Fox sightings Melbourne: Fox kills Knoxfield boy’s pet ducks and chicken

A KNOXFIELD boy has been left devastated after a fox killed his pet ducks and chicken in a savage attack. It’s the latest in a string across the outer east.

Blythe was left devastated after a fox killed his two pet ducks and chicken. He is now worried about the safety of his duck Bendy. Picture: Penny Stephens

A KNOXFIELD boy has been left devastated after a fox killed his beloved pet ducks and chicken in a savage attack.

The incident prompted his mum to call for Knox Council to do more to address the huge fox problem in the area, and warn neighbours to be careful.

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Anne Peterson said a fox dug its way into the enclosure in the family’s yard in the early hours of October 28, killing two ducks, Daffy and Angel, and chicken, Chickaletta.

“(The fox) left a blood trail and a pile of feathers,” Ms Peterson said.

She said her nine-year-old son Blythe got the ducks as a birthday present and was inconsolable after the attack.

“He didn’t want to go to school on Monday because he couldn’t face telling his friends what had happened,” Ms Peterson said.

Blythe was inconsolable after the fox attack on his pets.

She reported the attack to Knox Council but was frustrated by the council’s response.

She said last year a fox also killed several of her cats.

“Every time I ask council about foxes they say it’s not their job or things I can do to minimise fox attacks,” she said.

She wants council to do more to reduce the number of the pests.

She shared details of the attack on Facebook and said a lot of people also reported losing pets to foxes.

“The council need to do something, it’s beyond a joke.”

Director of Bayswater wildlife shelter Warriors 4 Wildlife Carla Penn said foxes were a widespread problem.

“On average there is one fox for every 400sq m of land — it’s ridiculous,” she said.

“It’s breeding season at the moment and cubs are starting to get out of dens now and are learning how to hunt.”

Ms Penn said they had been working with Nigel’s Animal Rescue on an idea to create some form of net system to put over dens to catch foxes humanely.

She called on the State Government to work with councils on coming up with an eradication program.

“We need to come up with a solution,” she said.

“We need to start eradicating foxes in a way that is humane and is not a massive cost to homeowners.”

Knox Mayor Jake Keogh said the council was working with several neighbouring councils and Parks Victoria, VicRoads and Melbourne Water to develop a Regional Pest Animal Strategy.

He encouraged residents to record fox sightings at feralscan.org.au

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