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Fox
Vulpes vulpes
The introduction of the European red fox is widely distributed throughout the southern half of Australia in virtually all habitats. Foxes are seen as a major pest species threatening the long term survival of a range of native fauna.
The European red fox was first released near Melbourne in 1855 for recreational hunting. Within 50 years , it had spread into Western Australia. By 1893 some shires in Victoria had a bounty on foxes indicating that they were quickly considered pests. New South Wales soon followed suit.
Although not established in Tasmania , it is now found on most of the mainland , except in the tropical regions of the far north. It is not clear whether the climate or higher concentrations of dingoes limit their spread in these parts. Today the fox is one of the most widely spread feral animals in Australia.
Foxes are predominantly carnivores although they do eat insects and wild fruit. In pastoral regions, foxes mainly eat rabbits , lambs and house mice and scavenge on carrion. In alpine and arid areas such as south-west Western Australia where these prey are scarce , foxes eat small native mammals.
Foxes breed once a year with cubs being born during August and September. Although foxes have few natural predators , they rarely live beyond four years old. Mortality is influenced by shooting, trapping and road accidents as well as the effect of drought on numbers of their prey.
Foxes can be very cunning animals at times , but they can also be quite stupid! There are many different methods of hunting foxes , but the main ones are by using rifles and shotguns , usually combined with whistling. Hunting Foxes with rifles can be easy at times , but it can also be quite a challenge. They are a fairly elusive creature , and more than likely you stumble across them whilst looking for other game. If you aren't shooting them for their pelts , just for eradication purposes , then whatever rifle you have on you at the time will do.
However if you DO want to hunt foxes for their skins , you will have to keep to a .22 rim fire , or a small calibre centrefire. Calibres like the .17 , .22 hornet , 222 and the .223 are all good fox calibres. Shots at foxes when whistling rarely exceed 100m
