Background
The fox in Tasmania poses the most dramatic new threat to
livestock agriculture and Tasmania's unique assemblage of mammalian
wildlife for over a century. Since the illegal release of
foxes into Tasmania in 2000, a number of carcasses have been
located and around 1000 fox sightings of varying quality
reported. The Tasmanian Fox Eradication Program
set up a hotline (1300 369 688) and in the period from mid June to
October 2007, 62 sightings were reported - of these, 19 were graded
as 'excellent'.
The primary problem in mounting an effective eradication
campaign is that the low density of foxes in the state makes the
identification of fox populations difficult and renders the
comprehensive targeting of eradication measures virtually
impossible. The Tasmanian government is
nevertheless working hard with a new baiting program - more than
200,000 ha has been baited to date. Because of the sensitive
nature of Tasmania's environment and wildlife, baits not taken
quickly by foxes are retrieved - a time-consuming but necessary
task.
Our project aims to provide the link between fox presence and
control by undertaking a comprehensive survey of predator scats in
Tasmania and using a PCR species identification test to identify
scats that contain fox DNA. Scats identified as originating
from foxes, will serve as a trigger for fox control measures and
increased surveillance in the surrounding area. Selected
local groups will be trained in the identification and collection
of predator scats and these groups will then be coordinated in a
systematic collection across Tasmania.
Using this approach will broaden the scope and precision of the
fox eradication program in Tasmania. In addition, additional
information on the distribution of Tasmania's other five top
carnivores including wild dogs and cats will be collected.
Goals
- Development of accurate DNA test for large carnivores
- Provision of a link between fox presence and control, by
surveying scats
- Collection of information on distribution of five other top
carnivores, including wild dogs and cats.
Progress
Three scat detection Labradors have now been
trained and are working in the field. These dogs are used to
follow up 'excellent' sightings and other areas considered to be
potential fox locations.
The Fox Eradication Branch (Tas Dept Primary Industries
& Water, DPIW) launched their 'The Great Poo Hunt', a
carnivore scat collection survey from areas of suitable fox habitat
across Tasmania. Samples are sent to the IA CRC Wildlife Genetics
lab in Canberra for species identification by DNA analysis. Phase 1
of the survey was carried out 3rd March – 6th June 2008
involving some 2900 hours of survey or 6300 linear kilometres
searched on foot by 13 DPIW staff and five volunteers on private
and public land in the north-east potion of Tasmania. Approximately
2500 scats were collected during phase 1, plus 250 scats collected
during a trial survey carried out in October 2007. Phase 2 will be
carried out across Southern Tasmania during Autumn
2009.
Over 2,900 scats have been screened for fox DNA since
January 2007. Recent results (at February 2009) confirmed that two
scats collected in Burnie, one from Derby, and one from Wynyard
(all collected in 2008) tested positive for fox DNA. Burnie is
considered a 'hotspot' with six fox positive scats now collected
from this area during 2008. No physical evidence of foxes has
previously been collected from the Derby or Wynyard locations. This
latest physical evidence brings to 5 the total number of fox
positive scats confirmed this year (2009).
Thirty scats identified as being of fox origin by the
Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at the University of Canberra have
been futher tested at the University of Western Australia. This
genetic analysis has identified five different individual
foxes.
Earlier evidence including five positive scat samples and a fox
road-kill clustered in a single region in the Northern Midlands
represent strong evidence for a hotspot of fox activity. A blood
sample from a chicken coop provided hard evidence of fox activity
near Hobart and implies that the range of foxes in Tasmania may
encompass most of the northern, midland and southeast regions. That
finding was one of the two main items of evidence cited in support
of the substantial increase in funding to the Fox Eradication
Program announced by the Tasmanian Government in November 2006.
Download project media releases, newsletters and
reports (at right) for more information.
Project collaborators:
Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and
Water - Fox Eradication Branch
University of Canberra
University of Western
Australia
