Katanning Landcare call on community to help protect region’s precious marsupial

Katanning Landcare is calling on community members to play an important part in the protection of the red-tailed phascogale by placing free nesting boxes in their backyards.

Katanning Landcare, the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, and the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program have joined forces in a bid to distribute free phascogale nesting boxes across the Shire of Katanning.

The nesting boxes are locally produced with the help of community groups and are available to residents for free.

Katanning Landcare members can come to your property to install the box and answer questions.

Katanning Landcare’s Andrea Salmond said loss of habitat and predation by cats had been disastrous for the species.

“Red-tailed phascogales are such a special local species, yet many don’t know what one is or how to protect them,” she said.

The small carnivorous marsupial was once widespread across southern Australia but now only survives between Narrogin, Lake Grace and Kojonup.

According to Ms Salmond, Katanning is a prime area for conservation.

“We are looking to install the boxes on trees with healthy canopy growth, either out of town, or along the creek line in town,” she said.

“These boxes provide an alternative to tree hollows.”

For more information, phone 9821 4327.