FLYING FOXES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1920, Page 4

FLYING FOXES.

BAD AS WILD DOGS. SYDNEY, Dec. 31. Drought, rabbits, wild dogs, flying foxes—these are some of the troubles of the man on the land in Australia. Flying foxes continue to do great damage to the orchards throughout the West Maitland district, and the fruit crops, already light, are being further reduced by this pest. A number of fruit-growers turned a holiday into a raid on the pest. They discovered the haunt of the flying fox in a deep gullv in the mountains, and in three hours 18 guns accounted for over 2000 of the pest, in addition to many young ones which the old foxes, with eold parental indifference, threw out. The guns had not been long in action when the air was yeritably black with the pest. Another raid at Budgong Creek, in the Shoalhaven district, also served to weaken the enemy. It is estimated that fully 1000 of the pest were killed, the raiders driving them clean out of the creek for the first time on record. Raiders are marshalling their forces with Foeh-like ingenuity for other attacks upon the pest. One of the Government inspectors says that only continuous attacks on the flying fox will eradicate the nuisance. One orchardjst in despair promises to find all the shooters if growers will find the ammunition. Three pence per scalp for the pest is offered in one place. One man provided a team of horses, with the help of which the attacking party outflanked the foxes.

This is how the man on the land makes war, for ho regards the flying fox something in the nature of a Hunnish host.