Fleurieu farmers are set to benefit from a new statewide fox bounty scheme which aims to bring down the number of attacks on livestock and poultry.

More than 20 000 foxes are expected to be killed under the new program.

A $10 payment will be made for each fox killed and scalped by farmers until the $220 000 funding pool is exhausted.

An initial collection day will be held at Normanville in October. Farmers will be able to bring collected fox scalps (scalp of fox face and ears) to claim the bounty.  Instructions on how to scalp the fox and make a claim are available on the Primary Industry Department’s information page.

Farmers can claim up to 300 scalps per property each year and will need to register as a vendor with the state government.

Primary Industries Minister and local MP David Basham says fox bounties have been successful interstate and would work well with the existing baiting program.

“Foxes cause significant economic losses to farmers by preying on newborn lambs, calves, kid goats and poultry,” Minister Basham said.

“Since they were introduced for recreational hunting in the mid-1800s, foxes have spread across most of Australia with the economic impact of the pest nationwide estimated at around $227.5 million per annum.

“We also know they are responsible for the ongoing decline of ground-nesting birds, small to medium sized mammals such as the greater bilby and reptiles.

“In keeping with similar practices in Victoria the bounty scheme would see a $10 payment made for each fox scalp collected.

Only livestock and poultry producers with property identification codes can claim the bounty but farmers can enter into agreements with professional and recreational shooters.

Livestock SA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Curtis welcomed the fox bounty program.

“We are well aware that fox bounties are not a silver bullet to completely eliminate the impacts of foxes, but the funding support provided to livestock producers will help to lift the standard of our fox control programs,” Mr Curtis said.

The fox bounty will be available for two years, or until the funding runs out. It is expected scalps will be collected at specified locations, quarterly in conjunction with other industry meetings, workshops or field days.

A minimum of 10 scalps and a maximum of 100 scalps per property can be claimed at each collection day.

For more information on how to participate, visit pir.sa.gov.au/fox-bounty