The European Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) was introduced into Australia in the 1800s for recreational hunting and is now found throughout the country, including Sydney. Foxes are highly efficient hunters, resourceful scavengers and cause a significant threat to Australia's native animals.

Why is Council trying to control foxes?

Under NSW legislation, all landowners with foxes on their property, including councils, are responsible for their control.

Foxes have played a major role in the decline of many native species including ground-nesting birds, small to medium sized mammals, and reptiles. They are also known to distribute weed seeds across the region, can spread diseases, and are a threat to backyard chickens.

Many of our parks and reserves, like Lansdowne Reserve, are home to a diversity of native wildlife, including birds, frogs, turtles, possums and echidnas. In order to protect these areas and the plants and animals that call them home, fox control is required.  

What is Council doing to control foxes? 

Controlling foxes is very complex in urban areas and requires many different landowners working together. For this reason, Council works closely with neighbouring Councils and State agencies to manage foxes across the region.

In urban areas, a combination of control techniques are required to help reduce fox populations and minimise the damage they cause. Control may involve trapping using cage or padded jaw-traps, den fumigation, baiting or nocturnal firearm culls.

Council has safely and humanely controlled foxes in reserves along the Georges River since 2014. The program has been successfully expanded to include parks and reserves along the Cooks River, Wolli Creek and Salt Pan Creek. A list of control locations are listed below.

In February 2020, Council commenced a fox trapping program at Lansdowne Reserve to reduce fox numbers in sensitive environmental protection areas. The trapping program involves using a combination of cage and padded jaw-traps that are monitored daily by an experienced and licenced contractor. Reserves remain open to the public when traps are deployed with warning signs at entrances and throughout to remind residents to keep to walking paths and keep dogs on leads.

A fox cage-trap loan service will also continue to be offered to residents with problem foxes on private property.

Reserves with fox control

Bass Hill / Bura Ward: Mirambeena Regional Park (including Garrison Point, Lake Gillawarna, Flinders Slope, Shortland Brush), Boggabilla Reserve, Lansdowne Reserve, Sefton Golf Course and Maluga Passive Park.

Canterbury/ Budjar Ward: Waterworth Park, Gough Whitlam Park, Tasker Park, Little Tasker Park, Beaman Park, Lees Park, Croydon Park, Picken Oval, Rosedale Reserve and Sando Reserve.

Revesby / Bunya Ward: Lambeth Reserve, Monash Reserve, East Hills Park, Deepwater Park, Kelso Waste Management Facility, Kelso Park North, Kelso Park South, Marco Reserve, Killara Reserve, Field of Dreams, Vale of Ah and Bill Delauney Reserve.

Roselands/ Bunmarra Ward: Salt Pan Creek Reserve and McLaughlin Oval.

What if I see an animal caught in a trap? 

Do not approach any trapped animal. Trapped animals may be aggressive and cause harm if approached. Call Council immediately on 9707 9000 to report any trapped animal. If you observe the animal outside business hours, Council's pest control contractor (Australian Feral Management) can be reached on 1300 669 546.

Why should I report foxes?

Fox sightings can be reported to Council via the FoxScan website. Your information will help to map the distribution of foxes, enabling Council to make better decisions about fox control and management. The mapping of fox sightings, fox damage and their dens is an important step towards regional fox control.

What can I do?

Out and about

• Keep a look out for signs in Lansdowne Reserve with details of the fox control program.
• Practise responsible pet ownership by ensuring dogs are kept on a leash.
• Report the location of fox dens to Council.
• Report fox sightings to Council through the FoxScan website.

At home

• Do not leave food outside. Keep garbage bin lids closed and when your pet has finished eating remove all leftovers.
• Do not leave chicken feed uncontained. This may attract rats that will then attract the foxes into your yard.
• Turn outside lights off at night to prevent attracting insects
• Ensure chickens are contained in a secure chicken coop at night.  Foxes are excellent climbers and diggers, so enclosures need to either have a roof or fences at least two metres high and an overhang of 30 centimetres. The floor will need to be protected with mesh or alternatively, bury the overhang into the ground and outwards of the enclosure.

More information

For more information, go to the FeralScan website, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website, the Office of Local Government website, as well as Council's Responsible pet ownership page.