Welcome to the northern Sydney fox mapping resource

Local authorities and the community in northern Sydney are working together to manage the impacts of introduced foxes

Foxes are a major introduced pest animal in northern Sydney. They prey on native wildlife (such as birds), kill backyard poultry, spread weeds and disease, and have been known to kill domestic pets and zoo animals. Fox impacts on native fauna can be substantially reduced by intensive broad-area fox control targeting areas where native fauna are vulnerable to fox predation.

Priority sites for the conservation of threatened species in northern Sydney include:

Garigal / Ku-ring-gai Fox Threat Abatement Plan (Fox TAP) site for endangered Southern Brown Bandicoots
North Head for endangered populations of Long-nosed Bandicoots and Little Penguin, and the North Head Wildlife Sanctuary.

You can help to be part of the solution to reduce the impacts of urban foxes by reporting when you see foxes or see the problems they cause (such as predation of backyard poultry) here in the FoxScan website.

The information you record can help local authorities to implement appropriate strategies to reduce the adverse impacts of foxes, and help protect domestic and native animals.

A fox in Sydney photographed stealing pet food. Source. M. Thomson

How to record foxes in your local area

1. Register in FoxScan or Login

2. Record fox sightings and impacts

3. Download the App (AppStore and Google play)

Please note, your personal details will not be visible or accessible to the public.

Chickens killed by a fox. Image by Chris Lane

Simple tips to reduce fox problems

Dont leave pet food outside overnight
Use enclosed compost bins
Keep domestic animals secure at night
Remove fallen fruit around fruit trees
Keep garbage bins covered
Block entry points to drains
Close off access to underneath buildings
Use fox-proof enclosures for poultry
Turn-off outside lights that might attract insects
Reduce weeds that provide food and shelter, such as Blackberries
Record sightings in FoxScan.

Useful fact sheets, resources and further information

• NSW Fox TAP (click to open external site)
• Saving our Species program (click to open external site)
• Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) Conservation Project and Fox TAP under SOS Program (click to open external site)
• North Head Long-nosed Bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) (Endangered population) Fox TAP Project (click to open external site)
• Manly population of Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) (Endangered population) Fox TAP (click to open external site)
• North Head Sanctuary (click to open external site)

	Learn how to identify foxes Do you know the difference between a fox, domestic dog and a possum? Foxes are about the size of a medium-sized dog and are usually reddish-brown in colour with a white chin and bushy tail, but sometimes they can be confused with other urban animals. » Fox description » Watch video 1 » Watch video 2 » Listen to a fox call» View or submit photos
	Impacts on the environment and threatened species Foxes have been identified as playing a major role in the decline of many native species including ground-nesting birds, small to medium sized mammals and reptiles. They are also as a major threat to threatened species across Australia and in the northern Sydney region. Foxes are also weed vectors – distributing weed seeds across the region, and can spread diseases. Foxes are also a limiting factor to the successful reintroduction of many native species.
	Researchers need your assistance for fox diet study Researchers at the Western Sydney University are presently seeking community support in collecting fox carcases and fox scats for a major fox diet study in Sydney. If you can assist, please contact the researchers via the Western Sydney University website.

Photos of foxes in North Sydney

Photo by S. Brown. Fox detected on camera

Photo by S. Brown. Three foxes detected on camera

Contact the project team

If you wish to contact the coordinators of the fox project, or have feedback you would like to share, please send an email to foxscan@feralscan.org.au

Supporters

This project is proudly supported by the Greater Sydney Local Land Services (LLS), Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (SHFT), Sydney Water, Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), Taronga Zoo, local councils and the community.