Evaluating red fox (Vulpes vulpes) presence in a baited landscape: a snapshot from the Northern Jarrah Forest

The control of invasive predators such as the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus) is a key conservation strategy used to protect native wildlife in Australia. In the Northern Jarrah Forest of south-western Australia, predator control has been implemented for decades through broadscale aerial and ground baiting with sodium fluoroacetate (1080). However, its effectiveness is likely to vary regionally and temporally, and requires ongoing evaluation. We assessed predator presence in relation to baiting using paired camera traps at 180 sites surveyed over two consecutive spring seasons. Foxes were detected at 18.3% of sites, with 88% of detections occurring outside baited areas. Detection probability increased strongly with distance from baited zones; foxes were more than twice as likely to be detected 1 km outside baited areas than 1 km inside, and >25 times more likely 5 km outside than 5 km inside. Feral cats were detected at only 10 sites, precluding further analysis. These results indicate that broadscale baiting likely remains effective in suppressing fox presence in the Northern Jarrah Forest, with a clear spatial gradient extending beyond baited boundaries. However, additional survey effort is required to determine its effectiveness for feral cats.