The fox in Tasmania.

We are currently also working with the Fox-Free Tasmania Taskforce to find and eliminate illegally introduced foxes from that state.  One of the major difficulties faced by the control program has been unreliable distribution data.

To remedy this, we developed a method of DNA testing carnivore faeces (scats) to identify those belonging to foxes.  This approach makes use of the fox's habit of defecating in prominent locations such as along tracks and at track junctions.  Our experiments have shown that such scats can last many months and that suitable DNA is still contained within them to allow species identification.

So far we have screened approximately 1000 scats.  A single scat from Conara in the north east of the state returned a positive, enabling control to be intensified in that region.  This was a highly sigificant result, and one that gained much media attention (read the Hobart Mercury story).

We are currently extending this DNA test so that it also identifies all five of the other large carnivores in Tasmania (Tasmanian devils, eastern quolls, tiger quolls, feral cats, wild dogs).