<!DOCTYPE html> <script> var root = document.documentElement; while(root.firstChild) { root.removeChild(root.firstChild); } var div = document.createElement("div"); root.appendChild(div); document.addEventListener("DOMNodeRemoved", function() { root.appendChild(document.createTextNode("some mutation")); }, false); var range = document.createRange(); range.setStart(root, 0); range.setEnd(root, root.childNodes.length); range.deleteContents(); </script>