Bait stations will be laid every 200 metres and refreshed for 10 weeks.

North Central Catchment Management Authority acting project manager Amy Russell said only 1 per cent of the area’s juvenile turtles survived, mostly because of foxes.

“Foxes can sniff out nests, and attack hatchlings when they start to move from the nest to the water,” Ms Russell said.

“We have even seen evidence of foxes attacking adult turtles.”

With the breeding season for Murray River and eastern long-neck turtles approaching, the organisation wants to reduce fox numbers as much as possible.

Ms Russell said other, non-lethal control methods would continue to be trialled, to be used alongside baiting.

Visitors to the forest have been asked to keep their dogs on leashes until at least December 15, to avoid pets being poisoned.

People visiting the forest have also been encouraged to keep an eye out for turtles and report any sightings at turtlesat.org.au, to assist with monitoring of species.