No foxes were recorded at nests with camera traps. Camera trap data indicated that yellow-spotted goannas ( Varanus panoptes) appeared at loggerhead turtle nests more frequently than lace monitors ( V. varius) did, and further that lace monitors only predated nests previously opened by yellow-spotted goannas. Five hundred and twenty goanna nest visitation events were recorded by tracks but no fox tracks were found at turtle nests. Goannas were widely distributed along the beach and had a Passive Activity Index (PAI) (0.31 in 2014–2015 and 0.16 in 2015–2016) approximately seven times higher than that of foxes (PAI 0.04 in 2014–2015 and 0.02 in 2015–2016). Tracking plots, nest tracks and camera traps indicated goanna abundance varied strongly between years. The tracks of the fox ( Vulpes vulpes) and goanna ( Varanus spp) were found on tracking plots. In addition, camera traps were set to record the predator activity around selected nests.

Predator activities at nests were also recorded by the presence of tracks on top of nests until hatchlings emerged. There were 21 (2014–2015) and 41 (2015–2016) plots established along the dune, and these were monitored for predator tracks daily over three consecutive months in both nesting seasons. The presence of predators on the nesting dune was evaluated by tracking plots (2 × 1 m) every 100 m along the dune front. This study assessed predation on nests of the endangered loggerhead sea turtle ( Caretta caretta) at Wreck Rock beach adjacent to Deepwater National Park in Southeast Queensland, Australia after a control program for feral foxes was instigated.

Excessive sea turtle nest predation is a problem for conservation management of sea turtle populations.

Turtle predators