Banner-image_Wattleridge-Animal-highway

Monitoring cameras deployed at Wattleridge IPA have uncovered a secret animal highway previously unknown to humans. This highway has been used over the past three months by a range of different species. The landscape at Wattleridge is rugged and largely undisturbed with large granite boulders creating a range of habitats and refuges that are suited to many species.

Animals seen using the highway:

The monitoring cameras assist land managers to better understand the distribution and abundance of native and invasive species within key habitat areas of the IPA and develop appropriate management strategies. The feral cat was identified a number of times on the same camera indicating it lived close by, subsequently a baited cage trap was deployed and the animal was caught and removed. The project has also been tailing video cameras in a few areas and getting some fabulous results with sound and behavioural characteristics being exhibited.

A short video of a Spotted-Tail Quoll taking a cautious stroll across the granite boulders at Wattleridge IPA:

A number of cameras were also deployed to record threatened species such as the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby as part of the projects ongoing targeted survey work. The cameras did not detect this species however they did pick up a number of images of the threatened Spotted-tailed Quoll indicating a potentially healthy population in the area. Cameras have been re-deployed around the area where a potential Rock Wallaby scat was identified in the hope we can get a picture of this elusive unique and beautiful marsupial. To be continued…..

This Superb Lyrebird has an unusual call:

Native species observed using the highway include:

  • Ring-tailed Possum
  • Red-necked Wallaby and Swamp Wallaby
  • Spotted-tailed Quoll
  • Superb Lyrebird
  • Short-beaked Echidna

Introduced species include:

  • Red Fox
  • Feral Cat