Anyone seen a fox?

[the_camera_poser]

I still haven't seen a fox, but they have covered the entirety of North Tassie with 1080 in the last few weeks!

[ben.h]

I find it hard to believe, that, if there are foxes here, none have been caught yet. The odds of not catching one after all this time, all the sightings, all the resources (including trained sniffer dogs) and all the scats must be absolutely phenomenal. I find it incredible that, despite the foxes apparent reclusive / elusive behaviour, not a single fox has been captured.

Also: Does anyone know why the dogs are trained to find scats rather than foxes? If their (fox eradication taskforce) theory is that finding scats with trained sniffer dogs will lead to the capture of foxes then it appears that it isn't working too well.

[the_camera_poser]

Oh NOOOOOOOO- we wouldn't want the dogs to hunt the foxes....nooooooo....that way the foxes would become used to the dogs, and then maybe recruit them into their feral ways.

You have to *&%$#! well wonder.

[Nuts]

I have always wondered why you are offered insurance when sending a package thru Oz post. It implies that, at the basic level, you can expect that someone will/has not done their job properly.

There are only a handful of places where a fox could come into the state. Why have a team looking for them when they have had a chance to spread out? Why not have the competence, and resources to keep them out in the first place?

Instead we have Frank and his silly milk sniffing cat?

[the_camera_poser]

Be nice about the cat:

"Controversial topics have the potential to get nasty. Do not let that happen here. Keep all content polite and friendly. Abuse or attacks of any kind against any persons (forum members, politicians, or otherwise) are not permitted. Eg, discuss the policies, not the politicians or the other posters."

LOL
(Just kidding by the way...... )

[Earthling]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... 513623.htm


Forensic testing of fox scats found in Tasmania has revealed DNA from five different foxes.

The University of Western Australia has analysed 30 scats, but only five came up with conclusive results.

The tests found that three of the foxes were male and one was female. Tests are still underway on the fifth specimen.

Dr Oliver Berry, from the Invasive Animal Research Centre in Western Australia, says the tests have confirmed foxes are a threat in Tasmania.

"The first significance of this, we know there are multiple foxes in Tasmania at least five; and the second significance, we know there are male and female there," Dr Berry said.

"That obviously means there is a potential for reproduction and population growth."

A senior wildlife biologist with Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries believes better baiting techniques will rid the state of foxes.

Nick Mooney says the results from the latest scats study confirm the department's worst fears.

Mr Mooney says it is a big worry that Tasmania has a fox population, but every effort is being made to get rid of them.

"Baiting is the key to these things, it's the backbone of these sorts of eradication efforts," he said.

"While this, it's a terrible catch-22, while the animal is that rare that you can't find individuals, you have to put danger in the landscape for them and baiting is the classic at that."

"But we've got to get better at baiting, perhaps focus more on where we're getting evidence, but to do that legitimately, you have to be very good at getting the evidence."

[prankphonecall]

I thought they knew about foxes 4-5 years ago. Last time i was in tassie i think they were offering monetry rewards for foxes, shame we didn't know it at the time, cause we saw a dead one on the road... could have had a free holiday on the tassie parks n wildlife

[the_camera_poser]

We can hunt out all the Tigers, but not foxes.

Grrrrr.......

[corvus]

The Tiger was a non savvy colonial, Reynard is a savvy street wise European known to avoid contact with Humans but just like all of us they do poo... in the woods and we can determine where they last dined from this IMHO
c

[RiverFly]

I was a sceptic until myself and a mate saw two foxes, seperately, on the same day - one btw Borradaile and Feb Plains, the other at Arm River. It was then that I found out that the taskforce only has dogs trained to find scat, not foxes, and don't have any weapons anymore because of inapropriate use.

[tasadam]

I was a sceptic until myself and a mate saw two foxes, seperately, on the same day - one btw Borradaile and Feb Plains, the other at Arm River. It was then that I found out that the taskforce only has dogs trained to find scat, not foxes, and don't have any weapons anymore because of inapropriate use.

Did you report them to the Fox task force? 1300 fox out.

[RiverFly]

Yes, as far as I am aware they did a day-time inspection, plotted the reported sightings in the GPS, and looked for paw-prints in the dry sclerophyll forest...a place you would struggle to see any prints anyway.

No dogs or anything were deployed as far as I was made aware.

It was a very deflating response especially considering two seperate sightings, of seperate animals, both next to the WHA. They haven't won anymore support from me anyway.

[olblackbilly]

if the tassie devil didnt have this horrible facial tumour disease they might have been able to control the small populations of foxes.... it looks like where up the proverbial creek, anyone lose a paddle..?

[the_camera_poser]

if the tassie devil didnt have this horrible facial tumour disease they might have been able to control the small populations of foxes.... it looks like where up the proverbial creek, anyone lose a paddle..?

Apparently foxes were introduced to Tasmania in the 1800's, but they didn't take.

[Taurë-rana]

Apparently because the devils out competed them.

[tasadam]

Just checking the latest on the fox situation -

http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/We ... SH7FX?open

Note from that page -

If you have an interest in the outdoors, a keen eye, a good level of fitness and want to help care for our environment, then join the Poo Crew! To register your interest, email...

[Darren]

G'Day
Just a question for all you locals, do you have much of a feral dog problem down there? I have a small farm in steep country close to a very large national park and while I see a few foxes, feral dogs are more a problem especially with calves. Some of the larger farms have employed contract dog killers and it’s very common to use 1080. The NPWS and state forests use it as well.
As most of these dogs on there own look like your family pets and usually were at one time it would stand to reason that there might be the same in tassie as lots of people have dogs but not to many have foxes.
I was just curious that’s all
Thanks
Darren

[Son of a Beach]

Yes, feral dogs and cats are both problems in Tassie. Cats are very quite widespread. Dogs are certainly around, although I've never seen feral dogs myself. I've seen PWS signage indicating that hunting of feral dogs is in progress around the Mersey area.

[Clownfish]

I was actually quite disturbed by the tenor of some of the posts in this topic. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I would have thought that posts that hint at incitement to illegal acts - such as animal cruelty - would be in breach of forum rules, if not basic decency?

On the subject of cats specifically, there is a body of thought that much of the argument regarding cats & native wildlife is based on emotive and anecdotal evidence. Quite often a "scientific study" is referred to, which usually turns out to be a single survey, carried out in Adelaide I believe ten years ago or more, which amounted to little more than hearsay evidence.

It is often stated that feral cats are wiping out native Australian mammals. Some of the scientific research I have sighted (such as Paltridge, University of Wollongong) indicates that the greatest pressure on native animals is overgrazing by introduced herbivores. In other words, blaming feral cats conveniently ignores that it is our own land management practices that are wiping out our native species.

It has also been pointed out that in some areas of Australia, such as the Tanami desert, cats appear to have predated European settlement.

That's not to say that feral cats aren't a problem, but the problem is often overstated, and ignores the problems posed by introduced species that some of us simply seem to find more acceptable.

And advocating any form of animal cruelty is simply unacceptable.

[corvus]

I was actually quite disturbed by the tenor of some of the posts in this topic.

And advocating any form of animal cruelty is simply unacceptable.

Well said Clownfish
c

[Ent]

Contents removed by poster

[tasadam]

Fox update -

Fox positive scat confirmed from Wesley Vale
Tasmanian Fox Eradication Program Evidence Update, 28 May 2009

Results received on Wednesday 27 May 2009 from the University of Canberra’s Institute for Applied Ecology report that a scat (1) collected from Wesley Vale has tested positive for fox DNA.

Wesley Vale (1)
Collected on 06 May 2009 during a sighting report investigation by an Investigator with support from a Scat Detector Dog Team. Scat received a positive 'sit' response from the detector dog and received priority analysis at the University of Canberra.

Wesley Vale is located approximately 7km east of Devonport on the northwest coast of Tasmania. No physical evidence of fox activity had previously been collected in this area but fox positive scats have been collected from nearby (within 10km) locations (Spreyton, to the southwest, in 2007-08 and Hawley Beach, to the northeast, in 2008).

The collection of this evidence reinforces the importance of public sighting report information for the success of the fox eradication effort. All information is vital - no matter how insignificant it may seem - and helps direct detection and eradication activities. Without the vigilance and support of the community we will not be successful in returning Tasmania to fox-free status.

The latest physical evidence brings to the total number of fox positive scats confirmed this year to seven (7). For further information about the physical evidence collected and the fox eradication effort in Tasmania, visit http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/fox

[north-north-west]

I found a fox scat at Narawntapu on my last day down there earlier this month. Quite distinctive. Although the desk person at the visitor centre didn't seem too interested in the report.
But it bugs me to think of the trouble someone must have gone to in order to introduce the animals. To begin with, you have to catch them - and you have to enough enough of them with a wide enough genetic spread to establish a viable long-term population. Then you have to transport them down there - private boat? - and release them. And why? What on earth would anyone WANT to do all that for?

I know how bad the feral cat problem can be down there - I still have the odd nightmare about the giant beast we trapped on Maria way back when - but otherwise the feral problem is not as bad as on the mainland. Up in the Snowy Mountains and much of the Victorian Alps one has to cope with feral pigs, goats and deer as well as the brumbies, foxes, cats and rabbits. Although the brumbies do make scrub bashing a little easier by making nice little tracks all over the place . . .

[Son of a Beach]

Plenty of feral deer in Tasmania. And they're protected!

[walkinTas]

Plenty of feral deer in Tasmania. And they're protected!

Weird isn't it? I can't think of one valid reason for perpetuating the population of deer in Tasmania.

I know how bad the feral cat problem can be down there - I still have the odd nightmare about the giant beast we trapped on Maria way back when - but otherwise the feral problem is not as bad as on the mainland.

Sadly, the feral cat problem in Tasmania is set to explode. As noted above foxes and cats were some-what controlled by the Devil. Loosing the Devil will be tragic for more than one reason.

The introduction of foxes may have be accidental - as stow-aways on boats and in freight containers (though that theory leaves me wondering about customs/quarantine). Deliberate introduction of foxes would be such a moronic thing to do that it could only be contemplated by someone who didn't give a toss about Tasmania. You know, the same sought of idiotic moron who would dump a dog or a cat in the bush because they didn't want it any more - with no thought or care for the consequences. But as you point out Scavenger, these morons have been roaming around the country for a couple of hundred years now.

[flyfisher]

Probably the same morons that put carp in Lake crescent.
I think that deer and trout are better ,less destructive ferals than foxes rabbits cats etc.
Although not everybody's cup of tea there are a lot of people who get much enjoyment from their pursuit.

FF

[walkinTas]

Although not everybody's cup of tea there are a lot of people who get much enjoyment from their pursuit.

Pursuit is the right word because I have never actually been successful at catching either.

[flyfisher]

Doesn't really matter if nothing gets caught or shot, it still gets people into the outdoors and enjoying the beauties of nature.
I came to bushwalking through my interest in trout fishing, and the desire to get to out of the way lakes and rivers and I still love it.

FF

[tasadam]

My concern here today is this fox hunting that goes on.
It simply HAS to stop.
Whoever introduced this disturbing practice has a lot to answer for.
I've heard on the grapevine that if it keeps up, we won't be getting eggs at Easter next year unless it is stopped in time!

See why it must be stopped HERE.

[the_camera_poser]

My concern here today is this fox hunting that goes on.
It simply HAS to stop.
Whoever introduced this disturbing practice has a lot to answer for.
I've heard on the grapevine that if it keeps up, we won't be getting eggs at Easter next year unless it is stopped in time!

See why it must be stopped HERE.

*&%$#! oath- no wonder why they are such a problem. Imagine if they went full-auto.