In March, while out spotlighting with his neighbour, he shot "a record number" of 26 foxes over three properties in two nights.

Mr Weckert said the foxes even attacked ewes when they were down on the ground during lambing.

"I think because of the drought there has been a food shortage, which is why they've come down here – the food source is easier," he said.

"A lot of people have all gone into cropping and no sheep, so there's less for them to eat."

But Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management board biosecurity program manager Iggy Honan said while fox numbers were similar to last year, the comparison needed to made for the inception of the control program five to seven years ago when fox numbers were considerably higher.

"Many landholders who used to spend nights shooting, now hardly see foxes and also see little damage compared with pre-2003 times," he said.

About 30pc of landholders participated in an annual baiting program on EP.

"There have been about 16,000 baits used by landholders, and about the same used by the Department for Environment & Heritage in their parks, mainly in the southern and northern areas," Mr Honan said.

South East NRM board acting operations manager Anton Kurray said it was very hard to gauge fox numbers in his area.

*Extract from a full report in Stock Journal , June 4 issue.