Mammals

Long-nosed Poteroo – Potorous tridactylus

Endangered in NSW and Nationally

Long-nosed Poteroos inhabit coastal heaths and dry and wet sclerophyll forest with dense understorey and occasional open areas. They are mainly nocturnal and hide in dense vegetation. When they come out to feed forage at night they dig small holes in the soil to feed on underground fruiting fungi, roots, tubers, and insects.

The species has experienced a population decline on the far north coast of New South Wales. Processes which threaten the survival of the species includes habitat loss, fragmentation, degradation from coastal development, predation from feral animals, and inappropriate fire regimes. Key populations appear to be located at Cobaki Lake, Tyagarah/ Brunswick Heads, and Wardell. The majority of habitat for the Long-nosed Potoroo population at Wardell is located on land owned and managed by The Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council.

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Short-beaked Echidna – Tachyglossus aculeatus

The Short-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal also known as a monotreme. Although they closely resemble hedgehogs, they are in fact not related and belong to separate mammalian orders.

They can be found throughout Australia in forests and woodlands, grasslands and heath. They use their sharp long claws to break into ant and termite nests and catch their prey by flicking their long sticky tongue into the nest.

Their eggs hatch after about ten days and the young are born blind and hairless. They spend the first two to three months of their life in their mother’s pouch feeding on milk. Once they become too spikey, they are removed from the pouch and placed in a burrow where they continue to feed for another six months.

They struggle with extreme heat as they have a naturally low body temperature and few sweat glands. On hot days they will seek shelter to cool off and also blow mucous bubbles from their nose to assist with thermoregulation.

They don’t have many natural predators besides goannas. However, introduced species such as foxes, dogs and cats pose a threat. Vehicle strikes are also a major cause of mortality. 

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Flying Foxes – Pteropus 

Vulnerable in NSW and Nationally

Flying-foxes are often misunderstood but are of extraordinary ecological importance. When foraging flying-foxes travel up to 50 km each evening, carrying pollen from plant to plant and also spreading seeds through their droppings. As such they disperse the seeds of rainforest plants in a way that other fruit eaters cannot.

Both the Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) and Black Flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) can be found in Ballina Shire. Grey-headed flying foxes can be distinguished from the Black Flying-fox as they have a orange-red collar of fur around their neck and a a grey head. They also have fur that extends all the way down their legs.

Both species co-inhabit ‘camps’ (groups of roosting flying-foxes). During the day you can find thousands of flying-foxes hanging from branches in a camp. As they are a highly nomadic species there will be a different combination of individual flying-foxes present from day to day.

Although due to the large numbers present in camps, flying-foxes are under threat. These threats include:

• Heat stress events.
  • When temperatures exceed 42^°C and this can result in mass mortality
  • Juveniles and lactating females are highly vulnerable to heat stress events
• Loss of habitat from clearing
• Entanglement in netting and barbed wire. Consider using wildlife safe netting and avoid barbed wire where possible.

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Squirrel Glider – Petaurus norfolcensis 

Vulnerable in NSW

Squirrel Gliders are often mistaken for the more common Sugar Gliders. Both small possum species have membranes stretching between their legs, allowing them to glide from tree to tree. The Squirrel Glider is almost double the size of the Sugar Glider and has a long, wide-based, very bushy tail with a distinctive dark tip. The Squirrel Glider’s face is longer and more pointed, with slightly narrower and longer ears. 

Squirrel Gliders nest in tree hollows found within woodlands and forests in eastern Australia. They live in family groups and feed on gum, eucalypt sap, nectar, honeydew, and manna. They get protein from invertebrates and pollen. 

Threats faced by Squirrel Gliders include habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss; the reduction of hollow-bearing trees, understorey, and food resources; drought and altered fire regimes; climate change; competition with exotic species and predation by pest species. Mortality due to vehicle strikes and entanglement with barbed fencing is also a threat. 

How can you help?

• Protect large, old, hollow-bearing trees
• Use plain wire fencing or cover existing barbed wire with polypipe
• Confine cats and dogs at night.