Fox on the run sparks Phillip Island fears

Nature Parks confirms fox sighting on Phillip Island

IT’S news that no one on Phillip Island, least of all the custodians of the world-famous Penguin Parade, want to hear.

The ultimate penguin predator, a pest animal capable of killing upwards of 30 birds-a-night, the dreaded fox, at least one, has returned to Phillip Island.

Within days of announcing the highest-ever number of penguins crossing the Summerlands Beach, a record 5219 Little Penguins, Phillip Island Nature Parks has confirmation that there’s at least one fox back on the Island.

And they’ve asked for community support in tracking the new arrival.

Nature Parks knows there’s a fox because surveillance cameras, set up at Phillip Island Free Range Eggs, on Back Beach Road, Ventnor, less than 6km away from the penguin parade grounds, has reportedly captured an image.

He/she was returning to the scene of the crime.

“We had upwards of 30 chickens killed over night on Sunday/Monday, May 8/9 and Nature Parks came out and set up cameras and they picked up an image (of the fox) at 4.03am on Tuesday morning (May 10),” said farm operator Steve Davey.

“Ironically, the reason we set up a free-range eggs business here was because the Island was supposed to be fox-free.

“Turns out someone else lost 16 chickens at Rhyll a few months ago.

“I’d like to see Nature Parks out on the front foot with this, not only because the community can keep an eye out for foxes, but also because some people have chickens that are just as vulnerable as ours.”

Mr Davey said he believed PINP had since collected fox droppings (scats) in the vicinity of Pyramid Rock Road and on nearby Berrys Beach.

It’s too close to the penguins for comfort.

Thanks to assistance from donors, sponsors and grants including from the Ian Potter Foundation, Phillip Island was declared fox-free in 2017 - after over 25 years of dedicated efforts to remove them.

That at least one is back represents a significant blow and potentially, significant cost.

The Little Penguin colony on Phillip Island has about 40,000 birds.

Phillip Island Nature Parks research officer Paula Wasiak said recently that the prolonged La Niña event may be having a beneficial impact on fish stocks, the health of the Island’s penguins and numbers returning from daily, rather than extended fishing trips.

There’s also the issue of Phillip Island Nature Parks fledgling colony of Eastern Barred Bandicoots, released on the Summerland Peninsula after an exhaustive breading program on Churchill Island.

Up to 100 EBBs was released onto the Summerland Peninsula at the western end of Phillip Island in October 2017 as part of a Melbourne Zoo/PINP joint venture to save the critically endangered species.

Nature Parks’ response

In a statement from Phillip Island Nature Parks, Stuart Murphy, Vertebrate Pest Program Manager, said the authority was conducting a full investigation and response.

“We are investigating a report of a fox on Phillip Island after a number of chickens were killed on a local property,” Mr Murphy said.

“After an initial search of the area, we found prints, and the detection dogs found a scat which is currently being analysed.

“Infrared surveillance cameras were deployed on the site and have resulted in a photo of a fox being taken, supporting the other evidence found.

“In response, traps have been deployed, night-time surveys and detection dog surveys are being undertaken at the site and in surrounding areas to locate and remove the fox.

“Our program staff are also monitoring the Summerland Peninsula regularly to ensure the safety of the penguin colony and to date there has been no evidence of fox presence in this area.

“The last physical evidence of a fox on Phillip Island was found in 2015.

“We are asking the community to report any sightings of a fox on Phillip Island to 0419 369 365.”