Caching of baits by foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on agricultural lands

Abstract

Baiting is widely used to control the introduced fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Australia. Caching of baits by foxes was observed through the use of miniature radio-transmitters. Both non-toxic and toxic (1080) baits were used to determine the number of baits cached, the location of these caches with respect to original placement and the extent to which these caches are later retrieved and consumed. These trials established that foxes cache 1080 baits. An average of 34% of transmitter baits offered were taken and 10% were cached. The mean distance from the bait station to the cache was 156 m, with some baits being cached up to 800 m away. Implications of these results for current fox management strategies and the consequences of using bait take as a population index are discussed.