Wildlife Seen on Your Last Walk?

[eggs]

At the Lake Dove car park - quite unperturbed by all the attention it was attracting.

In the car park at Lake Dove

[walkerchris77]

So cute.

[tazrich]

A copperhead we came across near Lagoon Bay

[tazrich]

One that wasn't on a walk but a nice specimen of a tiger snake that was saved by reptile rescue

[Pika]

This little guy near Govetts Leap Lookout - Blue Mountains NP.

[Grant B]

About a kilometre south of Kia Ora hut last winter I surprised a very large ginger/red cat on the track. I was the only walker around for a couple of days in either direction so it was startled when it saw me and took off into the bush. I was very surprised to see a feral in so remote a place and if I didn't know better, I would have thought it was a fox. But we are told they are not in Tassie, so a very big cat it must have been.

[DaveNoble]

I found some of these today on the end of a log near Leura Forest. Anyone know what they are? A type of centipede perhaps? The larger ones were about 12 cm long.

[north-north-west]

About a kilometre south of Kia Ora hut last winter I surprised a very large ginger/red cat on the track. I was the only walker around for a couple of days in either direction so it was startled when it saw me and took off into the bush. I was very surprised to see a feral in so remote a place and if I didn't know better, I would have thought it was a fox. But we are told they are not in Tassie, so a very big cat it must have been.

They are in Tassie (although still in very small numbers) and while it is not likely that one has penetrated that far into the Southern Reserve, it isn't impossible. Did it have a thick bushy tail? If so, it's far more likely that it was a fox.

[Clusterpod]

Foxes in Tassie. A pretty ticklish issue.

Photographs staged, evidence concocted and still no verified sightings. None, after all these years and all that money spent.

Yet several people I have spoken to recently all have anecdotal sightings to maintain their beliefs. Mum saw one. They saw one running across the road.

It makes an amazing story for a blow-in from the mainland like me.

[Nuts]

It's not uncommon to see a feral cat somewhere in the Park from time to time. In the vicinity of Pelion/ Kia Ora, most likely.
Fox? Up there Why? Bushwalking?

[north-north-west]

Foxes in Tassie. A pretty ticklish issue.

Photographs staged, evidence concocted and still no verified sightings. None, after all these years and all that money spent.

Yet several people I have spoken to recently all have anecdotal sightings to maintain their beliefs. Mum saw one. They saw one running across the road.

It makes an amazing story for a blow-in from the mainland like me.

1) TasPAWS has confirmed DNA from at least two carcasses.
2) I have personally seen one. Near Quamby Bluff. I've spent enough time living on the mainland to recognise a fox when I see it clearly enough. It wasn't a dog, it wasn't a cat, it wasn't any native animal. It. Was. A. Fox. Vulpes vulpes probably. Not a belief, a FACT.

[stry]

Haven't seen as many feral cats as some, but I have never seen, or heard of a ginger/red feral cat.

Possible of course, but I'm more inclined toward NNWs view.

Corvus - what would it be doing there ? Doing what they do in the mainland high country - living comfortably and in good condition at the expense of the surrounding wildlife.

They will eat anything and live anywhere. Their adaptability and survival skills are amazing, and IMO far exceed the levels of those skills in feral cats.

Oops - edited - crucial word left out

[Nuts]

PAW identified 4 carcasses? (obviously, however they arrived, those particular ones are not a danger) and there have been over 2000 reported sightings. Likely they are here? OK. no idea, reported them on others behalf, never seen one, don't necessarily believe data filtered tassie-style.

Anyhow Corvus?, ME?- foxes are opportunists, similar to cats though a far broader common diet not necessarily inclined to 'hunt' as a first choice.. or for the exercise, and yes-smart. It's not impossible that someone dumped a live fox up in the Mersey Valley, it then went bushwacking, leaving the richer grounds of the plains (unless someone carried it up), a reason on it's mind. It's just very unlikely, the supposition is sensational. Iv'e seen at least a dozen cats of all shapes and sizes in the park, mostly in that area Pelion/Kia Ora over the years (maybe 10-15), never a fox. Possible though highly unlikely.

(ps. which doesn't translate to a mind-set that a population of foxes couldn't devastate local fauna and shouldn't be of concern)

Whereas it's quite likely that seeing cats up that high is a flow on from (& indication of) how many feral cats are out there!

[stry]

Would also agree that reported sightings should be treated with a degree of scepticism.

Also should be remembered that by the time verifiable sighting are made, total numbers are usually significant.

So much depends on the person who made the sighting. EG panthers in Victoria

[Nuts]

As it stands, I imagine it would be still quite easy to bring in a carcass or even live animal on the ferry (so long as it's not in your esky).. so silly..
I think they are a very real, ongoing threat. I'm less convinced by actions, the suggestion being to bait almost all the possible habitat

[Grant B]

I've seen a few cats in the bush before but never one like this one although it was a very brief encounter. I came up on it from behind so did not get a good look at its head, only a glimpse when it looked back over its shoulder at me and shot through. I did get a good look at its very fury rear end and unusual red colour and size. But I am not familiar with foxes so I will just say it was very unusual.

[DaveNoble]

I found some of these today on the end of a log near Leura Forest. Anyone know what they are? A type of centipede perhaps? The larger ones were about 12 cm long.

LKF-22.jpg

They have been identified as a type of Lycid beetle larvae. Interesting.

Dave

[MickyB]

I found some of these today on the end of a log near Leura Forest. Anyone know what they are? A type of centipede perhaps? The larger ones were about 12 cm long.

LKF-22.jpg

They have been identified as a type of Lycid beetle larvae. Interesting.

Dave

Very interesting Dave. My immediate thought was larvae from something but had no idea of what.

You seem to find some very unusual critters.

[Empty]

Here is Tassies ginger "fox" perhaps? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-30/s ... -f/6357868

[north-north-west]

Black and white photo of a tabby. Fox colouring is distinctive; while you can't be sure that looks more like a typical grey tabby. Typical cat-like tail. Be hard to mistake that for a fox.

[Nuts]

I've seen a few cats in the bush before but never one like this one although it was a very brief encounter. I came up on it from behind so did not get a good look at its head, only a glimpse when it looked back over its shoulder at me and shot through. I did get a good look at its very fury rear end and unusual red colour and size. But I am not familiar with foxes so I will just say it was very unusual.

Foxes can have banded tails, black tinged or white tipped, more dog like in the legs and body, face is fairly distinctive. Really, if you think t may have been a fox you could just let the staff know (1300 369 688), even if it was a cat i'm sure it would be helpful info.

[north-north-west]

Lately, it's been all about the birds.
The pair of Wedgies heading out on their evening hunt as I was setting up camp on Mt Donaldson. The flock (at least 40) of Shearwaters circling above as I packed up the next morning. The Sea Eagle that escorted me up to the first bend while paddling the Donaldson River. Then another pair of Wedgies whilst scrub-bashing back to the road yesterday after bagging my latest peak. The (still unidentified) wild dove I nearly trod on when nipping into a bit of scrubbery for a mid-walk dump. The honeyeaters who spent ten minutes checking me out while I sat on a rock in the middle of a forest, just absorbing the ambience . . .

[Nuts]

Pete! (and friends):

This shy wombat:

w'bat.jpg (69.68 KiB) Viewed 175316 times

[ofuros]

New England NP yesterday.
My first wild dingo encounter....I had stopped for breather in the pouring rain. Movement up ahead caught my eye. A dark coated dingo had crossed the track about 20m in front of me, climb a bank, sniffed the ground, rolled around in the scent & then moved on, oblivious to me watching. A moment to treasure.


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[whynotwalk]

A moment to treasure.

... and presumably NOT a moment to scrabble around for your camera Burn it into your memory instead. Great moment ofuros,

cheers

Peter

[whynotwalk]

Pete! (and friends)

I wonder why he always gets called Pete

cheers

Pete(r)

[ofuros]

A moment to treasure.

... and presumably NOT a moment to scrabble around for your camera Burn it into your memory instead. Great moment ofuros,

cheers

Peter

Thanks whynotwalk. 2 days of torrential rains had the camera hiding in my pack, safe & dry...hopefully there'll be a next time.

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[whynotwalk]

Always amazed seeing these guys. This Shy Albatross was patrolling the waters between Schouten Island and Cape Degerando off Freycinet National Park. Special

cheers

Peter

[north-north-west]

Getting a photo is good. I had an Albatross of some sort near Norfolk Bay but, alas, no camera . . .

[whynotwalk]

Yes nnw - a camera helps I was very lucky to get one reasonable shot, as the boat was rocking all over the place.