North Brisbane Archives

Fox Sightings In Kedron, Other North Brisbane Suburbs Leave Citizens Concerned

People in North Brisbane, including Kedron and Stafford Heights said foxes are showing up in their neighbourhood, causing much concern in the wake of reported deaths of some livestock.

Read: Pet Owners Warned After Suspected Poisoning At Kedron Brook Off Leash Area

Residents took to social media to talk about their sightings of foxes, with some crossing roads along Everton Hills and Kedron.

In a Reddit thread, many locals said they have seen some real stone-cold foxes in the city.

“I have to lock my ducks and chickens up at night to stop the foxes tearing the heads off tonight’s lucky winner to keep them quiet as they carry them away, giving one or two of the others a nip on the way out so they know where to find them in a couple of night’s time.” one commenter said.

A couple from Mitchelton also recalled waking up to a traumatic scene after seeing six of their chickens dead inside their locked and fenced coop. They checked everywhere but found no obvious point of entry or holes dug.

That’s when they decided to install security cameras at the pen, and discovered that a fox was lurking around the coop.

In areas where invasive species are abundant, Brisbane City Council advised containing small animals or livestock in a secure area.

A fox-proof poultry pen, according to the Council, must have a fully-enclosed chicken house with a fox-proof door, roof and floor netting roof and should have no gaps, especially around the base, door and roof.

Council has also published the recommended measurements and dimensions for building a fox-proof poultry fence which can be downloaded from their website.

Foxes in Brisbane

The population of foxes is widespread throughout Queensland, including Brisbane. Back in the 1860s, they were introduced to Australia from England as a sport animal.

However, foxes became an invasive pest species within 30 years. They are also ‘surplus feeders’ which means that despite an abundance of food, they are known for preying on small or young animals, lambs, poultry and livestock.

A 2022 study revealed foxes kill about 300 million native mammals, birds and reptiles each year, and can be found across 80 per cent of mainland Australia.

Read: Here’s The Story Behind Stafford’s Unique Fig Tree

Meanwhile, Council encourages residents to report a fox, including the presence of dens, by submitting a feral animal sightings report or calling Council on 07 3403 8888.

Residents may also take proactive steps to lessen the chances of encounters and give fewer access to foxes by constructing a fox-proof enclosure for poultry, taking away uneaten pet food and excess fallen fruit from trees, and covering and securing compost piles and bins.

Emergency ‘Kerbside Collection’ for Flood-Damaged Items Underway

As clean-up efforts commence in Kedron and many parts of Brisbane, an emergency collection will also be underway to pick up heaps of flood-damaged items from many homes.

For this emergency collection, residents are allowed to leave their flood waste and damaged items by the kerb as Brisbane City Council rolls out their free collection as of 1 March 2022.

This is not part of the regular Kerbside Collection program. It is a separate initiative meant to be part of Brisbane’s clean up and recovery efforts.

Cr Fiona Hammond’s office is providing information on the pick-up coverage and assistance on how to get on the list if you are not in it.

According to Council, delivery of new bins to those who require them will be prioritised as well to ensure that the locals have somewhere to dispose of their rubbish.

Northside Community Noticeboard
for Assistance

If able, residents are also encouraged to take their flood-related rubbish at Council’s four resource recovery centres in Nudgee Beach, Willawong, Chandler, and Ferny Grove free of charge. Locals may also get in touch with their local officials for further assistance in case the collectors have yet to come by their streets.

“We are gearing up to work our way across the city to help clean up where it is safe to do so,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“In order to prioritise the collection of flood-affected material, all general kerbside collection has been temporarily paused.”

“However, there are still many areas along the Brisbane River that are expected to experience more flooding as the tide rises and falls. If your property is in an area that experiences river flooding, please delay the clean-up until it is safe to do so.”

Meanwhile, the Kedron-Wavell Services Club is one of two main evacuation sites for displaced residents. The other evacuation centre is at Sleeman Sports Complex in Chandler. Locals may phone 3403 8888 for further assistance regarding the temporary shelter.

Residents may also sign up for Mud Army 2.0. If you want to take part, register as an emergency volunteer. If you or your neighbours have been impacted by floodwaters, the Mud Army 2.0 will be deployed in your location. You should also register to get help.

MUD ARMY 2.0 REGISTRATION

Puppy Carers from North Brisbane in Demand for Vision Australia

Would you like to volunteer to take care of a puppy and raise it to become a well-adjusted, future seeing-eye dog? Vision Australia has a program for Kedron families and other North Brisbane residents to become full-time foster carers.

The puppy carers for Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dog program will be expected to take care of an eight-week-old pup for the duration of 12 to 15 months or for as short as six months. The carer’s main roles are to interact with the animal, provide them with regular exercises, and facilitate socialisation with other dogs or humans.

The foster dog parents should also spend some time toilet training pup, as well as teaching basic commands like sit or stay and help them learn to walk on the lead. However, the puppy carers will not be expected to train the animals for their future jobs as there are actually development trainers tasked to work with the young dogs.

What’s vital at this stage is for a North Brisbane family to monitor the pup since these animals should not be left alone for more than three hours. Humans have to be committed to the animal because consistency is an important factor in their development as future service dogs.

Aside from the time, puppy carers need to have a secure yard where they can interact and play with the dog. If they are renting the house, they will also need to secure approval from their landlord to have a new animal living with them, albeit temporarily.

According to Vision Australia: “Your puppy can ‘free run’ with your supervision if your property/backyard is safe and secure. The pup should not be left unsupervised as they may learn undesired behaviours such as digging. Letting pups have a ‘free run’ is a fantastic way to burn off some energy and teach them to respond when called.”

To learn more about this program, you can download the FAQs outlining the duties and requirements of a puppy carer. However, do note that your application might take some time to be assessed, depending on the new litters that will need placement in a new home.

Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dog has over 200 pups living with carers at a given time. The costs involved to become part of this program will be shouldered by the company, including the crate for the puppy to sleep, retreat or settle in after a long day of training and play.