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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Friends of Williamstown Wetlands
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Did you know red foxes roam the Williamstown wetlands both by day and night? They can be found anywhere from the mouth of the Kororoit Creek, all the way down the Rifle Range and Jawbone Reserves to the Bayview Street fishing harbour.

Red fox Red fox

The above fox was stalking a blue–billed duck on the edge of the western lake; the duck was swimming back and forth less than a metre in front of the fox. Seconds prior to the fox revealing itself an Australian Spotted Crake walked along the edge of the lake in this very spot.

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Red fox near Paisley-Challis bird hide

The above fox was spotted working it's way along Wader Beach looking for an easy meal. Ironically this particular fox was observing three bird watchers at the Paisley Challis bird hide. A classic case of the watched being watched! The photo was taken by Len Towerzey.

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Can you spot the fox in the above photo? Look just to the right of the Little-pied Cormorant, sitting on the rock. This well camouflaged fox swam to the island in the Arboretum Lake to ambush an unsuspecting Little-pied Cormorant. It was commonly thought that the islands in the reserve were a safe roosting place for birds; unfortunately the foxes have discovered a smorgasbord! 

Red Fox Facts

  • Foxes are a major threat to biodiversity
  • Foxes indiscriminately kill native animals and birds
  • Foxes hunt both by day and night
  • Foxes exhibit surplus killing behaviour, well beyond their immediate food requirements
  • Foxes will cache surplus food by burying or hiding it for later use
  • These animals are highly adaptable omnivores and will eat just about anything including: human refuse, pet food, vertebrates, invertebrates, plant material, carrion, rabbits, rats, mice, insects, lizards, frogs, turtles, birds, grain, fruit, and domestic poultry
  • Foxes will take prey up to 3.5 kg in weight, this critical weight range includes ground nesting birds, ducks, cormorants, ibis, spoonbills and even larger birds like swans
  • To survive foxes need 500 grams of food daily. This food requirement put a lot of pressure on native animal populations
  • Small dogs and other small domestic animals are at risk of fox attack
  • Fox densities in urban areas are between 3 to 16 foxes per km2
  • A fox may travel up to 10-15 km within their home range
  • Foxes are clever and not afraid of humans
  • Foxes are known carriers of mange and distemper
  • Foxes readily eat plant material including African Boxthorn berries, and will distribute the seeds over a large area. African boxthorn is a declared noxious weed in Victoria
  • Foxes roam the streets of Williamstown from dusk to dawn, looking for any opportunity to find an easy meal. Chicken coups and rabbit/guinea pig hutches are often targeted with devastating results
  • Did you know foxes can climb trees?

For more information about foxes, click on the following link:

https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity/pest-animals/priority-pest-animals/red-fox