Council
29 August, 2025
Fox baiting program to start
PET owners are urged to familiarise themselves with prohibited areas as the Warrnambool City Council prepares to begin its spring fox baiting program.
Bait will be laid in areas west of Thunder Point, at Lake Pertobe, and on the foreshore from Pickering Point to the scrubland behind the skate park.
A detailed map is available on council’s website and at the Civic Centre (25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool).
Clear warning signs will be installed near baiting areas, and nearby pet owners have been contacted by mail.
The program will run from next Monday, September 1 until September 26, with pets required to remain away from baited areas (where they aren’t already prohibited year-round) until October 24 to allow time for any residual bait to be collected.
Warrnambool City Council chief executive officer Andrew Mason said fox baiting was an important tool to protect native wildlife.
“In Australia foxes collectively kill hundreds of millions of native animals each year, so every fox removed from the environment is significant,” Mr Mason said.
“The program concentrates on areas with confirmed fox activity to help protect nearby native wildlife, including the Middle Island penguin colony.”
Bait will be buried away from paths and each bait location logged by GPS to ensure it can be retrieved at the end of the program.
The risk of secondary poisoning (a non-target animal receiving poison from eating the carcass of a poisoned fox) is considered extremely low.
“The poison used is PAPP. There is an antidote, but it needs to be administered within an hour of the bait being ingested in order to be most effective,” Mr Mason said.
“If you believe your pet may have been in a baited area, watch for signs such as lethargy, loss of limb function, or blue discoloration of the gums and tongue.
“If you notice any of these symptoms, go straight to a vet that carries the antidote.”
Local vets that carry the antidote include:
The Vet Group – Wollaston, 59 Mortlake Road, Warrnambool, 5561 6911.
Warrnambool Veterinary Clinic, 514 Raglan Pde, Warrnambool, 5559 0222.
Hampden Vet Clinic, 209 Lava Street, Warrnambool, 5561 3852.
If you live near a baited area and encounter a dead fox on your property contact council on 5559 4800 to have it removed.
