Possum Magic: Marsupial return signals conservation effort win
Ecologists have spotted a brushtail possum in the Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary in southwest Queensland for the first time in a decade.
Not everyone is excited to see a brushtail possum – especially not if you spot their beady eyes in your background or scrambling around on your roof – but when a healthy-looking possum with silver-grey fur and pointed ears tripped a motion sensor camera at Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC)’s Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary it left ecologists elated.
The species has become increasingly scarce in the semi-arid zone of southwest Queensland, with the last detection on sanctuary grounds around 10 years ago, and few sightings in the surrounding region since then.
“I actually did a double take at the images,” said AWC wildlife ecologist, Dr Helena Stokes.
“We haven’t had any signs of possums living on sanctuary in a long time, then sanctuary managers recently found some scat we suspected to be from a possum, and then the photos turned up a couple of weeks later. It was a great surprise.”
A Brushtail Possum captured on a motion sensor camera deployed at Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary. Credit: Australian Wildlife Conservancy
The Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, located just northwest of Cunnamulla in central southern Queensland, provides an important refuge for local wildlife.
It is a renowned hotspot for threatened birdlife (apparently a popular and rewarding sport for birdwatchers) and supports over 300 species of native vertebrate animals including the striated grasswren, blue-winged parrot, desert spadefoot toad, striped skink, pebble dragon and little red flying-fox.
Though the common brushtail possums are one of the most abundant and frequently encountered of Australian marsupials, Stokes explained that feral predators and, increasingly, climate change have contributed to a decline of their populations, particularly in drier areas.
“Much in the way of other native mammals, brushtail possums are the victims of predation by feral cats and foxes. Populations have declined or been exterminated across much of outback Australia,” said Stokes.
“Other factors that have contributed to their decline, particularly in southwest Queensland, are periods of hot, dry weather and extensive habitat clearing which reduces food and shelter availability for the possums.”
Stokes said sanctuary managers Mark and Tess McLaren have been working particularly hard to remove feral predators from the sanctuary, as well as feral herbivores such as goats, which helps to reduce grazing pressure on native vegetation.
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“Through these measures we hope to maintain suitable habitat on Bowra, and encourage more brushtail possums to return and stick around,” she said.
Ironically, the motion sensor camera the possum triggered is deployed to monitor feral cat activity in the sanctuary.
Now that this possum has shown itself, Stokes is keen to discover whether it is a regular resident or a harbinger of more marsupial presence.
“It will be interesting to see whether we pick up any further records within the next year. Sanctuary managers will continue with feral cat and fox management efforts, which we hope will benefit possums and other native mammal species on sanctuary,” she said.
