The European or red fox is quite a handsome creature, but the crafty interlopers are wreaking havoc on locals and threatening the local native biodiversity.    

The problem is such that owner of All Ferals Pest Management, Scott Corcoran, labelled it another ‘epidemic’. 

In 2016, the Yass Gorge was placed on the National Critically Endangered Biodiversity list because of the number of foxes running wild in the gorge. 

While numbers have dropped in Yass, Murrumbateman has been infested, forcing community groups, LLS and Mr Corcoran to think outside the box. 

Mr Corcoran has estimated the fox population is around 250 in Murrumbateman, with majority of people in the area having either sighted or been affected by a fox attack. 

“The main problem we have is that Murrumbateman is full of semi-rural properties, running sheep, chickens goats, or other small livestock,” he said. 

“You can’t use baiting on small rural properties with small acreage, which disqualifies most of the residential population. The 1080 is dangerous because it can endanger people and domestic animals.”

While other methods of trapping, fumigation and shooting are usually used to kill foxes, most are useless in residential areas. 

“You can’t shoot them on a small property and not many people have a gun licence. While the fox maybe on the property it’s den is usually elsewhere,” he said.

Cage traps are easily accessible, yet Mr Corcoran believes they are effective for catching the pet cat, not so good for foxes.

“The best is the soft jaw traps, and the government are reluctant to lend them to the public because it requires training to set them effectively, making them "trap shy" and more difficult to catch.”

Mr Corcoran is forming a syndicate in Murrumbateman, educating the community in the ever growing issue. After issuing a survey over social media, 69 per cent of the 50 respondents said they had animals killed by foxes. 

“It’s one of those things that we need the community to work together to fix the problem,” he said. “Foxes can travel up to 15km for food and are not a single person’s problem, rather the whole community.”