Leadbeater's Possum post fire recovery at Lake Mountain to benefit from FAME support
The Victorian recovery project for the nationally endangered Leadbeater's Possum has had a huge set back from recent fires in the region. Many nest boxes and natural nest trees have been totally destroyed, and there is evidence that entire colonies of possums have been lost. To date only one living Leadbeater's Possum has been observed at Lake Mountain post-fire. This animal was in a partially burnt nest box.
Leadbeater's Possum was considered extinct until its rediscovery in 1961 and was subsequently found at around 300 sites in the Central Highlands of Victoria. In 2003 the total estimated population was 500 animals. It was first discovered in snow gum woodland at Lake Mountain in the Yarra Ranges National Park in 1992.
Leadbeater's relies on tree hollows for shelter and breeding, and is at risk from loss of habitat due to logging and fires.
Steve Smith, Senior Biodiversity Officer for Victoria's Department of Sustainability & Environment, began an ecological study at the lake Mountain site in 1996. 30 nest boxes were installed to assist the species, and these boxes have been regularly monitored and data collected by Dan Harley and Parks Victoria across the snow gum woodland for a number of years. 28 of 30 boxes have had Leadbeater's usage and on any given survey day approximately half the boxes have had resident animals.
Dusk watches of the nest boxes were conducted for school and public groups, providing an opportunity for people to see this unique species without interfering in their natural behaviour.
The wildfire in February was severe on Lake Mountain and very little habitat is unburnt. Over half the nest boxes have been checked to date and all have been totally or partially burnt. The loss of so many natural nest sites and nest boxes places remaining possums at even greater risk.
The recovery team are in the process of erecting replacement boxes at all 30 sites, and FAME has agreed to help fund the cost of the replacement. The new boxes will be constructed of heavy duty recycled plastic, and will be tested for flammability. Once installed, the nest boxes will be closely monitored to see how quickly remaining animals return to the burnt habitat and recover from the effects of the fire.
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