In 1870, British aristocrats imported foxes to Australia. They took them to Geelong purely for the purpose of hunting. These intrepid beasts thrived in their new habitat, resulting in a stunning population explosion continent-wide. In under 70 years, foxes colonised land as far away as the Pilbara region of north-western Western Australia. By 1940, they had made it about 80 percent of the way across the continent. Such rapid proliferation has prompted fears over its potential ecological effects — especially its role driving native mammal extinction.
The introduction of foxes into Australia would have been on par with the biggest ecological catastrophes. Originally introduced for the sport of recreational hunting, these animals were provided with the perfect recipe for thriving and rapidly expanding. Consequently, they propagated very quickly from their initial point of release.
Dr. Sean Tomlinson, who recently led a study on the expansion of red foxes, emphasized the need to recognize this colonization.
“By having historic maps and high-resolution reconstructions of the colonisation of Australia by invasive species, it gives us an inkling or an insight into how we lost so many species so quickly,” – Sean Tomlinson.
Environmental Impact
The impacts of the fox invasion have been catastrophic. Since their introduction in the late 1800s, foxes have been implicated in the extinction of 16 native mammal species. These animals adjust very quickly to changes in their habitat. Their relentless and predatory nature have made them one of the primary forces leading both to the decline and extinction of Australian wildlife.
Finally, John Virtue, a key figure in the field of environmental studies, described the proliferation of fox populations throughout both city and country landscapes in his written work.
“Foxes are very widespread across Australia, across about 80 per cent of the continent,” – John Virtue.
He pointed out that an urban environment can sometimes see higher densities of foxes because of rich food resources.
“Urban areas have got the highest numbers because there’s plenty of food sources available,” – John Virtue.
This rapid expansion creates difficulties for conservation groups working to protect our most vulnerable native species.
Conservation Efforts
Local environmental groups and local Landscape (or NRM) Boards do a lot of fox management on the ground in Australia. To combat red fox expansion, authorities across the country have tried numerous tactics to manage their populations. These efforts have been largely thwarted, in part because the problem is so pervasive.
As John Virtue, former GM for Maryland Transit Administration, noted, it is logistically infeasible to try and contain that kind of population.
“When a pest is very widespread, you’re not really going to try and contain its further spread,” – John Virtue.
According to Dr. Damien Fordham, Environment Institute director, developing targeted and evidence-based conservation strategies is going to be crucial in the years ahead.
“What we hope then is to be able to use that information for restoration and to be able to reverse the population declines of so many animals in Australia,” – Damien Fordham.
The Future of Australian Wildlife
Ecologists at the University of Southern Maine are currently researching red fox colonization. Their hope is to develop successful strategies that will shield our native species from its effects. Knowing how and why foxes were introduced, causing further spread and issues, is important for planning future conservation efforts.
