Project snapshot:
Fox management in an urban setting: Lake Claremont in metropolitan Perth
Showcasing an urban fox management program in metropolitan Perth:
Situated in suburban Perth just ten kilometres from the city centre, Lake Claremont stands as a testament to successful environmental rehabilitation and urban fox control. Once a degraded wetland and golf course, Lake Claremont and surrounding parkland is now a vibrant Conservation Category Wetland and Bush Forever Site, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Friends of Lake Claremont (FoLC) and the Town of Claremont. In particular, revegetation of degraded landscapes, a successful urban fox control program, and the promotion of responsible pet ownership have rejuvenated the environment, allowing native species to thrive, return or be reintroduced. The successful restoration of this 70ha biodiversity hotspot showcases the profound impact of community-led conservation initiatives in an urban setting.
Originally known to the local Noongar people as a significant wetland area, Lake Claremont was a seasonal lake that provided a habitat for diverse plants and animals. European settlers in the 19th century began using the surrounding land for agriculture and recreation and finally urban development took over. Over time, the area experienced environmental degradation due to activities such as land clearing, infill, and drainage with the lake suffered from pollution, sedimentation, and the introduction of invasive species. This led to a decline in its ecological health and the loss of many of the native animals.
The rejuvenation of Lake Claremont has only been possible through the hard work of the FoLC, the Town of Claremont, and various other stakeholders. Left to right: Nick Cook of FoLC, Jarad Bray of Town of Claremont, Scott Thompson of Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Gill Basnett the National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordinator. Photo: CISS, NFCFMC Program.
In 2003, FoLC was established by local residents who have furthered conservation efforts through securing substantial grant funding and developing a close working relationship with the Town of Claremont. The activities of the volunteers span wetland restoration, native re-vegetation, wildlife and invasive species monitoring, and public environmental awareness programs.
The re-vegetation of Lake Claremont, spearheaded by FoLC, began in 2009 after locals voted to convert part of a golf course into natural parkland. The Town of Claremont supported these efforts by preparing planting areas and installing fencing to protect new plants. Over the years, more than 400,000 native seedlings have been planted by volunteers, funded by approximately $800,000 in grants. This massive re-vegetation effort has significantly enhanced the lake’s ecosystem, attracting a variety of wildlife back to the area. It is now home to well over 130 species of animals and many more plants.
Friends of Lake Claremont places a strong emphasis on community engagement to encourage local involvement and promote environmental stewardship. The group does this through organised talks, a newsletter, and through social media, as well as running annual events such as Clean Up Australia Day, National Tree Day, and Celebrate Lake Claremont Day. FoLC also works hard to engage with younger members of the community, by collaborating with local schools and Millennium Kids, a youth-driven environmental organisation that empowers young people to take action on sustainability issues. Together, they conduct educational programs and hands-on activities such as tree planting, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and other practical conservation tasks. For the kids and others in the community, the impacts roaming and pet cats and foxes are of great concern.
A hatchling oblong turtle at Lake Claremont. Turtles are heavily impacted by foxes which dig up and consume eggs and dormant turtles. Photo: Nick Cook, FoLC.
Managing invasive species, particularly foxes and cats (roaming pet and stray), is crucial to protecting Lake Claremont’s native animals. Foxes and roaming cats have a significant negative impact on the wildlife at Lake Claremont through predation and the spread of disease. For example, the oblong turtle, who nests around the edges of the lake. Foxes dig up turtle nests and eat the eggs and young and will also hunt and kill adults (see May newsletter). Across Australia, turtle populations are struggling due to fox predation of nests.
Fox densities are highest in urban areas (estimated at 16 foxes/km2) due to the large amount of food and shelter available. In urban and metropolitan areas, foxes can travel long distances, 23 km has been recorded. This complicates management efforts due to the need to involve multiple council jurisdictions for effective broader area control. Because foxes are always re-invading, management at Lake Claremont must be continuous to effectively control populations in the area. The cat issue in Lake Claremont comes from closer to home; the cat presence in comes mostly from roaming domestic cats.
Initially, fox control efforts involved sporadic trapping which failed to significantly reduce fox activity. FoLC encouraged the Town of Claremont to assess options for the park, and in 2018 a new fox control strategy was implemented. This strategy, led by Terrestrial Ecosystems, combined trapping using padded-jaw leghold and cage traps with meticulously planned night-time shooting using infrared optics to target foxes in areas of the park where shooting can be conducted safely. This change in management saw a significant reduction in fox numbers and activity and a rebound of fox-sensitive species such as turtles. Monitoring by FoLC, using motion cameras and looking for fox signs, allow rapid responses to any fox activity when it arises. Through the use of several integrated management tools, the strategy has been instrumental in reducing fox activity at Lake Claremont.
Quendas were successfully returned to Lake Claremont after effective fox control. Photo: Gillian Basnett.
A significant milestone in the fox control and revegetation efforts was the reintroduction of quenda (southwestern brown bandicoots) to Lake Claremont. Quenda were once widespread on the Swan Coastal Plain but land clearing and predation by foxes and cats mean they are now rarely seen, and in many areas, are locally extinct. With fox numbers under control, the Western Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA), assessed Lake Claremont as a suitable candidate for quenda relocation. In 2022, after a year-long project between DBCA and Town of Lake Claremont saw 45 quenda relocated from areas slated for housing development. The reintroductions have been wildly successful, with monitoring showing thriving populations and new generations being born onsite.
With quenda now moving into neighbouring gardens, FoLC saw an opportunity to engage with the community about the need to manage domestic cats. A roaming pet cat can kill up to 110 native animals a year, which could jeopardise the new quenda, and other wildlife, populations at the lake. By documenting cat visitation to Lake Claremont using trail cameras, FoLC demonstrated that stricter controls were needed to protect sensitive wildlife from pet cats. In 2024 this led to the establishment of cat-prohibited areas by the Town of Claremont in the natural vegetation of Lake Claremont and the Swan River foreshore. The local community overwhelmingly supported this initiative, with 120 public submissions backing the new law. The Town of Claremont now periodically engages contractors to trap and return cats to their owners, enforcing fines as necessary. This measure, along with ongoing community education, aims to protect native wildlife from predation by pet cats.
Lake Claremont’s recovery is comprehensive. FoLC surveys show that as of 2017, the number of bird species observed in the area almost doubled from 54 species before restoration activities, to 96 species after. Oblong turtles, threatened by foxes in other urban wetlands in metropolitan Perth, are thriving around the lake in the absence of this invasive predator. Locally rare species are sighted in the area with increasing frequency, including splendid fairy-wrens, black-headed monitors or Yoondarn, and dugites. Once a degraded urban wetland, Lake Claremont now stands as a natural oasis in the middle of metropolitan Perth.
The ongoing efforts of FoLC and the Town of Claremont serve as a model for urban habitat restoration and wildlife protection, showcasing the profound impact of local community-led conservation initiatives. Their comprehensive approach to managing invasive species, reintroducing native wildlife, and engaging the community has transformed the lake and surround bushland into a beacon of environmental rehabilitation. The hard work of FoLC, Town of Claremont, the community and organisations like Millennium Kids ensure Lake Claremont will remain a cherished natural asset for future generations.
Information on this page was obtained from Friends of Lake Claremont and the Town of Claremont [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
This project snapshot initially appeared in the June 2024 issue of the National Feral Cat and Fox Management Coordination Program Newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, click here or fill out the form at the bottom of the page.
Banner photo: Nick Cook, FoLC.
Other Resources
Click here to find out more about FeralScan a free community-designed website and smartphone app that allows you to record observations and evidence of introduced pest animals (such as foxes and feral cats), the damage they cause (including predation of native wildlife or lambs), and control actions in your local area (such as baiting, trapping and shooting).
The PestSmart Toolkits provide further information about how to plan, manage and improve your feral cat or fox management program.
The CISS Glovebox Guides, Planning Guides and Field Guides are useful pdf or printed booklets for managing pest animals like feral cats and foxes, developing a simple feral cat or fox management plan or undertaking a best practice baiting program.