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.
The program will run from September 2 until September 30, with the pet ban to remain in place (in areas where pets aren't already prohibited year-round) until October 28.
"Fox baiting is the best method we have to attempt to reduce fox numbers in areas that we know native wildlife inhabit, but it's really important that pet owners look at where the baited areas are and make sure that their pets don't enter them," Warrnambool City Council CEO Andrew Mason said.
"The poison used, PAPP, has an antidote but it needs to be administered by a vet quickly, usually within an hour of the poison being eaten.
"So if you believe your pet many have been in a baited area and you notice blue discolouration of the tongue and gums, lethargy, loss of limb function or anything else uncharacteristic, you need to take it to a vet that carries the antidote straight away.
"Bait will be buried away from paths, and its location will be mapped with GPS so we can make sure it's all removed at the end of the program."
Mr Mason said that while the fight against foxes would likely be an ongoing one, continual efforts were vital.
"People have been trying to eradicate foxes in Australia pretty much since they were introduced in the 1800s, and it's a fight that will likely continue for a long time," he said.
"According to a 2022 Australian National University study, Australia is home to about 1.7 million foxes that kill an estimated 300 million native animals each year.
"So every fox removed from the environment could potentially save hundreds of native creatures each year.
"Warrnambool is home to a diverse range of native species, including the little penguin colony on Middle Island, and fox baiting twice a year is an important means of protecting them."
All baited areas are clearly signed, and the fox baiting map was delivered by mail to properties near baiting areas. It is also available on the Warrnambool City Council website, and at the Civic Centre at 25 Liebig Street.
Anyone who finds a dead fox on their property should contact Council on 5559 4800 for collection.
