A Victoria Point resident has alerted fellow Redlanders to the high number of foxes in the area.
Con Countouris said many people were not aware of the number of foxes around, but he saw them about two or three times a week.
He regularly sees foxes on the edge of the bay when the tide is out and has seen dead foxes on Point O’Halloran Road.
“There are so many of them,” he said.
The European red fox is a declared Class 2 pest animal that is most active at night.
They also sometimes hunt and scavenge during the day.
Mr Countouris said he is alerted to the foxes by birds emitting distress calls.
“I look out with a torch and that is when I see them,” he said.
Redland City Council confirmed that about 1000 fox dens have been detected and fumigated since a feral animal trapping program started in 2008.
However, residents may also see an increase in activity at this time of year due to the young leaving their dens and transitioning to solid food.
The council has a specialised contractor who detects, fumigates and euthanases foxes.
“Council’s contractor conducts proactive inspections of known fox dens, identifies new sites and responds to complaints from members of the public.
“Earlier work has resulted in a reduction in complaints and reduced re-activation of den use,” according to the council.
Foxes pose a significant risk to native wildlife such as birds, reptiles, mammals and amphibians, especially turtles and wallabies.
They also target domestic poultry.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries regards fox predation as the greatest threat to the long-term survival of many small marsupial species in Australia.
Foxes are opportunistic feeders that may consume rabbits, rodents, frogs, insects and even fruit, vegetables and grain.
If you see a fox in the Redlands, contact the council on 3829 8999.
