Landowners along the Woongarra coastline are being asked to help protect endangered marine turtles by reporting any fox dens or fox sightings on their properties.
With turtle nesting season approaching, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), Bundaberg Regional Council and the Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) are working together to track down fox dens between 1 – 25 July 2025.
It’s all part of the Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program which this year will focus on an area of coastline from the Kolan to the Elliott River.
Natural Resources and Environment portfolio spokesperson Cr Jason Bartels said foxes posed a serious threat to nesting marine turtles, especially the endangered loggerhead turtles that returned to the region each year.
“Fox dens (which are often hidden on private land) give foxes a base to raid turtle nests, destroying eggs and hatchlings,” he said.
“We’re asking coastal landowners to keep an eye out for dens or signs of fox activity to help us locate and manage these threats before turtle nesting begins.”
A key part of the program’s success is the use of specially trained detection dogs, capable of sniffing out well-hidden fox dens so targeted, humane control measures can be carried out.
Cr Jason Bartels said the initiative had delivered strong results in previous years.
“This community-led approach is really working,” he said.
“Thanks to landowners who report fox activity and give access to their properties, places like Mon Repos have seen a significant decline in fox numbers over recent turtle nesting seasons.”
How to assist:
Landowners who see signs of foxes such as tracks, scat or suspected dens are encouraged to fill out a fox sighting report form and email it to parksadministration@bundaberg.qld.gov.au.
With permission, trained contractors will visit the property, inspect the area and carry out agreed control measures at no cost to the landholder.
Find out more here.
The Nest to Ocean Turtle Protection Program is a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland governments.
There are plenty of foxes roaming at night at Riverview Elliot Heads around the reserve
I caught one on trail cam at Riverview in the reserve last week. Is that useful? Is there someone I can talk to about incorporating fix searches and my up and coming YouTube Channel.