Cheeky Cave Chuditch

Chuditch (also known as Western Quolls or native cats) are a rare and unusual sight in the wheatbelt, but thanks to Wheatbelt NRM's Healthy Bushland project, we are starting to uncover some of the secrets of where and when chuditch are active in the Wheatbelt.

This footage above was captured by Mike Griffiths, who placed a remote camera in a rocky cave near Boyagin Nature Reserve in the Shire of Beverley.

Remote cameras are digital video cameras inside a waterproof case, connected to a motion sensing device. When animals pass by the senor, the camera is triggered and the video begins recording. The black and white movie is produced by the infra-red lights used by the cameras during the evening hours.

Remote cameras have been placed in bushland all across the wheatbelt to assist with understanding which animals are found where.

In this case, a chuditch was recorded using this rocky cave to forage for food such as insects and small animals.

Chuditch's use caves, hollow logs and other shelter (even rooves of houses!) as a den, emerging in the evening to look for food.

Litters are born between May and September, and stay in the mothers pouch for about nine weeks.

Home ranges in WA can be between 55 - 120 hectres in size and are vigorously defended.

Chuditch are threatened by injury from vecicles, predation by foxes and raptors and illegal shooting (chudich are particularly keen on eating chickens - if they can get them!).

Because of these threats, Chuditch are listed on the EPBC Act (1999) as Vulnerable - which means they are a protected species.

If you think you have seen a chuditch or want to know how you can encourage them in your area, contact Wheatbelt NRM on info@wheatbeltnrm.org.au or leave a post.

Red Card for Foxes in Kellerberrin

A team of landholders from north Kellerberrin has claimed victory in a local feral pest hunt.

 

The Red Card for the Red Fox program aims to coordinate community action for better control of feral foxes, cats and rabbits, and has been underway across the central Wheatbelt during March and April.

The shoot, organised by the Kellerberrin Shire, was held in March and April, over two weekends.

 

Wheatbelt NRM sponsored the Highest Points Trophy and the community BBQ as part of the Caring for Our Country Program. Wheatbelt NRM’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Mick Davis said eight teams competed from around Kellerberrin district.

“Because of the combined effort, 328 foxes were culled along with 22 cats and 72 rabbits,” Mick said. 

The winning team was North Kellerberrin, made up of Andrew Cox (North Kellerberrin), Brian Wilkins (Doodlakine), Bryce Wilkins (North Kellerberrin) and Ben Chandler (South Doodlakine), who tallied 61 foxes and four cats.

“These events are a more effective way of controlling feral animals,” Mick Davis said. "Foxes and cats prey on our native wildlife, which often includes threatened or rare species"

"Without active feral control like the Red Card program, species like the Black-flanked Rock Wallaby, which live in the Kellerberrin District would already be extinct"

Photo by Phil Lewis, WWF

Landholder Ben Chandler from south Doodlakine, who was part of the winning team, said the event helped get more people involved.

“It makes it easy, usually if you go out fox shooting it’s only a couple of hours by yourself,” Ben Chandler said. “But when you have an event like the Red Card program, it gives you a motivation to all get together.

“Otherwise you would never get together and shoot so many foxes.”

If you are interested in becomming involved in the Red Card for the Red Fox program, contact Mick on 0428 969 096 or mdavis@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Or, visit the Red Card website at  http://www.redcard.net.au/