The effectiveness of short‐term fox control in protecting a seasonally vulnerable species, the Eastern Long‐necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

• DOI: 10.1111/emr.12199
• Publication Date: 2016-01-21T05:52:02Z
• Authors: Alan Robley; Katie Howard; Michael Lindeman; Rhet Cameron; Andrew Jardine; David Hiscock
• Keywords: Mesopredator release hypothesis

Summary Reducing predation by introduced predators on seasonally vulnerable prey is of interest to biodiversity and game managers around the world. In Australia, Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) a significant predator freshwater turtle nests, destroying up 93% nests. We used nonrandomized intervention study assess effectiveness short‐term (3‐week) but broad‐scale baiting operation in reducing level nest artificial nests complex lake system during major flooding event north‐western Victoria. Estimates fox occupancy declined from 0.58 (0.44–0.70 95% CI 0.34 (0.21–0.46 following control. Modelling nest‐survival rates indicated there was no change survival rates. Effective control protect desirable achievable. Knowledge underlying density, predator–bait encounter consumption rates, optimal duration needed reduce risk prey.