‘Rogue fox’ could be behind attacks on small dogs in Wantirna

A STRING of dog maulings in Wantirna has pet owners fearing for the safety of their pooches — and an expert has warned the killer is probably a common suburban predator gone “rogue”.

Daniel Morphett of Wantirna with his toy poodle Chloe. Mr Morphett’s other pet poodle was killed in a suspected fox attack. Picture: Steve Tanner

A FOX expert says a “rogue fox” may be behind recent dog attacks in Wantirna — and she is urging owners of small canines to take extra safety precautions.

The warning came after two dogs were killed by foxes in Clarence Rd within six weeks, and other pet owners reported fox sightings.

Pet dogs killed by foxes in horror Wantirna attacks

Bronwyn Hradsky, a Melbourne University research fellow studying invasive predators, said it was “very unusual” for foxes to target dogs.

She said they generally hunted smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs but at this time of year, when foxes were feeding their young cubs, they could be brazen enough to attack a dog.

Amanda Morgan with Prada, Gucci and Kensie. Gucci was attacked by a fox in June last year. Picture: Daniel Pockett

“It sounds like they’ve got a rogue fox in the area that’s learned that it can hunt small dogs,” Dr Hradsky said.

“Foxes will be hunting very hard and will be particularly bold while they’ve got young cubs to feed. They’re very efficient predators.”

Dr Hradsky said foxes posed a risk to dogs that weighed 5kg or less.

“Any dogs that are football-sized or smaller are particularly vulnerable,” she said.

She said the best thing dog owners could do was secure their pets and remove food sources that could be attracting foxes.

The Clarence Rd attacks are just the latest in the area.

Amanda Morgan, who lives in nearby Mariemont Ave, said her king charles cavalier Gucci was attacked by a fox in June last year and survived with just a scar.

She said on Monday, October 9, she saw two foxes directly outside her home, with one on the footpath and another on the road, both staring at her.

Mrs Morgan, who has three king charles cavaliers including a 14-week old puppy, said she was “extremely worried” and had started locking her doggy door to keep her pets safe.

“I don’t want my dog to become a statistic,” she said.

Mrs Morgan said she raised her concerns with Knox Council but was told to contact the State Government’s Agriculture Department.

The council’s acting engineering and infrastructure director David Yeouart said it had worked with other agencies on a fox control program in March and April.

The program operated at Lakewood Reserve, Wantirna South, Old Joes Creek Reserve, Boronia, Blind Creek Corridor near Cathies Lane and Wantirna South.

He said “a number of foxes” were trapped as a result.

Mr Yeouart said the council was looking at more control measures at those locations.

Cr Jackson Taylor, who represents Collier Ward in Wantirna, said several residents had contacted him in the past few weeks with reports of foxes attacking dogs and possums.

“It’s obviously a growing issue,” he said.

Cr Taylor said more needed to be done to eradicate foxes and he would lobby for more funding to be allocated to the issue in the council’s 2018-19 budget.