🦊 Fox & Wild Dog Baiting Programs Active in Conjola National Park

Residents and visitors to Lake Conjola are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) implements extensive fox trapping and 1080 baiting programs across Conjola National Park and surrounding reserves.

These vital pest control operations are designed to minimise the devastating impact of introduced predators, such as foxes and wild dogs, on native Australian wildlife, particularly threatened shorebirds and other vulnerable species. Foxes, introduced to Australia in the 1870s, have contributed significantly to the decline and extinction of a wide range of native animals and are now almost impossible to eradicate, necessitating ongoing management efforts.

The programs currently underway in Conjola National Park include:

• Fox Trapping Program: Running from Monday, 10th November 2025, to Sunday, 21st December 2025, targeting foxes in Conjola National Park and Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve.
• 1080 Fox Baiting Program: An ongoing ground baiting program using 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) poison, active from Monday, 21st July 2025, to Sunday, 21st December 2025. This extends across Conjola National Park, Murramarang National Park, Meroo National Park, Narrawallee Creek Nature Reserve, Seven Mile Beach National Park, and Comerong Island Nature Reserve.
• Ongoing 1080 Pest Management Program: Another ground baiting program utilising 1080 poison for the control of feral animals, including wild dogs and foxes, from 3rd March 2025, to 31st October 2025. This covers a broader area including Conjola National Park, Morton National Park, Murramarang National Park, Parma Nature Reserve, Jerrawangala National Park, Colymea SCA, and Bees Nest Nature Reserve.

A Critical Warning for Pet Owners:

NPWS explicitly warns that 1080 poison (sodium fluoroacetate) is lethal to domestic pets, particularly dogs and cats. Sodium fluoroacetate is a naturally occurring toxin found in more than 30 species of native Australian plants, to which native wildlife have developed some tolerance. However, introduced animals like dogs and foxes are highly susceptible.

Signs will be prominently displayed at the entry points to all baiting locations. Domestic pets are strictly prohibited in NSW National Parks managed lands. If you are in the vicinity of these areas, pets and working dogs must be restrained or muzzled and must not enter the baiting zones. There is no known antidote for 1080 poisoning once ingested, making immediate veterinary assistance crucial in the event of accidental consumption. Less than 2 milligrams can be fatal for a 30-kilogram dog.

The use of 1080 is highly regulated, restricted to authorised and trained operators, and is considered the most humane and species-specific pesticide available for declared pest animal control in Australia, minimising impact on non-target native species when used correctly.

For more information on these programs, contact the local NPWS offices at Ulladulla on 4454 9500 or Nowra on 4428 6300. Penalties apply for non-compliance with park regulations.