There are more than 30 million feral red foxes in Australia and the RSPCA has joined a chorus of criticism of an application to the federal government to import silver foxes.

''The rationale for importing the silver fox to Australia is simple: a new sort of unique pet. Foxes can have all the friendliness of a dog with the independence of a cat. Like a dog is not a wolf, the silver fox is not a wild fox, though they are the same species,'' the application from an unnamed person in NSW says.

RSPCA chief scientist Bidda Jones said silver foxes are the same species as the red fox, which is a major pest, and when undomesticated breeds like foxes or dingoes are kept as pets people tend to have problems.

''Keeping or breeding wild animal crosses like foxes or dingoes is problematic. These animals add another burden to animal shelters as well as being a risk to native species'' Dr Jones said.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said legal issues on the application would be presented to him in a few weeks.

''At first glance it seems insane,'' Mr Burke said.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the government would oppose any move to import fox species into Australia. He said foxes already cost Victoria $39 million annually.

"Importing Paterson's curse, rabbits and the red fox all sounded like a great idea at the time but now they have become a rod for our backs,'' Mr Walsh said.

A bounty on foxes and wild dogs will be introduced next month to reduce numbers.

The National Farmers Federation and the Coalition have labelled the application and its consideration, as ''political correctness gone mad.''

''Foxes are not pets, they're predators. We are calling on the government to reject this application outright," NFF president Jock Laurie said.