Western Pygmy-possum Cercatetus concinnus

Western Pygmy-possum Cercatetus concinnus

The Western Pygmy-possum is a fawn-coloured creature no bigger than a kiwi fruit. Weighing an average of only 13 grams, this marsupial has a short pointed snout, large forward directed eyes and big ears. It is thought to eat a diet of pollen, nectar, spiders and insects.

The Western Pygmy-possum inhabits mallee and dry forest, particularly where banksias, grevilleas and melaleucas dominate. The pygmy-possum is nocturnal and by day shelters in leaf-lined tree hollows, grass trees and old birds' nests.

To determine the distribution range of the Western Pygmy-possum for future recovery actions, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife funded a survey near the Victorian border.

Rangers caught 30 pygmy-possums in six days, far exceeding the scientists’ hopes. They caught the animals in pitfall traps, consisting of 20 litre buckets with disguised entrances set at regular intervals against a drift fence. Unsuspecting animals find the fence barrier and run along it until they fall into one of the traps. Rangers check the traps every day, document the caught animals and then release the them back into the wild.

The Foundation thanks the Oswald, Milla and Donovan families for their generous support in making this survey possible.

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