Maybe we have a fox

Buck Emberg

Did I see one? No. But Old Charlie was not taken by a dog; they rip and tear and leave the animal where it was killed. He was not taken by any of our two resident eagles … Old Charlie was too big to carry away. He was not taken by thugs who wanted an easy meal; Old Charlie would have had them for a meal instead.

GOVERNMENT is about priorities. That is why we elect representatives. They are supposed to present the people’s ideas, hopes and wishes. Then they are supposed to translate those ideas, hopes and wishes into legislation.

This current government is no better at this than most in the past two decades. Instead, legislation seems to protect horses and football clubs … and politicians.

WE MAY HAVE A FOX ON OUR PROPERTY!

We have a one hundred acre property in the hills north of Launceston. We look out to the Tiers on the west and down into the verdant Tamar Valley. Our land is fully forested with old growth white gums and peppermint trees up to 200 years old.

Why do I think we may have a fox? One of our large male ganders disappeared two days ago. No big deal you might say, geese are not very important in the scheme of things. Old Charlie had been defending his newly hatched babies with the mother of the geese. If you have not witnessed geese defending their family it is something to witness. In a word: awesome!

In North America I hunted fox many times and only once was able to bring about the demise of Reynard. He is a crafty and clever animal.

Did I see one? No. But Old Charlie was not taken by a dog; they rip and tear and leave the animal where it was killed. He was not taken by any of our two resident eagles … Old Charlie was too big to carry away. He was not taken by thugs who wanted an easy meal; Old Charlie would have had them for a meal instead.

It was not a Devil which took Old Charlie, we have not seen any of them here for years. It was not a quoll, they kill, eat and quietly sneak off. It was not a Tiger, forest clearing in the area got rid of them years ago!

So, being a good citizen, I called the Fox Hotline … well, perhaps the Fox Coldline.

It is not the fault of the people looking for foxes. After an initial funding for about 25 people the hunting staff was reduced to one person, I understand. But take heart, the government, in its wisdom, has doubled the staff to two recently … or so I am told.

Now, about the time the fox staff was reduced the government found $15,000,000 or so for the Hawthorn Football Club! And they had already spent millions on the race tracks in Southern and Northern Tasmania. Of course, now I understand; the government simply did not have money for the sport of fox hunting.

I hope I am wrong about the fox. And I hope Old Charlie disappeared because of Aliens zipping down on our patch of forest. But, I guess we will never know.

The nice young, understaffed, overworked and probably underpaid fox hunter said he would come out if and when he had time. I don’t have a gun so I can’t shoot any intruder-foxes.

Perhaps I could get the Hawthorn Football Club to organize a Fox hunt with all the horses at the various state horse studs. But no, there is probably a law against fox hunts with horses and football players.

Sorry Charlie! I hope it wasn’t a fox that took you; and your children miss your protection.