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Article: Small Town Bullies Business Advice, Tips & Resources Internet Ave.'s and Sites Explore New Sites, Great Resources Herald INDEX About Us Archives Business Sector Classified Ads Home Decor Tips Internet Ave's & Sites Online Newsletters Property Trix	-Articles That Count- by: H.K.H. Conservation Programs Endangered Species Recovery Fund of Alberta. The Use of Hair Traps to Obtain DNA Profiles for the Swift Fox Article from the Wildlife of Canada Website URL: http://wwfcanada.net/en/cons_pgms/ESRF/Alberta.asp Project Leader: Clio Smeeton - Cochrane Ecological Institute Species: Swift Fox The use of DNA profiles to identify individuals of a given species and their relationships to each other is becoming more commonplace in wildlife management. By developing profiles that include markers transmitted maternally and paternally, the researchers can gain insights into the reproductive success and dispersal of swift foxes. This non-invasive approach and the information obtained by using it is vital to the management of endangered species for which the number of individuals in the wild is limited and disturbance is of great concern. If this method of obtaining swift fox hair samples is successful, then researchers will be able to decrease the frequency of live trapping to make population estimates. This new research method will substantially reduce stress on the animals.	This Month's Story centers around the time of year, when off-spring of wildlife are curiously playing while unknowingly, learning the patterns of hunt and survival. Our Story has but a sad twist that lead to the final fate of an entire Family of Albertan Swift Foxes. Mom, Dad and Four Pups. Their den location, questionably dangerous in a small ravine, smack center of a railway track and a major highway. Approx distance between the highway and tracks: 75 Meters.

Needless to say, the highway was the fatal end to Dad, Mom and eventually, one of the pups.
The male was the first to decease. Then the Mom was struck in June, leaving four unattended young pups. Pups who feared to venture from the entrance of the den due to the frequent passing of Trains, 18 Wheelers, Motor Homes and Vehicles.
What next? Aside from folks wondering "What could be done to assist these Pups?", the real question was: "Who to call that could assist with Answers to save these pups?"
A visit was made to the local County Wildlife Office on Tues. June 18th 2002, where-upon the office doors were closed and a piece of paper was attached to the front window. By Thurs. June 20th, a phone call was made and a message was left on the Wildlife answering machine. On Fri. June 21st, another visit was made to the County's Wildlife Office, to discover, yet still, a paper attached to the window. This time, special notice was paid to read the message left for visitors."Closed till June 24th"
A visit was made to the local Town Hall to inquire about suggestions as to what to do. The receptionist inquired from another in the office and both agreed that the 1-800 number to the Poachers Office, would get the proper attention.
The 1-800 number was then called early Sat. June 22nd and the agent was very helpful, committing to a response from another agent in a near-by County, who did in fact respond within hours from his home.
After listening with a sympathetic ear, he sighed and said: "Well, first off, the Government will not pay me to come down and have a look at the whole situation on a weekend. Then Secondly: Quite Frankly, it doesn't look too good. These Pups are apparently young and can't hunt for themselves, so the most you can do is give them eggs out of the shell, some bread soaked in milk and any ground meat, like hamburger is o.k. too" He went on to say: "If they don't learn how to hunt for themselves, which is unlikely due to their location, their survival is indefinate. There's no more programs where we can take them and the only other option is to trap them and attempt to move them." An agreement was made that he would contact the regular county officer and inform him of his suggestions and that I'd be receiving a phone call. I thanked him and awaited a call from the local Wildlife Officer.
Within 48 hours, a monsoon rain fell, washing away top-soil, flooding garages and basements. Panic for the pups was all that was felt, as their den was on the side of a hill with several outlets, one being right on top... fearful for their lives, a visit was made.
The entrances to the den were completely smoothed by the rain, all droppings were washed away and no paw prints were evident in the wet soil.
The following day, hours were spent watching the den for signs of life. Hopeful the pups would be there by sun-down, as they were like clock work-daily, but still no signs. More egg, milk and bread mixture was dropped in the grass by the entrances, only to be baked in the hot sun, days later.
By Thurs. June 27th, frustrated with the lack of attention to the matter, another trip was made to the local Wildlife Office to find out why no one relevant to the situation had called.
Upon identifying myself and this article that I write, co-operation was made available and a meeting in the Officer's office took place, away from public ears.
An agenda was shown with every page empty except for the bottom corners, where notes were jotted down. The explanation received as to why no one from that office had contacted me, was almost as disturbing as the entire incident.
Over-worked, illness, big-boss's orders, possibility of the establishment closing down and long evening hours catching poachers was the explanation as to why I wasn't contacted.
Frustrated, I proposed the pups be trapped and moved, "IF" they were still alive. A local Grain Farmer was experiencing problems with gophers and stated he'd be more than glad to shelter the pups on his property.
It was agreed that in this manner, without vehicules and trains in the vacinity, that the possibility of the pups venturing out to "play" and discovering "gophers" that perhaps their instinct would kick in and they'd at least have a chance at surviving. That evening, I returned to the vacinity of the den to watch and wait, but nothing.
Nothing Friday, nothing Saturday and finally on Monday July 1st after walking the side of the highway to attempt a closer view, there lied a corps of one of the pups.
By sun-down Tuesday, a rugged older male fox was seen in the vacinity but was not of the same family line. It became obvious to me, that the den was empty and life no longer excisted.
On Thurs. July 4th, the local Wildlife Officer called, stating he had tried to contact me since our meeting to inform me that a male had been sighted on Wed. July 3rd and that everything seemed in order. I then asked if it was he who had removed the corpse of the pup off the side of the Highway and he quietly answered "yes".

What could have been done to prevent such a needless loss? With so much attention to the care of domestic animals and heavily instated fines or even jail time, for those who abuse animals, what is done about protecting the valuable wildlife species of our planet?
The Fox Cubs, god bless their little souls, their innocence and vulnerability was far from protected, it was only talked about. The situation itself, extrordinary, due to the den location and circumstances that left the pups orphaned, circumstances due to the den location, they didn't even have a chance. They were left alone, unprotected, unfed, unwatered between a highway and a railway track. Their loss, treated like an everyday event; "that's life". How sad, how very sad.

Stay tuned for updates on this topic, we've sent out letters to provincial ministers and activist groups, looking for solutions that can assist in the betterment of programs for the Wildlife of Canada.
Till next Time, this concludes   Articles That Count!

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