Researchers not to be outfoxed in efforts to protect turtle population

Murdoch University honours student Stuart Dawson undertook research to prove red foxes are the number one predator of the turtles.

The project involved placing and monitoring 580 artificial long necked turtle nests across the reserve.

Peter Adams, of Murdoch University, said more than 40 per cent of the artificial nests were predated by foxes over a one-year period, with 68 per cent of predations occurring within 30 days.

‘While those nests containing eggs were most often predated, nests which did not contain eggs or turtle scented water were still dug up by foxes,’ Dr Adams said.

Department of Parks and Wildlife Perth Hills District’s Nature Conservation Program leader Bob Huston said motion sensor infrared cameras were used to capture the foxes in action. Fox DNA was found on shell and turtle remains collected at the reserve.

‘The results of the research have confirmed that the female long necked turtles are being eaten before they have lived a full life of breeding potential,’ he said.

‘The foxes are predating both on adult turtles and decimating the nesting sites before the eggs even hatch, driving the population of turtles into decline.’

Mr Huston said phase two of the research project would look at testing caged nesting enclosures.

‘We will be trialling putting on the ground nesting cages with an open bottom, so a turtle can crawl in but a fox cannot. We will monitor those to see how well that goes in increasing reproduction of the turtles.’