Keeping foxes on the run
- fcturtleprojects
- Jan 31
- 2 min read
Nesting turtles on Queensland beaches have a huge struggle each year and their babies have bigger struggles with getting out of the eggs, digging their way to the surface then escaping the safety of the nest to get to the ocean without being predated on.
In Hervey Bay the foxes are the biggest threat in terrestrial predators and when we relocate a nest, we have a couple of things we do to try and make life a little easier.
A nest is relocated above the high-water mark which means we very carefully dig up the nest the mother turtle laid and then move it to a new spot which we have dug a nest chamber at, then slowly relocate the eggs to the new nest.
With the fox problem we then install a security screen over the top of the nest under the sand with the assumption it will deter any foxes trying to dig down to the eggs. The theory is foxes dig on an angle, so our screens are quite large , heavy and pegged into the ground.
Then when the hatching date approaches, we go down and apply top cages that are zip tied to the original screen as added security so the hatchlings can pop their heads up , catch their breath before taking off on their journey to the ocean.
This year Glen Miller from the Butchulla Men’s Business Aboriginal Association Inc. approached Downer Pty Ltd and Zip Print in Maryborough to help us by Downer welding the cages together and Zip Print made up some amazing signs, so everybody knows the cages are there for turtle and who owns them.
If you see these cages on the beaches, please be aware there is a turtle nest underneath and do not touch the cages or disturb the sand inside as we use the change in sand patterns to determine how close the emergence is.
Turtle conservation is so important to the future of ecosystems and thanks to the amazing people at Downer and Zip Print and Glens time and effort the hatchlings will have an easier time of getting out and down to the water.
Lower Mary River Landcare and Catchment group is a volunteer not for profit organization and any donations or assistance is always amazing, it makes our life a little easier and we rely on our cash for cans donations and the volunteers donate a lot of time and their own money to keep up the amazing work they are doing.
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