Background

The Long-footed Potoroo is endangered in Victoria and nationwide. The Barry Mountains, in Victoria’s alpine region, is home to a small, isolated Long-footed Potoroo population. The survival of the Barry Mountains Long-footed Potoroos is threatened by predation from red foxes.

The Barry Mountains fox baiting program began in 2004 to help the Long-footed Potoroo population recover after the 2003 alpine bushfires. Following the 2020-21 Black Summer bushfires, the fox baiting program expanded from 45,000 ha to 229,000 ha, to provide much greater protection for the Long-footed Potoroo population.

The expansion of the baiting program in the Alpine National Park and adjoining state forest has been recommended in the Fox Control Management Plan for the Protection of Long-footed Potoroo (DELWP 2021).

2022-23 Program delivery

The 2022-23 fox baiting program will continue the ongoing fox baiting work in the area over recent years.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) have engaged a qualified and experienced contractor to control foxes by burying 1080 and/or PAPP baits along existing tracks in the Barry Mountains area. About 700 bait stations are located at 1km spacings across an 800km track network within the program area.

The 2022-23 baiting schedule is: :

From 9 January 2023 to 14 March 2023: Buffalo River State Forest, Buckland State Forest and Dandongadale State Forest, Alpine National Park and Tea Tree Range State Forest (Humffray State Forest)

From 14 March 2023 to 31 December 2023: Alpine National Park and Tea Tree Range State Forest (Humffray State Forest).

1080 &/or PAPP fox baiting program 9 January to 31 December 2023

Barry Mountains fox baiting map 9 January 2023 – 31 December 2023 Map of Barry Mountains in Victoria’s Great Dividing Range showing the location of the Barry Mountains 1080 &/or PAPP Fox Baiting Program managed by DELWP Hume and Parks Victoria. The 1080 &/or PAPP baiting zone is located between Mount Buffalo National Park in the north, Mount Hotham in the east, Alpine National Park in the south, and Mount Buller in the west. The northern half of the 1080 &/or PAPP baiting zone sits mainly across State Forest and includes Dandongadale in the northeast, Wandiligong in the northwest, Buckland Junction, Abbeyard, and Harrietville. The southern half of the 1080 &/or PAPP baiting zone across both National Park and State Forest, and includes Bennies, Wabonga, Howitt Plains, Selwyn and Wonnangatta. Baiting will occur between 9 January and 14 March 2023 along the following roads and tracks within the baiting zone: Mccready Track, Dandongadale-Buffalo Divide Track, Cobbler Lake Track, Durling Track, Buggery Track, Yarrarabula Creek Track, Goldie Spur Track, Camp Creek Track, Yarrabuck Track, Scothman Creek Track, Buffalo Range Track, Razor Track, West Buffalo Track, East Buffalo Road, Schultz Track, Walshs Track, Mt Selwyn Road, Devils Creek Road, Demon Ridge Track, Branch Creek Track, Clear Creek Track, Nolans Creek Track, Paddy Hill Track, Link Track, Pheasant Creek Track, Mt Murray Track North, Wet Gully Track, Mongrel Creek Track, Albion Track, West Ovens Track, Gunns Track, Selwyn Creek Road, Kates Track, Wongungarra Track, Croft Track, Waters Spur Track, Decimal Creek Track, Mckenzies Road, Sarah Spur Track, Humffray River Track, Hart Spur Track, Mt Hart Track, and Tea Tree Spur Track. Baiting will occur between 13 December 2022 and 31 December 2023 along the following roads and tracks within the baiting zone: Burnt Top Track, Wild Horse Gap Track, Cherry Tree Track, Lake Cobbler Road, Little Cobbler Track, Speculation Road, Razor Track, West Buffalo Track, Penny Track, Harry Shepherds Track, Zeka Spur Track, East Buffalo Road, East Riley Road, West Humffray Road, Rileys Track, Wonnangatta Track, Selwyn Track, Whites Track, Humffray River Track, Montana Track, Mt Murray Track North, and Twins Track. Warning: 1080 &/or PAPP bait stations are located on the mentioned roads and tracks. Foxes are known to cache (re-bury) baits some distance from the baiting site. Dogs must be kept on the lead or under control within the 1080 &/or PAPP baiting zone in State Forest between 13 December 2022 and 31 December 2023. Dogs are not permitted in National Parks.

The program is delivered under the Victorian Government’s Protecting Biodiversity Program, which supports the delivery of Victoria’s plan to protect our natural environment: Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.

This fox baiting program is delivered in partnership with Parks Victoria and Traditional Owners, and in consultation with stakeholders, landowners and the community.

For more information about the program, see the Fox Control Management Plan for the Protection of Long-footed Potoroo (PDF, 4.3 MB) and Arthur Rylah Institute's Managing Long Footed Potoroo fact sheet.

If you would like an accessible version of this document, please contact the DELWP Customer Contact Centre.

Barry Mountains Fox Control FAQs

Why is DELWP doing fox baiting in the Barry Mountains?

Baiting in the Barry Mountains aims to reduce fox predation and help conserve the Long-footed Potoroo, which is listed as Endangered under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Long-footed Potoroos are more likely to be present in locations where fox density is lower.

How do foxes impact on native species?

Foxes are highly efficient predators of small to medium size animals and are a significant risk to native birds, reptiles and mammals. Foxes are one of the main reasons for the decline and extinction of many small-medium sized mammal species in Australia.

Why is the baiting program happening during the summer holiday period?

It is important to control foxes at this time of year before the young become independent and establish their own territory.

Works will occur over during December and January to maximise the time available for fox control outside of the Victorian hound hunting season.

What is the fox baiting schedule for 2022-23?

Fox baiting will occur in the Barry Mountains:

From 9 January 2023 to 14 March 2023: Buffalo River State Forest, Buckland State Forest and Dandongadale State Forest, Alpine National Park and Tea Tree Range State Forest (Humffray State Forest)

From 14 March 2023 to 31 December 2023: Alpine National Park and Tea Tree Range State Forest (Humffray State Forest).

Why are 1080 baits being used to control foxes?

1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) bait is registered and approved to control foxes, rabbits, feral pigs and other pest animals in Victoria.

Both 1080 and PAPP baits are used for the Barry Mountains fox control program. Risk assessments are completed to determine the most appropriate and effective bait and any potential impacts.

Do the baits pose risks to other animals?

Baiting methods are designed to minimise the impact on native animals and other non-target species. A risk assessment guides the timing, location, bait placement and type of bait used to reduce any risks.

Fox baits are buried to a specified depth to reduce the risk to native animals, which are generally unlikely to uncover buried baits.

How can I reduce the risk of my pet swallowing a bait?

Dog owners should exercise care when in areas where baiting is being carried out.

Look for “1080 &/or PAPP Warning Poison” signs at all entry points to baited tracks including named and unnamed tracks. When entering baited areas, muzzle and/or restrain your domestic animals, to prevent them from accessing 1080 or PAPP poison baits or carcasses.

1080 and PAPP fox baits are buried at least 10cm deep, in specially constructed bait stations, which reduces the risk to domestic animals. Fox-strength baits will be used, which are unlikely to affect dogs larger than the 5-7 kg weight range of a fox.

How has the expanded baiting area been selected?

The new baiting area expands on the Barry Mountains fox control program, which has been ongoing since 2004. This expanded area now covers a larger area of Long-footed Potoroo habitat. Evidence of Potoroo abundance and distribution has been verified through remote camera monitoring work.

How often are the baits checked?

Fresh baits are recovered or replaced within a seven-day period. Shelf stable manufactured baits are recovered or replaced within a month.

This complies with the Directions for the Use of 1080 and PAPP Pest Animal Bait Products in Victoria.

What measures have been put in place to ensure public safety?

A risk management strategy has been developed to manage and minimise the risks of potential harm to the environment, human health and non-target species including wildlife, domestic animals and stock.

The strategy includes notifications to neighbours, landholders, and stakeholders within the vicinity of the baited area and deployment of dated 1080 &/or PAPP Warning Poison signs at track entrances within the baited area.

What monitoring will be undertaken to determine the baiting program is effective?

Bait take will be monitored for the entirety of the fox baiting program.

Camera monitoring of Long-footed Potoroos and other native species being protected by the fox control program will be undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the fox baiting.

Results of future camera monitoring will be compared with camera monitoring that was undertaken in late 2020 and 2021 to determine the presence and abundance of Long-footed Potoroo in the Barry Mountains. These surveys provide an important benchmark of Long-footed Potoroo and fox abundance and distribution prior to the expanded fox baiting program.

How is this fox baiting program supported?

This program is delivered under the Victorian Government's Protecting Biodiversity Program.

The program has previously been delivered under the Victorian Government’s Weeds and Pests on Public Land Program and the Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery Program, with support from the Australian Government’s Regional Fund for Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery.

Page last updated: 24/01/23