The uptake and longevity of three meat baits by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in western Victorian

This study investigated the uptake and palatability for dried meat baits and fresh liver meat by foxes (Vulpes vulpes). A field trial lasting four weeks was undertaken to compare uptake of three fox baits. Two registered commercially manufactured dried meat baits used in fox control in Victoria and unpoisoned liver were laid in 50 baits stations in mixed agricultural and conservation land on a National Trust Property in Western Victoria. In total 10% Defox, 6% Foxoff and 17% liver baits of each bait type were taken by foxes over the course of the study. There was no significant difference in the rate of uptake and palatability of the three bait types at stations where one bait was taken in the first two weeks of the study, significant differences were found in bait preference by foxes in the third and fourth weeks with liver the most significantly preferred bait type. Foxoff was significantly rejected in the second and fourth weeks of the study indicating that it was the least preferred of the three baits. There was a significant difference in the degradation scores between each bait type in the last three weeks of the trial, with Defox and Foxoff baits being less degraded than liver. This study suggests that liver is the most preferentially eaten bait type however it is the most susceptible to degradation of the three