Question marks over origin of fox carcass found by Frankford Rd

A DEAD fox found by a highway in northern Tasmania may have been placed there after meeting its maker elsewhere.

A DEAD fox found by a highway in northern Tasmania may have been placed there after its death elsewhere.

Examinations of the fox by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment have confirmed the animal was hit by a vehicle, but not where it was living before it was found by a passing motorist on the Frankford Rd on Sunday.

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DPIPWE Biosecurity Tasmania general manager Lloyd Klumpp said the pathology report had shown the adult male fox had died from injuries consistent with road trauma.

“A small amount of nondescript stomach contents was able to be obtained from the carcass as well as faecal material,” Dr Klumpp said.

“From the carcass examination, at this stage, there is no evidence present that could identify the location it was active in prior to death.”

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is investigating all the circumstances surrounding a fox carcass that was reported to authorities by a member of the public on Sunday.

Dr Klumpp said there was also no evidence that the carcass had been frozen after its death.

“It is important to note that at this stage the investigation remains open and ongoing and no conclusions have been reached as to whether the fox has been active locally or it has been placed at the site after death,” Dr Klumpp said.

“We are liaising with Tasmanian Police and keeping them informed on all aspects of the investigation,” he said.

Exactly where on the Frankford Rd the fox was found has not been disclosed.

Scat and detector dogs combed the area but did not find any other material to help pinpoint the animal’s history.

“Our staff are now looking at the scientific-based information we have and are identifying where further information is required to help identify the history of the carcass,” Dr Klumpp said.

Windermere MLC Ivan Dean last month took his claims of evidence fabrication during Tasmania’s $50 million fox eradication effort to the Integrity Commission.

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“From the photograph it is pretty obvious it didn’t die in situ,” Mr Dean said yesterday.

“If it was a legitimate fox living in Tasmania that would be shown by its stomach content.

“It is not legitimate and that is in line with other physical evidence acquired during Tasmania’s fox program.”

The last fox carcass found in Tasmania was in Cleveland, a decade ago.

There was also a dead vixen found on the Bass Highway in Burnie in October, 2003.

Originally published as Question marks over origin of fox carcass found by Frankford Rd