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1. Invasive vertebrate species are a world-wide threat to biodiversity and agricultural production. The presence of foxes, one of the most damaging invasive vertebrates introduced to Australia, has now been confirmed in the island state of Tasmania, placing at risk many species of native vertebrates and substantial agricultural industry. 2. Effective eradication of such a rare but elusive carnivore requires robust strategies informed by novel but systematic detection. 3. We combine DNA detection approaches for trace samples with systematic stratified and opportunistic surveys of carnivore scats to estimate the current distribution of foxes in Tasmania. We use that DNA evidence and other hard evidence provided by carcasses and other material to build a predictive model of fox habitat suitability for all of Tasmania. 4. We demonstrate that this destructive species is widespread in northern and eastern Tasmania but has not yet reached the limits of its range. The widespread nature of this distribution reveals that targeting fox activity hotspots only for eradication is unlikely to be successful and that a strategic and statewide approach is required. Our habitat suitability model can provide a basis for prioritizing areas for fox management. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our approach highlights the importance of early and preemptive surveys of recently established, and therefore rare, invasive species and the necessity of providing a sound and defensible approach to determining the distribution of the invasive species. This approach provides a template for the systematic detection of rare cryptic carnivores.

Stakeholders are increasingly involved in species conservation. We sought to understand what features of a participatory conservation program are associated with its ecological and social outcomes. We conducted a case study of the management of invasive vertebrates in Australia. Invasive vertebrates are a substantial threat to Australia's native species, and stakeholder participation in their management is often necessary for their control. First, we identified potential influences on the ecological and social outcomes of species conservation programs from the literature. We used this information to devise an interview questionnaire, which we administered to managers of 34 participatory invasive-vertebrate programs. Effects of invasive species were related to program initiator (agency or citizen), reasons for use of a participatory approach, and stakeholder composition. Program initiator was also related to the participation methods used, level of governance (i.e., governed by an agency or citizens), changes in stakeholder interactions, and changes in abundance of invasive species. Ecological and social outcomes were related to changes in abundance of invasive species and stakeholder satisfaction. We identified relations between changes in the number of participants, stakeholder satisfaction, and occurrence of conflict. Potential ways to achieve ecological and social goals include provision of governmental support (e.g., funding) to stakeholders and minimization of gaps in representation of stakeholder groups or individuals to, for example, increase conflict mitigation. Our findings provide guidance for increasing the probability of achieving ecological and social objectives in management of invasive vertebrates and may be applicable to other participatory conservation programs. Los grupos de interés participan cada vez más en la conservación de especies. Tratamos de entender las características de un programa de conservación participativa que están asociadas con sus resultados ecológicos y sociales. Realizamos un estudio de caso del manejo de vertebrados invasores en Australia. Los vertebrados invasores son una amenaza sustancial para las especies nativas de Australia, y la participación de grupos de interés en el manejo es necesaria para su control. Primero, identificamos literatura sobre las influencias potenciales de los resultados ecológicos y sociales de los programas de conservación de especies. Utilizamos esta información para diseñar un cuestionario, que fue aplicado a manejadores de 34 programas participativos de vertebrados invasores. Los efectos de las especies invasoras se relacionaron con el iniciador del programa (agencia o ciudadano), razones para el uso de un método participativo y composición de los grupos de interés. El iniciador del programa también se relacionó con los métodos de participación utilizados, el nivel de gobernanza (i.e., gobernado por una agencia o ciudadanos), cambios en las interacciones de los grupos de interés y cambios en la abundancia de especies invasoras. Los resultados ecológicos y sociales se relacionaron con cambios en la abundancia de especies invasoras y satisfacción de los grupos de interés. Identificamos relaciones entre cambios en el número de participantes, la satisfacción de los grupos de interés y la ocurrencia de conflictos. Las formas potenciales para alcanzar metas ecológicas y sociales incluyen el soporte gubernamental (e.g., financiamiento) para los grupos de interés y la minimización de vacíos en la representación de grupos o individuos interesados para, por ejemplo, incrementar la mitigación de conflictos. Nuestros resultados proporcionan directrices para incrementar la probabilidad de alcanzar objetivos ecológicos y sociales en el manejo de especies invasoras y pueden ser aplicadas a otros programas de conservación participativos.

We investigate (i) the pattern of spatial organization exhibited by foxes living in Bristol, (ii) whether the foxes living in Bristol showed any evidence of territory instability, in particular whether they showed any evidence of drifting territoriality as reported for the foxes living in Oxford, and (iii) whether differences in the patterns of resource availability and fox mortality in Bristol are indicative of stability or instability in the urban environment.

Stakeholders are increasingly involved in species conservation. We sought to understand what features of a participatory conservation program are associated with its ecological and social outcomes. We conducted a case study of the management of invasive vertebrates in Australia. Invasive vertebrates are a substantial threat to Australia's native species, and stakeholder participation in their management is often necessary for their control. First, we identified potential influences on the ecological and social outcomes of species conservation programs from the literature. We used this information to devise an interview questionnaire, which we administered to managers of 34 participatory invasive-vertebrate programs. Effects of invasive species were related to program initiator (agency or citizen), reasons for use of a participatory approach, and stakeholder composition. Program initiator was also related to the participation methods used, level of governance (i.e., governed by an agency or citizens), changes in stakeholder interactions, and changes in abundance of invasive species. Ecological and social outcomes were related to changes in abundance of invasive species and stakeholder satisfaction. We identified relations between changes in the number of participants, stakeholder satisfaction, and occurrence of conflict. Potential ways to achieve ecological and social goals include provision of governmental support (e.g., funding) to stakeholders and minimization of gaps in representation of stakeholder groups or individuals to, for example, increase conflict mitigation. Our findings provide guidance for increasing the probability of achieving ecological and social objectives in management of invasive vertebrates and may be applicable to other participatory conservation programs. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

We evaluated body composition of 165 adult red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) collected monthly from August 1995 to July 1996 in New South Wales, Australia. Total body fat content and estimated protein content were determined as a percentage of skinned body mass (SBM) using chemical analysis of homogenized samples. Mean percent body fat varied significantly over the year (P < 0.001) and differed significantly between the sexes in each month (P = 0.039). Male body fat reserves peaked at 13% of SBM in June, prior to breeding, and female body fat peaked at 16% of SBM in July during gestation. Body fat reserves declined rapidly in both sexes from September through November, reaching average values of 3-4% SBM by the time of weaning (November). Estimates of total body protein content varied significantly over the year (P < 0.001) but did not differ significantly between the sexes (P = 0.745). Protein content was lowest but stable at 21-22% of SBM from August to November and increased rapidly by December. Protein content then remained stable at 23-25% of SBM from January through July. The low body protein content in August through November corresponds to the decline in body fat reserves of foxes. These foxes appear to accumulate fat and protein reserves throughout the non-reproductive phase of their annual cycle and then deplete these stores during their reproductive period.

1. Wild predators sometimes kill livestock. In Australia the red fox kills lambs, but there are limited experimental data to demonstrate the effects of controlling foxes on the predation level. 2. Using a balanced experimental design over 2 years, we investigated the effects of three levels of fox control, using poisoning with sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080), on lamb production, lamb predation and fox abundance in southeastern Australia. 3. There was no effect of fox control on lamb production. Fox predation was the probable cause of lamb death for a minimum of 0.8% and a maximum of 5.3% of 1321 lamb carcasses. Fox control significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the minimum percentage of lamb carcasses classified as killed by foxes from 1.50% (no fox control) to 0.90% (fox control once per year) or 0.25% (fox control three times per year). Fox control also significantly (P < 0.005) reduced the maximum percentage of lamb carcasses classified as killed by foxes from 10.25% (no fox control) to 6.50% (fox control once per year) or 3.75% (fox control three times per year). Poisoning did not affect fox abundance in spring. 4. We estimated the number of treatment replicates needed to detect an effect of predator control on the number of lambs successfully reared to lamb marking (10 weeks old). The estimated numbers were high if predation effects were small. It is recommended that the effects of fox control should be evaluated carefully to determine if the present results are widespread, as some fox control may be wasted. 5. The general effects of predator control on livestock predation requires more experimental investigation and economic evaluation. However, field experiments of sufficient power to detect effects will present considerable challenge.

1. This paper reports on the behavioural effects of surgical sterilization when used to simulate immunocontraception in free-ranging female foxes Vulpes vulpes. 2. During 3 years of trapping, 348 male and female foxes were fitted with transmitters in two treatment (females sterilized) and two untreated areas. 3. Radio-tracking indicated that sterile and fertile vixens maintained similar-sized territories during the breeding season, but that sterile females were possibly more likely to share their territories with each other. 4. There were no consistent differences in survival or dispersal between sterile and fertile females. 5. Outcomes from the study suggest that immunocontraception in free-living foxes is feasible.

1. Methods used to control canids may differ in their relative effectiveness and how they 'sample' age and sex classes. However, there is little information on such biases. We utilized data from a population of known size and structure to quantify differences in the seasonal capture rate of foxes Vulpes vulpes of different age, sex and social status. The effects of home-range utilization and trap experience were also investigated. 2. The capture rate of juvenile (< 1 years) foxes was highest in spring and declined throughout the year. Adult (≥ 1 years) trap rates were equivalent to those of juveniles in winter. 3. Neither juveniles nor adults exhibited sex differences in trappability. 4. Adults were classified as dominant or subordinate based upon patterns of dyadic interaction. Subordinate foxes were trapped more frequently than dominants. 5. Trappability did not differ inside or outside of core areas, after controlling for trap effort. 6. Previous trap experience did not affect the capture rate of adult foxes. 7. Captures of non-resident foxes peaked in winter (52% of captures), associated with dispersing juveniles and adult males, and were lowest in summer (13%). 8. In Britain, 75-90% of foxes would need to consume poison or vaccine baits to control a rabies epizooty. During simulated rabies control operations, where cage-trapping was used to measure the proportion of foxes taking dummy baits containing a biomarker, < 30% of foxes consumed baits. However, non-resident foxes present during the period of baiting but not during trapping, or vice versa, may bias these calculations. We used the frequency of capture of non-resident foxes to re-examine the success rate of these trials. 9. Revised estimates still suggest that < 45% of foxes were reached during the simulated control operations. This is significantly below the levels necessary for rabies control. Further biomarker trials are required that do not rely only on trapping for sample collection and where the residency status of captured foxes has been determined.

The reproductive condition of 295 female red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, collected during and shortly after a severe drought in central-western New South Wales, Australia, was assessed to assist research on the potential use of immunocontraception. The ovulation and conception rates per vixen for the 222 foxes that ovulated were 4.62 +/- 1.50 and 3.58 +/- 2.18 (mean +/- SD), respectively.

The reproductive condition of 295 female red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, collected during and shortly after a severe drought in central-western New South Wales, Australia, was assessed to assist research on the potential use of immunocontraception. The ovulation and conception rates per vixen for the 222 foxes that ovulated were 4.62 ± 1.50 and 3.58 ± 2.18 (mean ± SD), respectively. The resorption rate and mean litter size per vixen for the 188 foxes that were pregnant were 0.47 ± 0.92 and 3.75 ± 1.91, respectively. Details of the parameters are provided for each age-class. The proportion of the overall population that was pregnant was 0.847. Conception rates and litter sizes peaked in fifth- and sixth-year vixens, but vixens over 8 years of age produced as many cubs as first-year breeders did. Vixens collected during 1996, when rainfall was above average, contained significantly more corpora lutea than vixens collected during the drought years 1994 and 1995. There were no significant differences in other reproductive parameters (i.e., conception and resorption rates, litter size, and proportion of the population that was pregnant) between the 3 collection years. Mating occurred within a 3- to 7-week period from mid-June to the end of July and births from early August to late September. From a practical point of view, vixens will need to be targeted with immunocontraceptive baits in autumn.