This photograph was taken at an event called Spotlight on Fox on 3rd April 2004. This event was a practical demonstration of methods landowners could use to help control the fox population. Camille Veselsky, a specialist in fox behaviour who worked for the Hume Rural lands Protection Board on pest animal control, was the presenter and demonstrator. He is pictured here kneeling Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals.This photo is a record of the events that Wooragee Landcare organises in order to educate and provide practical demonstrations to mitigate environmental conservation issues in the area. It shows practical solutions that have been considered in fox controlLandscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA 0A2A0N0 NNN+ 1 8743 / [PRINTED] (No.7) / 253spotlight on fox, camille veselsky, wooragee, wooragee landcare, wooragee landcare group, fox

Wooragee Landcare, since its establishment in 1998, has organised a series of events and activities in order to promote weed and pest control, provide assistance and knowledge to landholders and ensure sustainability and protection of natural vegetation. This photograph was taken on the 3rd April 2004 as part of an event called "Spotlight on Fox", organised by the Wooragee Landcare Group. It was addressed to all landholders in the area and involved practical demonstration of techniques suitable for integrated fox control. Camille Velesky, who is illustrated in the photograph, was the presenter; he is a specialist in fox behaviour and has worked for 27 years on pest control. Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act) foxes are declared as established pest animals and landowners have the responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect their land from established pest animals. The most commonly used management techniques are baiting, shooting, guard animals, fencing, trapping, canid pest ejectors, above-ground harbour removal, property hygiene and fumigation. Trapping, due to the significant suffering and distress that causes to foxes, has significant animal welfare implications and should be avoided if there is another suitable alternative. The photograph is an example of the type of events and activities organised by Wooragee Landcare to educate and inform local residents and landholders on the most suitable techniques for integrated fox control. Wooragee Landcare, abiding by its mission statement, promotes best land management strategies and ensures sustainability through collaboration with local community and council agencies.Portrait coloured photograph printed on gloss paper. Reverse: WAN NA 0ANA2N0 NNN+ 1 8743/ [PRINTED] (No.10)/256/spotlight on fox, wooragee landcare group, integrated fox control, camille velesky, fox behaviour, pest control, catchment and land protection act 1994, calp act, established pest animals, baiting, guard animals, fencing, trapping, trap setting demonstration, weed and pest control, sustainability, natural vegetation, fox dens, fumigation, animal welfare

This photograph depicts people attending the 'Spotlight on Fox' event watching a demonstration. The event was conducted as part of an awareness campaign highlighting damage done to farm and domestic animals and native wildlife in April 2004. This date is suggested by the photograph's position in the 2004-2005 Wooragee Landcare Group Coordinator's Report folder. A note accompanying the item suggests an alternative date of February 2004, however. This event raised awareness about the impacts of foxes in rural areas and provided practical training in techniques to control their populations. Flyers contained in the parent folder suggest that baiting may have been agreed as a method of fox control as the event depicted was followed by a two week baiting campaign a fortnight later. Pictured in this photograph, left to right: unknown; Sue Berwick ; Jerry Alexander; rest unidentified. A note accompanying the items suggests the photograph may have been taken by Karen Bowley or Maree Missen. Regional areas like Wooragee are susceptible to fox attacks due to the availability of food such as rubbish, scraps, native wildlife and livestock. Foxes can have a huge impact on native wildlife and domestic life as they are known to chew through irrigation systems, dig-up and defecate in gardens, raid rubbish bins and harass other domestic animals. Ground-dwelling native species are particularly susceptible to predation by foxes, which when combined with loss of habitat can endanger these species. Affected species include Speckled Warblers, Plovers, Diamond Firetails, Spotted Quail-Thrushes, Turquoise Parrots, Dunnarts, Bandicoots, Phascogales, skinks, geckos and legless lizards. This photograph is significant as an example of awareness raising and threat control programs undertaken by Wooragee Landcare Group in the 2000s in Indigo Shire.Landscape coloured photograph printed on gloss paperReverse: WAN NA 0ANA2N0 NNN 0 8743 / [PRINTED] (No. 13) / 259wooragee, wooragee landcare, indigo shire, north-east victoria, foxes, fox, pest control, vermin, conservation, baiting, trapping, events, 2004, wildlife, speckled warbler, plovers, diamond firetails, spotted quail-thrush, turquoise parrots, dunnarts, bandicoots, phascogales, skinks, geckos, legless lizards, farming, chickens, ducks, guinea-pigs