More known for attacking lambs and native animals, thirsty foxes in south-western New South Wales are nibbling on drip-fed irrigation pipes to access water.

Key points: Foxes and hares chewing on drip-fed irrigation pipes for water — while it is not a new issue, one grower says it is getting worse

Foxes and hares chewing on drip-fed irrigation pipes for water — while it is not a new issue, one grower says it is getting worse Local Land Services are helping landholders tackle the issue with baits and cages while some growers shoot the pests

Local Land Services are helping landholders tackle the issue with baits and cages while some growers shoot the pests Foxes are also a big threat to sheep producers

The invasive species bites on the pipe to create pin-sized holes and lick the leaking water that results.

If they do not find moisture straight away, they bite until they do.

The problem is not new to the Riverina irrigation town of Griffith, but it does appear to be getting worse, a local winegrape grower said.

"I've had [drip irrigation] for maybe 10 or 15 years but it's gotten worse in the last probably four or five years," Bruno Brombal, also chairman of Riverina Winegrape Growers, said.

Local Land Services said they are working with around 10 affected vineyards and orchards.

"Plenty of people have this problem around the area, with all the drip irrigation we have with orchards and nuts and grapes, it's something that affects most people," biosecurity officer Eliza Bramma said.

Ms Bramma said the crafty animals affect a range of agricultural industries.

"They're pretty destructive," Ms Bramma said.

"It's a pretty large prime lamb area, so people with lambs are always having trouble with foxes.

"But then with the irrigation as well, obviously they affect all types of industry.

Irrigation pipes like this one are being targeted by thirsty foxes and hares in the NSW Riverina. ( Supplied: Local Land Services )

Summer and winter pests

Mr Brombal said in the past winter has been the peak time for the pest to be chewing on the pipes.

"They're good little pests … they go along, especially in the winter months when there's no water available in the area and just suck on the hoses thinking they can get a drink of water."

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Both Ms Bramma and Mr Brombal said they expect the foxes to be worse in the summer, with little accessible water for them.

"I think if there was water available around the area they probably wouldn't do the damage they do now," Mr Brombal said.

Not just foxes

Mr Brombal said he has now found hares also biting the pipes.

However, unlike foxes, they are more economical in their approach.

"Even hares are doing damage lately to our drip hoses … in the same way," he said.

"But they will only attack one piece of hose so you can either plug it up or cut that piece out."

"But the foxes are worse. They just go along and you've got to cut a fair bit of a section out."

Hares, also an introduced pest, are also responsible for damaging irrigation pipes. ( Source: Richard Taylor, Flickr )

Annoying and expensive

Mr Brombal said it is a common problem in the industry so growers are used to it, but it is a "big problem".

"You're sort of hoping when you start your irrigation at the [start of the] season you don't have to go and do too much work," he said.

"Some seasons are a bit better than others, but this year's been a bad year."

Local Land Services office Eliza Bramma said the costs of constantly replacing pipe added up.

"For some people, it's really bad," she said.

"They're spending a lot of time every week, every time they water, replacing emitters and replacing pipe.

"So it can be quite costly, but it is a real nuisance how much time they have to spend fixing it all up."

Some landholders are able to bait, trap or shoot the foxes as a management technique, but that is not an option for Mr Brombal.

He said the only real way to stop the foxes is to have rain fill up alternative water sources.

"I hope we get some soon," he said.