The Red-tailed Phascogale in the agricultural landscape of the southern WA wheatbelt
- distribution and conservation
We have been working with the Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone, South West Catchments
Council, and the Hyden Progress Association to assess the distribution and status
of Red-tailed Phascogale in the south-western wheatbelt between Cuballing in the
north, Katanning in the south, and Hyden in the east. We have particularly targeted
areas of remnant vegetation remaining on farms or otherwise outside the formal conservation
estate. We provide landholders with a greater sense of the value of their remnant
vegetation and to encourage them to improve the management of their remnants for
nature conservation.
We have assessed presence / absence of Phascogale in over 130 farm remnants over
the past 6 years and greatly clarified their present range (60% of remnants had Phascogale).
Phascogale appear to be relatively common in a localised area of the wheatbelt focussed
largely on areas of wandoo and rock sheoak habitat, but now occur irregularly beyond
this habitat. This survey work has led to substantial on-ground work to benefit phascogale.
This includes the protection of > 395 hectares of remnant vegetation by over 20 kilometres
of new fencing and the planting of over 11,000 native seedlings to create or enhance
corridors for the movement of Phascogale in the Wagin area.
In addition to trapping surveys, our knowledge of the distribution of phascogale
throughout southern WA is being supplemented by a community atlas scheme co-ordinated
by the Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone, where community members are being encouraged
to report their sightings. A sightings form is available as a pdf. This work is being
extended to the central wheatbelt as part of the project to reintroduce phascogale
back to Wadderin Sanctuary at Narembeen.
Clients: Wagin-Woodanilling Landcare Zone; South West Catchments Council (SWCC) for
survey within the SWCC region; WA NRM for areas in the Wheatbelt NRM region.
See Landscope article (pdf)
