1899
15 September 1899
The Cursed Fox.
It is two years now since the pioneer fox of the Mudgee district was shot by Mr. C. Paine at the wallaby drive at Biraganbil. Has anyone seen the tracks of any more of these undesirable visitors? We notice that in some districts they are largely on the increase. From Corowa we hear that a contractor living eight miles from the town brought in eight skins, and a few days previously, a vigneron killed three foxes about a mile from the town1
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1901
4 July 1901
A Bodangora Fox.
Whilst a resident of Bodangora was out shooting on Monday he saw a fox, which quickly made its way into a hollow log. He placed his gun on the ground, and whilst poking in one end of the log with a stick the animal ran out the other end quickly and disappeared. He fired at it, but missed. This is the second time the fox has been seen in the locality2
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1906
31 May 1906
A New Pest. - The man on the land here is now called upon to contend with another imported pest. Mr. John Batten last week, on going his rounds, found a full-grown English fox in one of his rabbit traps. This is the first fox known to be caught hereabouts. Mr. K. T. Austen secured the skin, and is having it preserved. Rumor has it that there are others in the neighborhood of Spring Creek, towards the Havilah boundary3
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1907
22 August 1907
Anti-Fox Association.
An association has been formed at Goolma with a view of waging war against the fox pest. All foxes shot or captured within a certain distance of Goolma will be paid for at the rate of £1 each4
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1908
2 July 1908
THE FOX PEST.
Foxes are on the increase in the Cudgegong district, and there is a difference of opinion among the residents as to whether the wily creature should be considered a pest, or whether his presence is essential to the proper preservation of Nature's balances. It is well-known that Reynard is the natural enemy of bunny, but it is questionable if the amount of good he does is merely commensurate with the results of his evil propensities. Mr. J. Niven has his doubts on this matter, and he is not prepared to give master reynard the benefit, for he will pay 5/ a scalp for every one captured on his run. This, with 5/ paid by the P. P. Board, makes fox hunting a profitable occupation5
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1909
27 October 1909
GULGONG.
Foxes are proving very troublesome at Gulgong, more so now than the rabbits. The animals are greatly increasing, and poultry breeders are suffering the greatest loss. One farmer last week lost 33 goslings. The stock around the district are in splendid condition, and are bringing good prices. Large sums are being paid for draught horses, and are consequently being brought into the town for sale. Graziers are taking advantage of the luxuriant growth of trefoil and clover by cutting it for their silos6
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1910
7 April 1910
DINGO AND FOX.
Settlers in the Wollar district are complaining of the depredations of the dingo which is increasing and multiplying to an alarming extent. Foxes are also roaming at large with felonious and murderous intent, and so reckless are they, and so delight of the efforts of the Pastures Protection Board to exterminate them, that they have ventured in as far as Mudgee, Mr. T. L. Thompson, engineer for the Meroo Shire, having seen one there on Tuesday night, while on his way in from one of his excursions along the roads of the Shire7
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9 June 1910
THE FOX.
There is no mistake about the increase of Reynard in this district, and the question that presents itself to one's mind, is he a sheep killer? Well, an experience as given from experienced men and who have had a fair opportunity to judge, go to show, that where the fox goes in one or twos and wallabies and rabbits exist, that the fox will not harm grown sheep, but against that we have the undeniable fact that he will destroy and mutilate lambs, and in drought time when sheep are in a weakened condition it's more than probable that he would gnaw them. What the Board will consider Reynard is a matter that many are anxious about just now. The fox skin is a valuable asset in itself, and it would be quite safe to assume that no one would miss an opportunity to secure one, but in the summer its value goes down considerably, and he is not worth hunting. With the Board’s finances at a low ebb and plenty of noxious animals to pay for, the situation is one that presents difficulties that are not highly welcome, and it would seem that if foxes are to be paid for, additional means must be employed by the Board to raise the money to do it8
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1917
21 June 1917
A White Fox.
Somewhat of a novelty was trapped on Mr. H. Tomkins' property at Mt. Frome, by Mr. Geo. Fittler, on Tuesday night. It was a pure white fox. There was not a dark patch. on the skin from the point of the nose to the tip of the brush9
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1932
23 June 1932
FOX DESTRUCTION
AT Max Poulton's this week there were on the floors no less than 600 fox skins, the result, the proprietor informs us, of a week's buying. These skins, which are valued at about £200, all came from within a radius of from 5 to 50 miles of Mudgee. The low value of rabbit skins, it is thought, has caused trappers to devote their attention to the rarer animal, though from the quantity of skins coming forward it must be confessed that foxes must exist in large numbers. The hunt for Reynard will have a beneficial effect in reducing the activities of this enemy of the sheep flocks10
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