FOX traps around the Frankston area will be monitored to catch another type of pest — people who tamper with the snares designed to protect native wildlife.
Frankston Council will install CCTV cameras near fox traps after it emerged that a couple of traps were tampered with following a Clean Up Australia Day in March.
The tampering with council’s fox eradication program to protect endangered species came to light after Frankston resident Mike Griffiths asked at March’s public council meeting about interference with fox traps in Langwarrin’s Lloyd Park on Sunday 4 March.
Council CEO Dennis Hovenden said last week that council officers believed one or two fox traps “were tampered with following Clean Up Australia Day”.
“Daily monitoring of the reserve identified the problem quickly and assistance was provided from Melbourne Water and the Friends of Langwarrin Outdoors and Waterways to investigate and reinstate [the traps]. Due to the rapid response this had minimal impact on the effectiveness of the fox control program,” Mr Hovenden said.
“Tampering with traps is rare and has only potentially occurred on one other occasion at Bunarong Park, Frankston. Reserves are closed during programs, traps are typically well disguised to both foxes and people and the reserve is monitored regularly.
“It is unclear as to the intent behind this trap tampering.”
Mr Hovenden said council officers know the identity of two people who entered the reserve on Clean Up Australia Day without authorisation but there is no evidence the pair tampered with the traps the next day.
Foxes are predators of small native fauna and ground-dwelling birds.
2 Comments
Did they perhaps tamper with the traps thinking that the traps were cruel and that they were helping the foxes?
I thought that these kinds of traps were no longer used due to instances of animals getting caught and having to suffer until someone checks them…(sometimes days after they’re set..)
An example of how animal activists are not necessarily friends of biodiversity. Ill informed they are aiding in the destruction of our indigenous fauna, and destruction of Australia’s natural treasures our living wealth.