ODWC Photo by Brandon Brasher
Researchers at Oklahoma State University working in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are seeking tissue samples from gray foxes harvested in Oklahoma. Sample options include portions of the tongue, muscle, toepad, nose, or a clump of hair from the rump. Samples must be at least fingernail-sized and stored frozen in a sealed plastic bag. Please write the county the fox was harvested in and the date of harvest on the bag.
Samples will provide genetic information which will be used to help inform management.
At the end of the season, researchers will arrange for the pickup or shipment of your samples. Please contact Emily Burkholder at okgrayfoxproject@gmail.com or (210) 912-0485 for arrangements or additional questions.
This project will assess the status of the prairie gray fox population in Oklahoma and identify factors influencing the population to inform management. Trapper-harvested gray fox samples will be used to determine population sex ratio, effective population size, and genetic diversity, and will be used to identify the western boundary of the prairie gray fox subspecies.
You can find more information about this project at https://okgrayfoxproject.weebly.com/ or visit the Oklahoma Gray Fox Project Facebook page.
Get Local News!
