· North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources has challenged Fitzgerald Biosphere Group to see whose teams can shoot the most foxes.
· The events are supported by 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.
Foxes in the Great Southern are the target of a challenge between the two natural resource management groups at Gnowangerup and Jerramungup.
North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources (NSPNR) has made a friendly challenge to Fitzgerald Biosphere Group (FBG), which will hold their Fitzy Fox Shoot on the same night, that the NSPNR - Yongergnow tally can bag more foxes.
NSPNR has partnered with Yongergnow Australian Malleefowl Centre to hold the 2024 NSPNR - Yongergnow Feral Animal Tally and Community Breakfast on Saturday 17 February. From sunset the night before, registered teams will target foxes, feral cats and rabbits in the Shire of Gnowangerup, Broomehill East, and Gnowellen.
FBG’s Fitzy Fox Shoot in the Jerramungup Shire is planned for the same night.
Both events are supported through 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. The Fitz-Stirlings connect the Stirling Range and Fitzgerald River national parks in the Great Southern Region. The project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program.
The NSPNR tally in 2023 was 180 foxes, 8 cats and 41 rabbits. The winning team alone shot 37 foxes. A local farmer also brought in 5 foxes and a rabbit.
It wasn’t enough to beat FBG that brought in 256 foxes, so we have some work to do this year!
Coordinating the culling of pest animals across the shires of Gnowangerup and Jerramungup will increase the impact on populations of foxes, feral cats and rabbits in the Fitz -Stirling Corridor.
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. Foxes may have been a primary cause of the extinction of many Australian small and medium-sized native species1. About 80 endangered and threatened species are at risk from feral cat predation in Australia2.
Pest animals are also a cost to farmers who lose production and have to undertake control measures. Foxes were estimated to cost Australia more than $35 million in lost production in 20133. They are highly mobile and can travel up to 10 km per night3. Diseases spread by feral cats can cost Australian agriculture up to almost $12 million each year4. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that can be transferred from feral cats to pregnant ewes, potentially causing embryonic fatalities and miscarriages.
NSPNR’s feral animal tally is registered for the Red Card program, through which Sporting Shooters Association of Australia WA is donating $5 for every cat and fox culled (to a capped amount) to the Regional Men's Health Initiative5.
Shooters can register as a team for the NSPNR/Yongergnow Feral Animal Tally and Community Breakfast by visiting the website: https://yongergnow.com.au/centre/tally2024/ .
Community members are warmly invited to attend the breakfast at 6.30am Saturday (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 Feb to visitor@yongergnow.com.au or call 9828 2325.
The NSPNR - Yongergnow Feral Animal Tally and Community Breakfast is possible thanks to our event partners including Yongergnow-Ongerup CRC, the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, South Coast Natural Resource Management- South Coast Enviro Experience, Bush Heritage Australia, Elders, WAMMCO, FRRR, Summit Fertilizers, Farmers Centre 1978 Albany, Gnowangerup Hardware, Ongerup Farm Supplies, Pinnacle Products Ear Tags, Stirling Steelworks, Raine & Horne Great Southern, Stirling Range Retreat, Rays Firearms and Archery, ACTA, Shire of Gnowangerup, and Red Card for Rabbits and Foxes.
NSPNR is a natural resource management (NRM) group that works with landholders in the Shire of Gnowangerup and the localities of Broomehill East and Gnowellen.
NSPNR was established at Borden as a not-for-profit organisation to address natural resource management issues. NSPNR is delivering a range of projects and services in the North Stirlings - Pallinup region with a current focus on protecting threatened native species, supporting sustainable food production, protecting and monitoring the Pallinup River and tributaries, and supporting feral animal control by landholders. The organisation is managed by a volunteer board of community members and industry stakeholders, and has five part-time staff who enthusiastically work with NSPNR partners to carry out the group's activities.