NSPNR has partnered with Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre to hold a Feral Animal Tally and Community Breakfast on Saturday 17 February 2024. Registered teams may start targeting foxes, feral cats and rabbits on private land in the Shire of Gnowangerup and Gnowellen and Broomehill East from 5pm the night before.
Team members are to arrive with their collection at either of two locations, Ongerup Tip or Gnowangerup Tip, between 5.30am and 6am. Tally starts at 6am. Late entries will not be considered for the tally.
The event is part of NSPNR’s project, Expanded predator control program in the Fitz-Stirling Corridor, that aims to reduce the number of feral cats, foxes and rabbits in the area between the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River national parks. This will reduce pressure on native animals including malleefowl, chuditch and Carnaby’s black cockatoo. This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
Foxes, cats and other invasive fauna have a devastating impact on the numbers and biodiversity of wildlife species in the North Stirlings - Pallinup sub-region and across the country. In Australia, cats and foxes were found to collectively kill more than 1.4 billion mammals, almost 700 million reptiles and around 510 million birds each year.
Foxes are estimated to cost Australian farmers $35 million dollars annually throughout lambing periods. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that can be transferred from feral cats to pregnant ewes, potentially causing embryonic fatalities and miscarriages. Rabbits cause an estimated $600 million worth of damage to Australian agriculture each year.
Teams can register for the NSPNR - Yongergnow Feral Animal Tally and Community Breakfast by signing up at https://yongergnow.com.au/centre/ by 5pm on Wed 14 February.
Community members are warmly invited to attend the breakfast from 6.30am (Yongergnow Centre or Soul Van opposite Gnowangerup Post Office) to hear the results of the tally. RSVP indicating Ongerup or Gnowangerup and number of people by Wed 14 February to visitor@yongergnow.com.au or call 9828 2325.
The tally and community breakfast would not be possible without the support of our partners: State NRM, South Coast NRM, the Shire of Gnowangerup, Yongergnow-Ongerup CRC, FRRR, Bush Heritage Australia, Elders, Farmers Centre 1978, Gnowangerup Hardware, Stirling Range Retreat, Red Card for Rabbits and Foxes.
For more information contact Laura Page, NSPNR Project Officer, on 0401 553 285 or laura@nspnr.com.au or Elisa Santina, Yongergnow Manager/Finance Officer, 9828 2325.