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| Details of Fox Evidence InvestigationsThis page provides greater scientific detail for some of the investigations of physical evidence confirming fox presence and activity in Tasmania. For a full list of fox physical evidence collected, please visit the Fox Evidence Update page.
Detailed investigations are provided for the following evidence:
- July 2009: Summary of genotyping analysis of fox scats collected in Tasmania: report on an additional two samples
- April 2009: Summary of genotyping analysis of fox scats collected in Tasmania: report on an additional eleven samples
- March 2009: Summary of genotyping analysis of fox scats collected in Tasmania
- August 2006: Red fox carcass found on Glen Esk Rd, Cleveland
Latest update: 14 July 2009
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14 July 2009
Microsatellite DNA genotyping identified two individual foxes from faecal samples collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program: one female, one gender unknown. No recaptures were recorded among these samples and both were different to the eight individual foxes already identified through DNA testing (reported 6th March and 6th April 2009). The total number of foxes identified from scat samples collected in Tasmania is ten, including three females.
This report summarises attempts to identify and distinguish individual foxes from two fox faecal samples collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program. The method employed was genotyping with microsatellite DNA markers via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This method is commonly known as DNA fingerprinting, and involves the same molecular DNA approaches that are employed in human forensic cases.
DNA from two carnivore faeces (scats) identified as being of fox origin by the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at the University of Canberra was sent for processing in the Wildlife Forensics Laboratory at the University of Western Australia.
All sample processing took place in a laboratory dedicated to trace DNA samples, and which employs strict protocols to minimise the opportunity for sample contamination, including regular UV sterilisation, a physically segregated sterile PCR setup cabinet, and multiple no-template PCR controls.
Microsatellite DNA genotyping was attempted on faecal DNA samples following identical methodologies to those described in the previous reports. As is the case for all trace DNA analysis conducted in the Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, a quantitative real-time PCR step was used prior to genotyping to assess the quantity and quality of DNA present in each sample, and to determine the optimal PCR conditions for that sample.
Both scats produced genotypes of high enough quality to distinguish individual foxes. Each scat produced a unique individual genotype, indicating the presence of at least two different foxes in the sample. One of the foxes was female (absence of amplified sry marker, but strong co-amplification of other markers). The gender of the other sample could not be confirmed. The total number of foxes identified from faecal DNA samples collected in Tasmania is ten, including five males, three females and two gender unknown.
Microsatellite DNA Markers | | Sample ID | Lade 213 | C01.251 | Ren135 | sry | Wan142 | Wan502 | Wan374 | Ren195 | Wan402 | | 140508-42 | - | 131141 | 161163 | 7878 | - | 7677 | 110110 | - | 8993 | | 190608-17 | 110111 | 131134 | 157161 | 7878 | 134134 | 7576 | 109110 | 135136 | 8789 | | 190608-19 | 110111 | 128128 | 161163 | F | 136148 | 7577 | 109110 | 136149 | 8993 | | 190608-20 | 111111 | 128134 | 157163 | 7878 | 134142 | 7777 | 109112 | 136149 | 9393 | | 150208-1 | 109111 | 128134 | - | 7878 | - | 7575 | 110112 | 141141 | 8787 | | 020708-17 | 109110 | 128131 | 161161 | - | 134136 | 7678 | 109109 | 141141 | 8789 | | 050109-01 | 109109 | 128134 | 157161 | F | 147148 | 7878 | 109110 | 136136 | 8989 | | 261108-01 | 110111 | 131131 | - | 7878 | - | 7878 | 110110 | - | 9393 | | *110309-24 | 110111 | 134134 | 161161 | F | 142147 | 7678 | - | 141149 | 8791 | | *140509-43 | 110110 | 128128 | 157163 | - | 134136 | 7778 | - | 130141 | 8793 |
Dr Oliver Berry
Invasive Animals CRC, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia
14 July 2009
6 April 2009
Microsatellite DNA genotyping identified three individual foxes from faecal samples collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program: one male, one female, one gender unknown. No recaptures were recorded among these samples and all were different to the five individual foxes already identified through DNA testing (reported 6 March 2009). The total number of foxes identified from scat samples collected in Tasmania is eight, including two females.
This report summarises attempts to identify and distinguish individual foxes from eleven fox faecal samples collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program. The method employed was genotyping with microsatellite DNA markers via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This method is commonly known as DNA fingerprinting, and involves the same molecular DNA approaches that are employed in human forensic cases.
DNA from eleven carnivore faeces (scats) identified as being of fox origin by the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at the University of Canberra was sent for processing in the Wildlife Forensics Laboratory at the University of Western Australia. All sample processing took place in a laboratory dedicated to trace DNA samples, and which employs strict protocols to minimise the opportunity for sample contamination, including regular UV sterilisation, a physically segregated sterile PCR set up cabinet, and multiple no-template PCR controls.
Microsatellite DNA genotyping was attempted on all faecal DNA samples following identical methodology to that described in the previous report (6 March 2009).
As is the case for all trace DNA analyses conducted in the Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, a quantitative real-time PCR step was used prior to genotyping to assess the quantity and quality of DNA present in each sample, and to determine the optimal PCR conditions for that sample. Additional sex-identification tests were conducted on sample 150208-1, for which gender was previously unavailable.
Three scats produced genotypes of high enough quality to distinguish individual foxes. Each scat produced a unique individual genotype, indicating the presence of at least three different foxes in the sample. One of the foxes was male (presence of sry PCR product), and one was female (absence of sry, but strong co-amplification of other markers). The gender of one sample could not be confirmed. The details of these samples are presented in Table 1.
In addition, sample 150208-1 was determined to be male. The total number of foxes identified from faecal DNA samples collected in Tasmania is eight, including five males, two females and one gender unknown (Appendix 1).
| Sample ID | Location and date collected (scat) | Gender | Number of markers with consensus genotype | | 020708-17 | Spreyton, 23 June 08 | Unknown | 8 | | 050109-01 | Boat Harbour, 16 Dec 08 | Female | 9 | | 261108-01 | Wynyard, 04 Nov 08 | Male | 6 |
Microsatellite DNA Markers | | Sample ID | Lade 213 | C01.251 | Ren135 | sry | Wan142 | Wan502 | Wan374 | Ren195 | Wan402 | | 140508-42 | - | 131141 | 161163 | 7878 | - | 7677 | 110110 | - | 8993 | | 190608-17 | 110111 | 131134 | 157161 | 7878 | 134134 | 7576 | 109110 | 135136 | 8789 | | 190608-19 | 110111 | 128128 | 161163 | F | 136148 | 7577 | 109110 | 136149 | 8993 | | 190608-20 | 111111 | 128134 | 157163 | 7878 | 134142 | 7777 | 109112 | 136149 | 9393 | | 150208-1 | - | 128134 | - | 7878 | - | 7575 | 110112 | 141141 | 8787 | | 020708-17 | 109110 | 128131 | 161161 | - | 134136 | 7678 | 109109 | 141141 | 8789 | | 050109-01 | 109109 | 128134 | 157161 | F | 147148 | 7878 | 109110 | 136136 | 8989 | | 261108-01 | 110111 | 131131 | - | 7878 | - | 7878 | 110110 | - | 9393 |
Dr Oliver Berry
Invasive Animals CRC, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia
6 April 2009
6 March 2009
Microsatellite DNA genotyping identified five individual foxes from faecal samples (scats) collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program. DNA analysis also demonstrated that three of the foxes were males and one was a female. One sample requires further testing to confirm its gender.
This report summarises attempts to identify and distinguish individual foxes from fox faecal samples collected in Tasmania by the Fox Eradication Program. The method employed was genotyping with microsatellite DNA markers via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This method is commonly known as DNA fingerprinting, and involves the same molecular DNA approaches that are employed in human forensic cases.
DNA from 25 carnivore faeces identified as being of fox origin by the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at the University of Canberra was sent for processing in the Wildlife Forensics Laboratory at the University of Western Australia.
All sample processing took place in a laboratory dedicated to trace DNA samples, and which employs strict protocols to minimise the opportunity for sample
contamination, including regular UV sterilisation, and a physically segregated sterile PCR setup cabinet.
Microsatellite DNA genotyping was attempted on all scat DNA samples. The marker panel consisted of eight microsatellite DNA markers and a male-specific marker (sry)1. These makers were co-amplified in three PCR multiplex reactions (each with three markers). Our studies of foxes on mainland Australia show that genotypes from a minimum of five of these markers are required to discriminate individual foxes if the sample includes full siblings (PIDsib ≤ 0.01). Fewer markers are required in the more usual case where siblings are not present (three to four).
All PCR reactions were replicated a minimum of five times. The criteria of Frantz et al.2 was used to establish consensus genotypes for each individual. Gender identification required that the male-specific PCR product (sry - testis determining gene) was present in all five replicate PCRs for the sample to be designated male. The absence of this product in all replicates was used to designate females only when microsatellite DNA markers co-amplifying in a PCR multiplex with the sry marker also amplified a product (to control for false negatives resulting from PCR failure). In the one sample where the male-identifying marker did not amplify we performed a further five PCR replicates to confirm the female result.
Four scats produced genotypes of high enough quality to distinguish individual foxes at the high stringency where full-sibs could be distinguished (minimum of five microsatellite markers with consensus genotypes). An additional sample produced a four marker genotype (Appendix 1). Each scat produced a unique individual genotype, indicating the presence of at least five different foxes in the sample. Three of the foxes were male (presence of sry PCR product), and one was female (absence of sry). The gender of one sample could not be confirmed and requires further testing. The details of these samples are presented in Table 1.
Twenty samples did not produce adequate genotypes to distinguish individual foxes. In most cases no markers achieved consensus genotypes for these samples. It is significant that the highest quality genotypes were also the most recently collected. The poor result from the remainder of the samples reflects the rapid degradation of DNA as it ages1.
| Sample ID | Location and date collected (scat) | Gender | Number of markers with consensus genotype | | 140508-42 | Spreyton, 07 May 08 | Male | 5 | | 190608-17 | Burnie, 27 May 08 | Male | 7 | | 190608-19 | Burnie, 16 Jun 08 | Male | 6 | | 190608-20 | Lower Barrington, 17 Jun 08 | Female | 7 | | 150208-1 | Campbell Town, 08 Feb 08 | Unknown | 4 |
1. Berry, O., Sarre, S. D., Farrington, L., and Aitken, N., Wildlife Research 34 (1), 1 (2007).
2. Frantz, A. C. et al., Molecular Ecology 12, 1649 (2003).
Microsatellite DNA Markers | | Sample ID | Lade 213 | C01.251 | Ren135 | sry | Wan142 | Wan502 | Wan374 | Ren195 | Wan402 | | 140508-42 | - | 131141 | 161163 | 78 | - | 7677 | 110110 | - | 8993 | | 190608-17 | 110111 | 131134 | 157161 | 78 | 134134 | 7576 | 109110 | 135136 | 8789 | | 190608-19 | 110111 | 128128 | 161163 | 78 | 136148 | 7577 | 109110 | 136149 | 8993 | | 190608-20 | 111111 | 128134 | 157163 | F | 134142 | 7777 | 109112 | 136149 | 9393 | | 150208-1 | - | 128134 | - | - | - | 7575 | 110112 | 141141 | 8787 |
Dr Oliver Berry
Invasive Animals CRC, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia
6 March 2009
1 February 2007
 | | Review of Fox Incident Documents by Consultant Veterinary Pathologist, Dr Tony Ross - 1 February 2007
(PDF: 16 KB / 3 pages)
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This note summarises the reporting of a fox carcass to the Fox Free Taskforce by several members of the public and subsequent examination of the fox, the site and circumstances and reassessment of evidence. The summary includes evidence about the recovery and examinations of the carcass and site, investigations of the subsequent claim by a further witness that he ran the fox over in a vehicle and a later anonymous report and subsequent evidence that the death occurred earlier nearby and a rumour that the apparent road-kill was a hoax. The update also contains comment on corroborative evidence in the form of apparent fox positive scats found nearby.
At about 1010 hrs on 1 August 2006 the Taskforce was phoned by a man who identified himself and claimed to have just found a freshly killed fox on the side of Glen Esk Rd just east of its junction with the Midlands Highway. The informant advised that he'd wait with the fox for the Taskforce. Two Taskforce staff en route to Launceston from Hobart were diverted to the site arriving at 1035 hrs.
 What seemed a full-sized Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (to be referred to as the 'Cleveland Fox') was in the back of a 4WD ute. The fox partly lay on clean irrigation hose and there was no body fluid in the relatively clean tray (photo 1). The ute was about 400m along Glen Esk Rd from the Midlands Highway (Cleveland 1:25,000 map 5237 grid ref 535150E 5370270N). Two witnesses were present, one claiming the fox was "warm and floppy" when he handled it "about an hour before". The day was slightly overcast and very cold (estimated at 1-3oC from comparing recordings at the nearby Cressy meteorological station to ambient on site). It had not rained the previous night nor that morning.
Immediate discussion revealed the following apparent sequence of events.
At about 0930 hrs, Witness 1 reported a dead fox on the roadside by mobile phone to Witness 2 following at some distance in a truck who immediately picked the fox up, reportedly to prevent further vehicle damage to it, placing it on a tool box. There was a discussion about whether to report it because it of the likelihood of public ridicule, one Witness even making the comment that "he didn’t want to become another Bosworth" (referring to the intense public ridicule a Mr Bosworth and his companion suffered after publicly claiming to have shot a fox in 2001) but eventually they decided to. The fox was transferred to an accompanying ute, a mobile phone photo of the fox being held by the tail being taken about then (published in the Mercury newspaper 3 August 2006). All of these witnesses were agricultural contractors going to work, hence their proximity and exchanges. A brief drive gave better phone reception and the report was made to the Taskforce (via a switchboard). The ute driver then returned with a colleague to the site of finding and they waited for the Taskforce, the other drivers continuing to work.
The two witnesses waiting for the Taskforce (Witnesses 3 and 4) were not present when Witness 2 actually picked up the fox so were not sure of the precise place but Witness 2 returned on request and showed the location to the Taskforce.
A person (Witness 5) passing the site at about 0830 reportedly saw no fox there (this suggests but does not mean the fox was not there).
At 1030 hrs on 2 August a man reported to the Taskforce that it was he who hit the fox on the morning of 1 August. He identified himself to the Taskforce but asked not to be publicly named because he feared ridicule. He was met and reported driving along the road sometime between about 0930 hrs, feeling a bump under a tyre and on checking saw what appeared to be a dead fox orientated as though it was travelling north to south (his left to right). He reported an impression that he "saw something to his left" before the collision but could not be absolutely sure. He assumed he himself had road-killed the fox. Subsequent to the collision, the vehicle concerned was used extensively; he said it bore no evidence of the collision, a heavy-duty tyre being the only point of contact.
 The carcass body appeared very slightly warm. Taskforce staff first arriving and undertaking this examination were delivering a car stripped of field equipment so had to improvise at this stage. A deep, narrow stab wound with a knife was made to the chest and a finger inserted which showed that the body core was slightly warm. The male fox looked and felt in good physical condition and appeared to be a young adult (although the fox had neat, sharp teeth and was not overly large it had well-developed testes). There was no sign of rigor mortis in jaw nor limbs.
The fox had firm, clear and moist eyes, fresh blood and saliva in and around the mouth, pale gums, intact teeth (except for one molar missing and healed) and a small cut on the lip in the back of the mouth matching teeth in the closed jaw. A large patch of skin about 35 cm long by 10-15 cm wide was hanging off but still attached to its side (Photos 2 and 3), small speckled bruising and pin-prick bleeding suggesting the skin was torn off. The wide, ragged tear extended along the groin exposing the penis shaft and continued into the right hind leg. This resulted in torn and bruised muscle being exposed. The abdomen was badly bruised but not ruptured. The scrotum was torn and one testicle appeared squashed.  Exposed flesh appeared very fresh (firm, shiny and moist). There was no blood on the external surface of the muzzle or elsewhere externally other than a small amount immediately around the right hind leg lesion.
There was a very small amount of fine soil/dust adhered to the labial aspect of the gums (Photo 4) which otherwise were clean. This soil could have been part of the course of foraging for soil invertebrates or it could have been because of snapping during death throes which might explain the cut lip. The former is more likely because the teeth and adjoining gums on the lingual aspect did not have this material (probably because of normal tongue action).
 There was no smell of putrefaction (outside or in the mouth) just a slight, pungent smell typical of 'fox'. The pelt was dry and clean except for some entangled gravel. Limbs did not appear broken and the skull seemed intact. The tail had unusual hair growth from a scarred area distal of mid distance.
At 1055 hrs during discussions about the issue, Witness 3 commented that he had a soil thermometer probe with him (used to assess planting potential) and NJM immediately used it to take chest (12.4oC), rectal (11.90oC) and ambient (7.9oC and rapidly rising) temperatures. This thermometer was later calibrated against others and it proved accurate.
By this time, other taskforce staff had arrived and photos of the carcass were taken (Photo 1). The carcass was sealed in a new plastic bag and taken to the Launceston Veterinary Clinic, care being taking to try and keep it cool (the carcass had always been in the shade but the day was rapidly warming).
There appeared to be fresh blood on the road-edge bitumen from exactly where the fox had reportedly been picked up and this was retrieved by Taskforce staff for DNA testing. This blood proved to be of fox. There were small patches of sand scattered along the roadside but no footprints that could be identified as fox, indeed few of any animals despite the many, well used runways criss-crossing the road. These runways passed through the fences adjacent to the site but no fur was found on the fence wires.
A search till the end of October of the area within about 5 km of where the carcass was retrieved produced another 110 carnivore scats. Five of these scats contained fox DNA; they were of fox or animal(s) that had eaten fox.
Dr Kim Barrett took four X-rays of the fox at 1200-1220 hrs briefly looking at the fox’s eyes and mouth, commenting on how recently killed it appeared and how the mouth was stiffening. She briefly commented on the X-rays noting the third last lumbar vertebrate was broken. In later examination she pointed out the left and right ishium (pelvis segments) were also broken.
The carcass was re-bagged (in the original bag) and taken to the nearby DPIW Animal Health Laboratories at Mt Pleasant being submitted at about 1240 hrs as specimen 06/2128 to veterinary pathologist Dr Richmond Loh for formal post-mortem examination.
The findings on cause of death are best summarised as "Based on the distribution and type of injuries sustained by the fox, it suggests a crushing type injury". Death appeared to be very quick but bruising suggests not instantaneous. Expert opinion is that death would have probably been in a few minutes and the animal may have been in extreme shock. There was no putrefaction and no evidence of freezing. The mouth became very difficult to open (an early sign of rigor mortis) and rigor mortis proper commenced as the formal post mortem examination progressed. The abdominal cavity was effectively crushed and 'jellied' but not ruptured, creating a huge sinus with much clotted blood free in the abdominal and to a lesser extent thoracic cavities. The abdominal muscles were markedly bruised. The partly detached belly skin flap showed only pin-prick bleeding.
Beyond pathology samples, the following were retrieved and sent for expert comment. - Gravel combed from the soil and soil/dust scraped from the gums
- Pollen and detritus vacuumed from the fur (a new vacuum cleaner was used)
- A canine tooth for ageing
- Gut content from stomach to rectum (the rectum was examined and hair from there included and there was no material between stomach and mouth).
The eyes had begun to soften and dry by the time of this examination (at 1330 hrs).
- Formal post mortem examination
The post mortem report gives many caveats on estimating time of death on the basis of body temperature and onset of rigor mortis but it was suggested as 5-10 hrs before commencement of the examination – ie, between 0330 and 0830 hrs on 1 August 2006. - Comparative data specifically collected
To allow other estimates of time of death for the Cleveland Fox (5.1kg), in the following weeks several large (3.5 kg) brown hares Lepus lepus and a large feral cat Felis catus (5.2 kg) were shot in Tasmania and two red foxes (6.5 and 7 kg) shot in Victoria at a time and place attempting to simulate ambient temperatures at Cleveland on 1 August. Hare and cat were chosen because they approximate foxes in size, build (shape and mass/surface area) and fur length/density. Eye firmness, onset of rigor mortis and body temperature were progressively taken. The main problems were trying to approximate the particular injuries of the Cleveland Fox knowing nothing of the fox’s activities before death (muscle use effects onset of rigor mortis) and in getting sufficiently low ambient temperatures; these aspects were only partially achieved.
- Temperatures tentatively suggest death before 1st measurement as about 6-7 hours (hares), 6-9 hours (cat and fox) – ie, about 0300-0600 hrs on 1 August. All ambient temperatures were higher than prevailed at Cleveland so the above estimates might be too long.
- Onset of rigor mortis (all species) suggest death at 2-6 hours before first onset (at about 1230 hrs) - ie, about 0630-1030 hrs.
- Softening and drying of eyes (foxes and cat) suggest death at 3-4 hours before onset (at about 1230 hrs) - ie, about 0830-0930 hrs.- Expert veterinary opinion
Three clinical vets independent of the Taskforce and very experienced in 'small animal practises' were asked about estimates of time of death given the facts (size of animal, injuries, onset of rigor mortis and body temperature cf ambient and eye firmness). All stated that death could have been from 1-12 hours before 1st measurements– ie between 2200 hrs on 31 July and 1000 hrs on 1 August, with an accent on earlier rather than later. All gave the opinion that temperature falls can be both rapid and drastic in such small animals suffering extreme trauma.
By February 2007, six veterinary pathologists had assessed material pertaining to time of death. There is agreement that some degradation of some organs had occurred by the time material was fixed (chemically preserved and prepared for histological slides), at 1530-1730 hrs on 1/8/06. Despite efforts to limit tissue degradation it is possible some occurred through the warming day of 1/8/06 before tissue fixing occurred. Time of death has been re-estimated at 12-24 hrs before that material was fixed the most experienced pathologist suggesting the animal was killed the late afternoon/evening before (on the 31/7/06).
Tests showed the gravel and other soil particles to be consistent with (although not unique to) the northern midlands including Cleveland.
The mix of at least 28 pollen species were typical of (although not unique to) the northern midlands in general and the Cleveland area in particular. Field assessment showed the mix is a very good match to local species. One species of pollen may be from a Tasmanian endemic tree (further identification is being sought). Radiata pine pollen was very common. To summarise; "The pollen assemblage indicates that the animal spent time in a riparian as well as a lacustrine environment and also travelled through a modified landscape that includes tree plantations and common cosmopolitan weeds." It is not known what period of time the pollen collection represents so it is not possible to comment on the foxes whereabouts in the time leading up to its death.
There were a few fibres that were identified as possibly hemp or sisal. There was a hessian bag containing a tow-rope in the ute tray with the fox so a degree of contamination may have occurred. Several seed husks recovered from the fur appear to be consistent with seed husks loose in the ute tray.
From canine tooth examination, the fox was 6-15 months old, most likely 9-14 months old – a young adult. Most male foxes of that age are capable of breeding.
The only dietary item was rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus – widespread in southern Australia and common in the northern midlands of Tasmania.
- A suggestion the carcass was relocated before being reported
On 8 August at about 1300 hrs an anonymous male (phoning from a private line – not traceable) claiming to be from Campbell Town briefly reported that the fox was indeed road-killed but "hours" earlier than reported and "a few" km north of the Glen Esk Rd intersection on the Midlands Highway towards Epping Forest. The informant claimed the fox was moved by a farmer with land adjacent to the road-kill site because he did not want the inevitable attention from the Taskforce.A rumour circulated briefly that the fox was imported live, held in a bag and run over to simulate a road-kill. There was no hessian or plastic fibre in the mouth nor on the claws (a live fox in a bag would normally struggle, scratch and bite) and the rumour was traced back to speculation by a well-known sceptic (of foxes in Tasmania); 'Chinese whispers' did the rest.A review revealed no evidence. To bring over a very freshly road-killed fox would require 'mischievous opportunism' (eg finding a fresh dead road-kill on the way to the airport and packaging it for transport); the availability of fresh road-kills simply cannot be predicted. Bringing in a live fox then simulating a road-kill would require much premeditation and a sophisticated, ruthless and risky (from the law) plan. Both cases would have to assume no non-Tasmanian food in the fox’s gut.
Even considering that the new suggestion for a time of death is about 1700 hrs the day before, and commercial flights arrived in Tasmania after that time, it would still require an extreme degree of 'mischievous opportunism' and luck (in not having any species clearly not Tasmanian in the gut) as described above on 31/7/06 and there is no evidence for that. No commercial flights arrived in Launceston until 0930 hrs on 1 August (by which time the fox was found and photographed) and the timing of the incident precludes ferry arrivals being involved in an opportunistic hoax. There is no evidence for speculation that a fox was imported then killed for the purpose.Of 110 carnivore scats picked up by members of the Fox Free Taskforce within about 5 km of the Glen Esk site over months subsequent to the retrieval of the carcass, 5 tested positive for fox meaning they are of animals eating fox or (most likely) of fox. The scats cannot be aged and the quality of the DNA contained is not sufficient to match them to the retrieved fox.
It seems obvious that a wild fox was road-killed in the northern midlands late on 31 July 2006, perhaps early on 1 August 2006. Some aspects of post mortem examination are consistent with this occurring on Glen Esk Rd as reported; there was blood on the road, a person identifying themselves to the Taskforce claimed to have run over it at about 0900 on 1 August and another thought the fox was not there a little earlier. An alternative conclusion, one that is perhaps most consistent with facts, follows the anonymous report received on 8 August that is that the fox was road-killed earlier at a nearby location and relocated. If that was the case, the person claiming to the Taskforce to have run over the fox on Glen Esk Rd (and who assumed he had killed it) indeed could have done so but it was already dead on the roadside. A second collision would explain the remarkably bloodless skin tear along the belly.
Although perhaps unfortunate, the wish of witnesses to be publicly anonymous or even completely anonymous is understandable given public ridicule of people making such claims by some sceptics.
The five fox positive scats found nearby are very important corroborative evidence.
Nick Mooney
Wildlife Management Branch
13 February 2007
Contact: Fox Eradication General EnquiriesFox Eradication Program
167 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5320
Fax: 03 6336 5453
Email: Fox.Enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Department switchboard: 1300 368 550 (local call cost within Australia)
Media enquiries should be directed to 03 6233 3625; 0438042610.
Please report all fox sightings or any possible evidence of fox activity to the 24hr hotline: 1300 FOX OUT (1300 369 688)
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