Folks-
Foxes are known to enter and leave ships. Foxes are thought to have turned
up in Tasmania this way in the past. I have seen foxes in containers at
Brisbane. It is entirely possible that the recent introduction of foxes was
via ship (vehicular ferry, for example).
The hunting connection is entirely possible. Pig control in national parks
suffers constant setback from hunters. Pig hunters hear about control
operations on state lands, and they hold suckers aside. Following pig
control programs, hunters release these suckers back into the control areas
to ensure that they continue to have plenty of pigs to hunt. Foxes were
originally brought to Australia for hunting, and there are still plenty of
people who like to hunt them as a form of recreation. I might add, too,
that many of these recreational hunters are claiming to be serious feral
animal controllers. For the moment, how the foxes got to Tassie is less of
an issue than how to track down and eliminate the colonisers.
Scott O'Keeffe
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Robert Read
Sent: 19 February 2002 18:13
To: Ian May
Cc:
Subject: Foxes in Tasmania
Ian,
The fact that foxes are now in Tasmania is not in doubt. Parks and Wildlife
page
http://www.dpiwe.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/SJON-56P2RG?open
contains the following information.
"Latest News
Recent sightings of foxes in the State have hightened fears that the fox may
become established in Tasmania. Sightings have ranged from Bellingham, the
Longford and Powranna areas and a recent sighting (Friday 18 January 2002)
in the Somerset area of a fox and two cubs.
It is estimated that 12-19 foxes may be established in the State. With the
end of the breeding season, cubs would now be expected to be in the company
of the vixen (female) before dispersing out on their own in April-May. "
How the foxes got there is unknown, but there has been speculation that
shooters may have introduced them for sport. As far as I know Simon Mustoe
is the only person to suggest that fishermen were involved. This is a red
herring.
What really matters is to try to get the maximum government action before 12
foxes become thousands and push presently secure species onto the endangered
list.
Regards,
Robert Read
Alice Springs
Ian May
wrote
I am unable to locate relevant information suggesting that foxes have been
recently introduce in Tasmania and so far as your statement implies, I am
unable to find any mention of fisherman.
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