located right next to the city center of Perth, Western Australia, Australia The park is famous for its natural jungle, which stores the genetic resources of wild animals and plants in the world Red foxes are a wild creature easily trapped in this park With large numbers and the ability to grow and develop rapidly, red foxes become a threat to indigenous animals and plants such as birds nesting on the ground, small to medium sized animals’ vase and especially green turtles Foxes survive in a variety of habitats, including urban, alpine, and arid regions Outside urban areas, it seems to be the most abundant in the heavily wooded areas often found in agricultural landscapes that provide plenty of shelter and food Foxes eat almost everything, scavenge and hunt for whatever is

available Its main food source is small animals, but it also eats insects and fruits Fatal reasons for foxes comprise shooting, catching, and hunting Diseases, for example, manage and distemper are the main reason for death in fox populaces Hence, it can be seen that the development, increase and conduct of foxes will impact significantly on local species, especially in King Perth Nature Park

Date of submission 23/09/2019

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To finish the educational program of Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, graduation preparing is crucial for each student The graduation practice is a chance for students to affirm their ability, simultaneously contact with practices and help students have logic research measure before graduation

From that reality, with the advocate of the Executive Board of the Advanced Program in Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Edith Cowan University, as well as the School Board, I implemented a study about the topic: "The impact of diet, behaviour and natural surroundings of red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) on native ecosystem at King Park, Perth, Western Australia” Having accomplished the results of this theme, I would like to send my sincere and gratitude to you that you have been committed to conferring knowledge all through the learning process Especially the instructor Dr David Blake, Dr Rob David, Dr Harriet Mills and Dr Bui Quang Binh have devotedly guided and supported me to implement this graduation thesis

Due to the limited level of experience and practical work, the lack of information and materials, this graduation thesis does not eliminate initiating disadvantages in both content and structure Therefore, I hope to receive the contribution and feedback of teachers to accomplish the thesis

Your sincerely!

TABLE OF CONTENT

DOCUMENTATION PAGE WITH ABSTRACT i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

TABLE OF CONTENT iv

LIST OF FIGURES 1

LIST OF TABLES 2

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 3

PART I INTRODUCTION 9

1.1 Overall about the study 9

1.2 Objectives of the study 11

1.3 Research question 11

PART II LITERATURE REVIEW 12

2.1 Red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) 12

2.2 Components influencing fox control 13

2.2.1 Influence of other species 14

2.2.2 Effects of wild rabbits, rays and wild cats 15

2.2.3 Benefits from foxes 16

2.2.4 Cultural values 17

2.3 Methods to curb the rapid development of foxes 18

2.3.1 Traps 20

2.3.2 Biological control 22

2.3.3 Barriers 24

2.3.4 Management of living environment 27

2.4 The distribution of the Red Fox in the King park area and the impact of the fox on the native creatures 27

PART III METHODS 29

3.1 Position selected 29

3.2 Study the fox's diet 29

3.2.1 Collect and identify fox SCAT 29

3.2.2 Prepare and analyse content 30

3.2.3 Statistical analysis 31

3.3 Study the population density of the fox 32

3.3.1 Camera settings 32

3.3.2 Calculating fox population density 33

3.3.3 Calculation model and report detection 33

3.4 Habitat analysis 34

PART IV RESULTS 35

4.1 Diet of foxes 35

4.2 Camera trap results 37

4.3 Composition and density of species 38

4.4 Seasonal effects and habitats for foxes 38

PART V CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION 42

5.1 Discussion 42

5.2 Conclusion 48

REFERENCES 49

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 3.1 Kings Park, Eastern Australia, Australia 29 Figure 4.1 Cameras position 37

LIST OF TABLES

Table 2.1 Types of fences are used to exclude foxes, rabbits and feral cats 25 Table 4.1 Results from a diet analysis of the sweeping foxes were collected from Kings Park and Bold Park, Western Australia 36 Table 4.2 Results of model selection for long-term monitoring of red foxes occurred in Kings Park, Western Australia 39 Table 4.3 Probability takes up space for foxes in Kings Park 40 Table 4.4 The results of model selection for different detection methods are used for fox surveillance in Kings Park, Western Australia 40

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

PART I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overall about the study

In are, Western Australia is the biggest state in Australia It occupies up to one-third of Australia's area of more than 2,500,000 km2 With the total territory

of more than 2,500,000 km2 Perth has about two million people, is the capital of Western Australia Furthermore, Perth is well-known to be one of the most wonderful cities in Australia.1

King Park is a 400.6-hectare park situated in Perth and overlooking the central business district of Perth, Western Australia The park is a mixture of grass parks, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two-thirds of the land conserved as natural bushland Offering panoramic views of Swan River and Darling Range, this is home to more than 324 indigenous tree species, 215 known native fungal species and 80 bird species

The red fox is the most abundant terrestrial wild predator Since the last century, this species has invaded urban areas in Europe, Australia, America, Canada and Japan It was deliberately introduced to Australia for hunting in 1855 and the population was built up in the wild in the early 1870s During 100 years, this species had spread crosswise over Australia, except for northern tropical regions and some offshore islands

Urban foxes only capable of doing small damage to the economy but can cause certain recognizable influences through their routines such as hunting, digging and jeopardize the gardens and lawns (especially significant problem when Kings Park is classified as an A-class reserve), stealing pet food and also

can harass the pets as well Nevertheless, their close relationship with people and domestic animals can lead to the spread of diseases or parasites because red foxes can become the host of those diseases, such as mange and distemper

In Kings Park, through the observation and encounters with staffs and visitors, they suggest a small number of foxes are presenting at the area and monitoring results confirm that the amount is not high.2

Research on fox, sightings have remained stable lately recently, despite the fact that there have been several encounters near the State War Memorial The problem of these foxes is that they are not isolated to Kings Park, and this kind animal are challenges for the entire urban and rural region

The development of the red fox populace imparted a solid connect to the decrease in the dissemination of some medium-sized ground-abiding well-evolved mammals which comprise burrowing bettongs, Numbats, Bridled Nail tail wallabies, Rufous bettongs, Bilbies, Quokkas, and Brush-Tailed bettongs The big rate of these species now just live in a particular region, (for example, islands) where they are not

a threat to them

In 2016, researchers have conducted that in Australia, a few red foxes had learned the ability to reach for higher place such as climbing trees or ledges to seek baby koalas and other un-looked for creatures such as gliders, threatened to the long-held faith that tree-dwelling creatures were safe due to the height these animals can reach.3

I recognized that the impacts of this foxes have large consequences to the

environment Based on the above, this study investigated: “The effect of diet,

2 https://wwwo0i-0bgpa.wa.gov.au

3

behaviour and habitat of red foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) on ecosystem at King Park, Perth, Western Australia”

1.2 Objectives of the study

Study the diet, behaviour and environment of the Red Fox for indigenous ecosystems in King Park, Perth, Western Australia, thereby proposing methods to limit the growth of foxes in an effective manner for the ecosystem

1.3 Research question

- What is the diet of foxes in Kings Park?

- What is the population density of fox species in Kings Park?

- Factors affecting the development of fox species?

PART II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Red fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

The red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) is the biggest fox and one of the most broadly disseminated individuals from Carnivora, present in the whole northern side of the equator from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, North America and Eurasia It is concerned as the least concern of IUCN Its range has increased with human expansion, which has been introduced into Australia, where it is considered to be harmful to native mammals and birds According to Bradley et al.1998, it is comprised in the list of 100 worst noticeably intrusive species on the planet

During Middle Villafranchian period, they supposedly originated from an ancestor in Eurasia and attacked North America not long after the Wisconsin ice age The number of real foxes, red foxes illustrate a more advanced form of meat-eating In addition to large sizes, red foxes are also distinguished from other foxes by their capacity to adjust rapidly to new environments These species often produce other coloured individuals, including leucosticte and melanocytic individuals Forty-five subspecies are now recognized, divided into two categories: the big northern fox and the basic southern fox of Asia and North Africa

Red foxes are pairs or shrink groups together comprising of families, for example, a mating pair and their offspring, or a male with many children who are related The young of the mating pair stays with their parents to support the care

of the new kit This species mainly feeds on small rodents, although rabbits, reptiles, game birds, invertebrates and young ungulates can be their target Fruits

and vegetables are sometimes eaten In spite of the fact that the red fox will in general murder littler predators, including different foxes, bigger predators such

as wolves, wolves, golden jackals and large dogs medium size often attack them

(Reichelt et al., 2006)

They had a long history of connection with people, has been hunted aggressively as a pest and furry for centuries, as well as expressed in human culture and mythology of mankind Because of its wide distribution and large population, they are one of the most crucial fur animals harvested for fur trade human habitation, and has successfully invaded many suburban and urban areas Red domestication is additionally in progress in Russia and has led to domesticated red foxes

Scientific name: Vulpes vulpes

Life span: 2 - 5 years (In nature)

Weight: 2.2 - 14 kg (Mature)

Nutrition level: Omnivorous

Height: 35 - 50 cm (Mature, Height calculated from the shoulder)

Length: 45 - 90 cm (Mature, No tail)

Pregnancy: 49 - 58 days4

2.2 Components influencing fox control

This section considers some factors to consider when conducting fox control It includes impacts on non-target species; effects of wild rabbits, rays and wild cats; Creature welfare concerns and the issues of culture

4

2.2.1 Influence of other species

Numerous local birds, marsupials, and reptiles can withstand 1080 than foxes Some places have toxins naturally occur in some native plants like Western Australia Nevertheless, there is a hazard in any harming effort that some local carnivores and scavengers might be killed by eating foxes Among the local creatures known to be the highest risk from fox hunting is the quoll (Dasyurus) These cat-sized predators are known to have baits in some cases, and

a few state laws do not allow bait in known quoll areas The wealth of two species in of quoll and Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) in Tasmania is the reason why eradicating foxes by trapping is considered impossible; however, the study of the possible effect of 1080 on native species indicates a negligible

population effect (Saunders et al., 2006)

Establishing specific fishing protocols by region for foxes can minimize the effect of non-target species Saunders et al in 1995 discussed methods to minimize risks for non-target species, including: making primers too large for little creatures to swallow and as well difficult for them to tear; Covered bait to make them less opened; Minimize dose 1080 in each primer; and conduct surveys to detect potentially high-risk animals and avoid bait near them In a later distribution, according to Saunders and McLeod in 2007, the potential dangers for non-target species with foxes that obtain the ability to revitalize primers once they have toxic and dioxin effects Transfer bait in large distances from the bait

line Martin et al., 2002 argued that Pro-primers have been shown to be toxic to

chuditch and palm-tailed phascogales in captive experiments Nevertherness, none of the species killed when the poisoned Pro-bait was supplied to the wild

populations and it was certified for utilizing at Western Shield locations

(Saunders et al., 2006)

The population of quoll may likewise be compromised by foxes rivalling them for sustenance; For instance, Saunders and McLeod (2007) revealed strong similitudes in diets between foxes and quolls Sometimes it can be difficult to consider the risk of poisoning not being focused against harm brought about by

an uncontrolled fox populace Further research is expected to help basic decision

in these cases

2.2.2 Effects of wild rabbits, rays and wild cats

According to Corbett and Saunders et al.,1995) the emergence and

abundance of rabbits and rays have been shown to influence the amount of foxes Bunnies and foxes are thought to have comparable dispersions on the Australian mainland and bunnies are one of the fox's preferred foods When the number of rabbits is high, the fox population usually grows strongly and when the number

of rabbits decreases, the fox population is usually reduced (Williams et al.,

1995) Therefore, the control of rabbits is important for any activity to achieve long-term repression of foxes (Newsome, 1990) However, the consequence of reducing the number of rabbits in the fox may be to switch to hunting more often

on native species According to Corbett et al., 1995, this should likewise be

concerned with any control program of foxes

The tombstone is popular in the north and centre of Australia, but has been controlled significantly the mainland of the southeast and far southwest

Saunders et al., 1995 supposed in the press that there is significant proof that in

certain regions where it is normal, foxes are prohibited or their numbers are

stifled and research indicates that falcons protect According to Pettigrew in

1993, a wide range of local animal types by controlling strange predators, for example, foxes and felines in some regions Clairvoyants find food in the same way as foxes and are susceptible to similar fishing methods There is no possibility to choose poisonous foxes in an area with boats

Studies investigating fox control recommend that felines might be avoided

or the numbers of foxes are suppressed in the popular place of foxes and the decrease in the quantity of foxes may prompt growth in the number of cats If these suggestions are confirmed, it will make sense for the application of fox control and integration with cat management

With a high degree of collaboration between foxes, felines and bunnies, the activities determined in the plan, whenever possible, must be integrated with details in TAP for cats and wild rabbits

2.2.3 Benefits from foxes

Currently, Agent 1080 is the main method to control foxes The managers

of wildlife as well as pest support significantly the continued use of it, but some animal protection groups often do not accept that the 1080 poisoning bait is humane Their concern concerns the possible suffering of foxes poisoned in bait programs These concerns can be addressed by including an agent for pain, sedation or anxiety (reduced muscle spasms), joined with 1080 baits, and is a region that that needs further study

Consultation with the protection organizations of animals, for example, the Royal Society for Cruelty Prevention of Animals has been encouraged through recent advancements; e.g discussion

A national approach to pest control of human vertebrate animals (HVPC Working Group, 2004)

The Ministry of Environment and Heritage (now the Ministry of Environment, Water, Heritage and Art) commissioned the development of a set

of codes of training and standard working systems (SOPs) to capture, process and destroy wild animals According to Sharp and Saunders (2004b), code of practice for humanitarian control of foxes gives data and proposals for vertebrate pest managers responsible for controlling foxes, comprising suggest to choose the most humane, specific, cost-effective and effective control application Saunders

et al., in 1995 and McLeod in 2007, the problems of creature welfare related to

fox control

The fox SOPs include information on aerial bait, ground-based bait ground-fired, densified by density, traps by using traps as well as trapping by cage traps Each SOP gives data on the fitting use of the technique of the method, considering animal welfare, health and safety considerations, necessary

equipment and procedures to guide the manager (Robley et al., 2004)

2.2.4 Cultural values

Examining the different cultural values associated with foxes must be a significant factor of any control program The value of culture placed on foxes vary due to the worth framework of the monitor Australia's unique fauna is highly appreciated by society and many foxes believe this is a threat to native fauna However, some people will consider them animals that have the right to go to a place in the Australian environment In 2005, Rose argued that some indigenous people recognize animals introduced as part of the mainland and consider them as

newcomers rather than wild In certain pieces of Australia, foxes are still hunted to play sports

Australians have a special role in managing natural and cultural areas, especially in areas where strong traditional knowledge and skills Indigenous people can explain the landscape and provide insight into the local history of some species, and in some situations can observe each animal Indigenous people can perform a variety of other roles in wildlife control, in addition to observing; for example, by being contracted to remove, monitor and manage foxes Since the legal owner and manager of huge areas of Australia, local communities are

immensely crucial groups in managing Australian wildlife (O’Brien et al., 1995)

2.3 Methods to curb the rapid development of foxes

Resisting the development of Fox is an attractive prospect because, once achieved, it does not require any additional commitment on resources; however, restraint is not currently considered a viable proposition for mainland Australia According to Bomford and Over Brien (1995), to restrain the fox:

• The death rate must be greater than the rate of replacement at all population densities

• Do not immigrate

• Sufficient foxes must be at risk from control techniques to mortality due

to all causes of population decline

• All foxes must be detected even at low density

• Analysis of cost reduction benefits must support the abolition of control and the political-social environment must be appropriate

Completely eliminating foxes from Australia is beyond the capabilities of available techniques and resources because this species is well established in a large area However, wiping out an island, or of a newly localized population, may be feasible when providing a fast, well-funded, and enduring campaign

Saunders and McLeod (2007) reviewed current knowledge about techniques to suppress fox populations, including bait, shoot, trap, disinfect or destroy, and eliminate fences The review concludes that, with the exception of wide bait, current control methods are costly and labour-intensive, requiring continuous management efforts and can only be effective in limited areas

Fertility control through immunological immunity has been studied as an

alternative or complementary measure for fox control (Bradley et al., 1998), as well as chemical fertility control (Marks et al., 1996) Olsen in 1998 supposed

other methods like the use of protective creatures have been promoted However, have not been fully evaluated in Australia

Fox's hunting problems range from the scale of each fox at the local level,

to fox populations at the national park level or the agricultural sector (Saunders et

al., 1995) The size of the issue will decide the most suitable and powerful

methods for control Huge regions can be targeted most appropriately by aerial fishing or fertility control, while individual assets can use guard dogs The cost-effectiveness and efficiency for each control and combination technique for coordinated control programs, ought to be estimated before choosing on the most appropriate strategy

Fox control will also be best achieved when integrated methods target neighbourhood or provincial conditions and utilize the most fitting arrangement

of choices to decrease and control the number of populations and their impacts Care should be taken in selecting and implementing control methods to minimize any non-target impacts due to control activities

The control methods discussed here are primers, biological control, boundaries, territory the board, shooting and rewards

2.3.1 Traps

In most situations, poisoning is the most effective method to reduce the amount and impact of foxes, although the main disadvantage is that it can affect native predators and scavengers like dingoes, quoll, goannas and some birds pick

up trash and even dogs The benefit of this control method is limited to trapped areas and, unless some barriers prevent encroachment, exist only as long as regular fishing is applied

Primers used in Australia include injection eggs, fresh meat, dry meat bait and commercial products including Fox off and De-Fox The Western Australian Ministry of Environment and Conservation has developed and produced its own primer, called Pro-bait

Aerial traps can control foxes in big regions, brings that the target of target bait absorption is very small In Western Australia - where aerial fishing is the most common form of fox manage- fishing programs on a region of up to three million hectares have been illustrated to rapidly increase the quantity of foxes, to accept the quantity of rare species increases and has a minimal effect on non-target species This second point is huge lead to the higher resistance of native fauna to the normally happening sodium fluoro acetate (1080) toxin found

non-in native plants

Aerial fishing has not been carried out at the same level in eastern Australia because of contrasts in scene, land proprietorship, human habitation and poor tolerance (compared to Western Australia) of native species for 1080 (Saunders and McLeod, 2007), although it is used in Queensland and Northern Territory (Sharp and Saunders, 2004a) Aerial fishing is legal on private land in New South Wales (Saunders and McLeod, 2007), but the New South Wales National Animal and Wildlife Service has a special license to fly in the area Yathong Nature Reserve, Nombinnie and Round Hill near Cobar to protect extinction risk mallee fowl More information about this program is available from their website

A case of an ongoing fox control program using aerial bait is a partnership between the Australian Wildlife Conservation Foundation, the Invasive Animal Research Center and the Western Australian Government to reduce Number of foxes and cats at Mt Gibson Wildlife Reserve Sites to track wild predators and abundance of prey have been identified, a basic investigation 'pre-priming' has been made and more than 70 000 cat baits on has not been distributed on property for a period of about six months Recent results showed that the primer program had a big impact on the number of cats and foxes (IA CRC, 2006), with foxes also using bait

In the case of a wide range of bait is not feasible and when the risk of bait absorption by species is not high, persecution of foxes at a local scale may be effective For any small-scale fishing program (less than 1000 ha), consider establishing and maintaining effective buffer zones Assurance of prey species may require the development of a buffer zone longer than 15 km, in which foxes

are kept at low density, to reduce the risk of internal migration quickly replacing

the killed foxes (Thompson et al., 2000)

Saunders and McLeod (2007) discussed the use of attractants in foxes, a recommended practice but not widely used For example, a primer test containing synthetic fermented egg products, made in the southern highlands of New South Wales, found that this product significantly increased visits to wild dogs and

report (Hunt et al., 2005) This item is accessible industrially, in Feral one

structure, in a spray bottle Saunders and McLeod (2007) propose that the development of this friendly and easy-to-use commercial product could mean an increase in the use of attractants They also noted that auditory bait succeeded in attracting foxes to bait stations in the arid region of South Australia

One of the consequences of prolonged fishing is that animals can develop prey to shyness or aversion to the toxins being used For example, if the fox consumes a dose below 1080 due to a combination of buffer memory and decay, they may become aversion to bait According to Saunders and McLeod (2007), more study is needed to identify whether this case is crucial and if so, the method can avoid it

To be effective, baits must be intensive and cover a big reason (as in Western programs in Western Australia) Therefore, Saunders and McLeod in

2007 argued that study should concentrate how bait is deployed instead of developing a perfect primer

2.3.2 Biological control

Some types of pathogens can affect foxes on a continental scale, but there are currently no species that are virulent, humane and specific to foxes

Since foxes only reproduce once a year for a short time in early winter, fertility control can be applied for a short period of time each year Targeting fertility can bring an effective long-term approach to reducing the number of foxes However, fertility control will not significantly reduce the risk to prey species until the number of foxes has decreased due to natural consumption or other measures Therefore, death control (e.g through bait) will still be necessary

to quickly reduce the number of foxes This can be followed by reproductive control, which is used strategically to keep the number of fox low and thus provide long-term protection for threatened species

Saunders and McLeod (2007) provide a detailed assessment of the biological control status of foxes Reproductive control is still in the development phase of development, but the goal is to develop a safe and effective birth control agent that can be put into bait In fact, the control of wild vertebrate fertility is only achieved on an exceptionally constrained scale by exorbitant and work concentrated techniques (Bomford, 1990) It has not been successfully applied to

a wild population of wild vertebrates on a large area and is not considered a way

to reduce the impact of hunting on endangered species extinct or vulnerable

Fertility control methods include hormone therapy and abortion use such

as cabergoline Hormonal treatment is not saw as a practical alternative to manage wild fox populations because there is no practical method to ensure effective treatment for non-captive animals Saunders and McLeod (2007) say that preliminary research on cabergoline use is unclear and this technique, if proven, may be appropriate when the activity density can be targeted (e.g as in peri-urban environments, but its relevance in rural areas is still unfounded The

authors additionally note the requirement for a monetary appraisal of the utilization of cabergoline and consider ethical concerns

Many grants have gone into immunotherapy, especially in the last 10 years The Biological Control Collaborative Research Center of the Vertebrate Animal Society began a major anti-immune research program in 1992 with subsidizing gave through the Australian Government Saunders and McLeod (2007) propose that the likely result of immunological immunity to foxes would

be an immunosuppressive vaccine, containing zona pellucida antigen, injected as

a vaccine Oral application through recombinant herpes virus (PAC CRC, 2001) However, this study has been discontinued and the use of immune immunization

as a control method is difficult to test

2.3.3 Barriers

2.3.3.1 Iron fence

Australia is a country which obtain a long history of iron fences to control pests, lasting a hundred years The original fence is designed to control rabbits or boats Recently, the fence been proposed as a factor in preserving the board projects

to shield prey species from predators, for example, foxes and felines

Different fence designs have been developed to exclude foxes, but their relative effectiveness has not been evaluated due to lack of published information (Long and Robley, 2004) A list of fence types to exclude foxes, rabbits and cats, and their estimated costs, is provided in Table 2.1 Moseby and Read (2006) have recently tested fence designs for conservation purposes and found that the most effective for foxes is a 180 cm high net fence with a 60 cm wide apron and outside cover, curved in the arc and supported by the length of the heavy gauge

wire Steel cylinders are more efficient than wood, because foxes aim at pillars The wire is only effective if a physical barrier is added to ensure that the animal receives a severe enough shock to be repelled

Table 2.1 Types of fences are used to exclude foxes, rabbits and feral cats

Inner corner angle> 120 ° to avoid jumping or bracing against adjacent fence panels

Since few people know the ability of targeted pests to violate specific fence structures, it isn't constantly conceivable to identify whether a fence plan will prove incomplete or too thorough Art in a certain environment (Long and Robley, 2004) Filling this knowledge gap will allow for optimal, cost-effective fence designs

Regular checking for the nearness of foxes in fences is an essential precaution because considerable damage can be caused by a fox violating the fence Although fences can limit the movement of foxes, they can also endanger wild animals that are not targeted, as well as limit the natural capacity of local creatures to spread

The high cost of establishing predators and continuous maintenance costs means that it is only useful for small areas (Aviss and Roberts, 1994) Nevertheless, research at Shark Bay in Western Australia have integrated fences with bait and traps to reduce the frequency of barriers to fences by incoming predators Studies have incorporated natural water barriers, fencing and bait to try to create large reserves without predators on the peninsula (CALM, 1994)

2.3.3.2 Islands are like natural barriers

Eliminating island predators and later moving threatened species is an important strategy to conserve wildlife The absolute best instances of protection

of threatened species exist on such islands or in enclosure areas from which wild predators are excluded

Tasmania, Kangaroo Island and some small islands off the coast of South Australia and Western Australia are the main refuge of extinct or very rare mammals on the mainland (Burbidge, 1989) With the threat that foxes pose to wildlife, it is necessary that they continue to be excluded from important islands where they do not occur Now that the fox has been confirmed in Tasmania

(Saunders et al., 2006), the Tasmanian Government has vowed to eradicate the

fox, working with the Task Force without Fox in the state

Avoiding the acquaintance of foxes with to protected value islands requires identifying potential aggression routes, determining the probability of that event and building processes to manage and mitigate risks Must also be able

to detect intrusions before the fox population has the opportunity to be established, the contingency plan defines the most appropriate control measures and funding sources to implement the necessary control

2.3.4 Management of living environment

In environments with dense vegetation, sloping terrain, large rock slots or

wetlands, prey is less likely to be captured (Saunders et al., 1995) The hunting

effect of foxes seems to be maximized in open habitats, where they can be widely and freely available They easily use other cleared roads, trails and approaches through denser vegetation or complex terrain An option to minimize the impact

of foxes on prey species is to eliminate such passageways where conceivable and keep up goad stations along any remaining aisles

Marsupials become vulnerable when they fall to the ground to move between trees A continuous tree canopy and a thicket of bushes allow them to move in trees that are not in danger from fox hunting A significant preservation technique for certain circumstances would be to minimize habitat fragmentation and investigate fire options, grazing or other management measures that do not destroy the habitat on the surface land

2.4 The distribution of the Red Fox in the King park area and the impact of the fox on the native creatures

Red foxes live in a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains and deserts They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburbs and even large communities

Here, foxes have eliminated the remnant populations of some native rodents and marsupials The most famous example of Australia's impact on an

indigenous species reported by Saunders et al., 1995 is the example of the

'Near-threatened (NT)' black-stone wall (Petrogale lateralis), living in small, expelled colonies in the wheatbelt of Western Australia Management of local fox populations using poison bait has resulted in a significant increase in the number

of wallaby Another threatening process that has recently been introduced is the impact of fox hunting on native marsupials and on the "Vulnerable (VU)" Mallee

fowl (Ericoa ocellata) (Saunders et al., 1995)

The introduced foxes have a negative impact on many species of birds nesting on the ground, such as ducks and grouper The red fox also negatively affects smaller native snakes, such as the endangered San Joaquin fox and subspecies of the native red fox

Foxes can compete with western chuditch or quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii) for food

in jarrah forest in Western Australia The fox is also the prey of young chuditch

The red fox is also a threat to livestock as they prey on poultry, sheep and other animals

PART III METHODS 3.1 Position selected

King Park in Western Australia, covering an area of over 400.6 hectares The park is a mixture of grass parks, botanical gardens and natural tree forests on Mount Eliza with two-thirds of the land being preserved as natural forest land Offering panoramic views of the Swan and Darling ranges, this is home to over

324 indigenous species, 215 known native species and 80 species of birds The park is also very rich in animals (both native and imported)

The Kings Park jungle benefits the corridor for local birds and invertebrates, allowing continued migration of species through urban environments There are more than seventy species of birds, twenty reptiles and hundreds of different invertebrates in the Kings Park jungle Kings Park supports a rare population and fox habitat Normally species appear along the Darling Range, where there are granite and laterite environments Different populations in the jungle Park Kings exist on limestone cliffs

3.2 Study the fox's diet

3.2.1 Collect and identify fox SCAT

Scats are collected from Kings Park Scan data will be determined on the spot based on the descriptions provided by Triggs (2004) Scats Fox usually has a

Figure 3.1 Kings Park, Eastern

Australia, Australia

diameter of no more than two centimetres and is cylindrical in shape, usually with fur or whiskers at the tip The smell and presence of animal carcasses (i.e hair, bone fragments, feathers, etc.) and plant material (i.e seeds and berries) will also be used to identify mice belonging to foxes Most of the samples will be collected along the sidewalks, walking trails and sand tracks are commonly used

by people, as they are easier to locate and foxes are often used and returned to sites this area Each sample is placed in a paper bag labelled with the sample number, collection date, collector's name and species name The GPS coordinates (in decimal degrees) and the type of habitat where the scat is found is also recorded The period of time that the foxes were deposited was not identified, although based

on their appearance no more than 30 days from the time of collection Sometimes,

it is difficult to accurately identify the species that scat species start because the fox can resemble small dogs and cats Figures that cannot be identified on the spot are labelled as unspecified until they are further analysed

3.2.2 Prepare and analyse content

All templates will be sent for content analysis Scans are placed in an oven and heat treated at 100˚C for 24 hours to remove bacteria and pathogens The samples are then placed in a smooth woven nylon bag and washed to separate any indigestion items to identify Animal items are identified at the lowest possible classification Mammal corpses were found in grouped samples based

on species weight (Menkhorst & Knight, 2011; Van Dyck et al., 2013), using

group sizes described by Glen and Dickman (2006) (i.e small: 1-499g; average:

500 -6999g; large: 7kg≤) All other animal carcasses are grouped into one of two

birds, herpetofauna & insects Other food items identified include seeds and fruits, vegetation and other waste (e.g plastic; waste materials)

3.2.3 Statistical analysis

There are many analytical methods that can be used to explain data from predators, although it is important to realize that each method affects the results

of different results (Klare et al., 2011) The frequency of occurrence is probably

the simplest and most commonly used method of interpreting the content of

scans (Klare et al., 2011) However, this method can overestimate the importance

of items that occur frequently during scans but only contribute to a small amount

of total volume (Corbett, 1989; Glen & Dickman, 2006) For this reason, relative ingredients should be used, according to the weight percentages or volumes of different food groups, to determine their importance in animal diets (Klare et al., 2011) This method, however, is not without limits The mass in which food items occur during scans may not accurately represent the volume they are consumed, especially for softly digested primary materials before excretion (Glen & Dickman, 2006) It is very likely that easily digestible items will be represented below when analysing the weight of food groups during scans (Macdonald, 1987) For these reasons, both the frequency and volume (%) of the food groups were recorded for all scat samples, as these methods would allow comparisons between studies and to reduce Deviations are generated by

individual methods (Glen & amp; Dickman, 2006; Klare et al., 2011) The

cumulative diet diversity of all samples was calculated by Brillouin index method (Brillouin, 1956) Graph the cumulative diversity according to the number of scat