The Big Scat Hunt

DO YOU HAVE A PROPERTY WHERE YOU KNOW ECHIDNAS LIVE?

Sign up to our new project The Big Scat Hunt and collect
fresh scats for hormone analysis

Sign up to The Big Scat Hunt HERE              Download Collection Sheet HERE

We have been working hard creating the molecular techniques to analyse the DNA and hormones within the scats. DNA is quite robust and so it is easier to analyse. Hormones, however, degrade quite quickly when left out in the environment and so we are hoping to combat this with some very dedicated citizen scientists.

Echidna breeding season is between July-September but when exactly they start and stop breeding depends on where they live. By measuring hormones like testosterone we can get a better understanding of their breeding patterns across the country – but we need the scats to be as fresh as possible!

These are really important questions in terms of conserving our beloved echidnas: knowing when they are breeding and estimating the frequency for different populations around Australia. And we couldn't do this work without you!

The most important parts for this project is to:
a) collect the scats as fresh as possible
b) freeze them so they remain fresh
c) keep a record of when you collected the scat

Which is why we think property owners will be able to do this the best!

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED

Can you help?
We are looking for people who:

1. Have a property or an area that they are able to closely observe
2. Can collect and freeze all echidna scats from July to end of September
3. Monitor property every couple of days to make sure scats are as fresh as possible

Sign up your email address to The Big Scat Hunt list by following this link:
http://eepurl.com/dztxE1

So we can get to know who is joining in on this new program and contact you specifically. We will also ask some questions about your property.

Download the collection sheet here:
Data collection sheet

This is for you to keep track of the scats you collect on your property. Print it off or keep on your computer but make sure you fill it in every time you collect an echidna scat.

DURING THE PROJECT

1. Keep an eye out for echidna   scats on your property
   
   
2. Collect every scat you see –   but do not touch it
   
   
3. Use a plastic bag to collect the scat You can pick the scat up by turning the   plastic bag inside out and using it as a makeshift glove.
   
   
4. Write on the plastic bag:
   1)“The Big Scat Hunt” (so we can identify as apart of this project)
   2)Your name
   3)Date and time
   
   
5. Place scat immediately in your   freezer and fill in your collection sheet
   
   
6. We will send you a return post box to send all scats to us at the end of September

REMINDER: THIS IS WHAT AN ECHIDNA SCAT LOOKS LIKE!

Example of what an echidna scat looks like. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

Echidna scat clearly showing the abundance of ant and termite exoskeletons within it. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

Comparison of scats from a variety of native Australian mammals. As you can see the short-beaked echidna scat has a distinctively long and cylinder shape to it and can be easily identified. Image provided by Dr. Peggy Rismiller.

For more information regarding the EchidnaCSI Project please email us:
 [email protected]
Or find us on facebook:
www.facebook.com/EchidnaCSI

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