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Brush-tailed Bettong (Bettongia penicillata)

The Brush-tailed Bettong is a small, nocturnal, ground-dwelling marsupial that once occurred across much of mainland Australia south of the tropics. On works sites, concealed nests, diggings and feeding areas can be disturbed by clearing, fire, grazing and predator control activities. Listing varies with the population and jurisdiction, so project teams should confirm the local status before works begin. The Woylie, the Western Australian subspecies, is the conservation-sensitive population and is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered. This listing covers only Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Rare. This listing covers only Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered. This listing covers only Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi.

Breeding season

The Brush-tailed Bettong can breed throughout the year when conditions are suitable. No month-specific regional pattern is documented, so breeding and clearing risk should be treated as year-round across occupied and reintroduced populations.

Breeding mode: Marsupial breeder. Females can return to oestrus shortly after giving birth and may use embryonic diapause.

Litter size: Usually one young, rarely two.

Breeding frequency: Up to three young per year, with about 100 days between births.

Pouch period: Young spend about 90 days in the pouch.

Age at maturity: Females are sexually mature at about six months.

Nest sites: Concealed ground nests in shallow depressions, under bushes, grass trees, fallen logs, grass tussocks, hummocks or other dense cover.

Breeding success and the presence of young can vary between years and regions with food availability, rainfall, habitat condition and population management.

  • Breeding and births: Mating and births may occur in every month when conditions are suitable.
  • Pouch young and dependent young: Dependent young may be present year round because breeding is continuous and young remain in the pouch for about 90 days before later accompanying the mother.
  • Nocturnal foraging and movement: Adults are ground dwelling and mainly active from dusk until shortly before dawn throughout the year.
  • Concealed daytime nests: Individuals shelter by day in grass and bark nests under vegetation or other cover in all seasons.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing or construction can harm concealed nests, pouch young and dependent young in any month, so occupied habitat should be checked and managed year round.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Brush-tailed Bettong is a small potoroid with a distinctive dark, brush-like crest on the end of its tail. It is usually seen at night, but nests and feeding signs can sometimes be found during daytime site inspections.

The upperparts are grey to greyish brown. The underparts are pale grey to whitish. The tail is long and well furred, with a dark crest that becomes more prominent towards the tip.

The animal uses its prehensile tail to carry grass and other nesting material. The Woylie generally weighs 1 to 1.5 kg, although recorded adult weights range from about 0.75 to 1.85 kg.

  • Small, compact macropod with a low head and quick, bounding movement.
  • Distinctive black or dark brush at the end of the tail.
  • Males and females look broadly similar.

Identification: Calls and similar species

A distinctive call or echolocation is not described for this species. Do not rely on calls alone for detection.

The tail crest is useful when separating the species from other small macropods. The quokka is larger and has a shorter tail without the strong black crest. Gilbert's potoroo is smaller, darker and restricted to dense heathland. The Burrowing Bettong lacks the tail crest and lives in burrows.

  • Check photographs or other confirmation when identification is uncertain.
  • The Desert Bettong may have been confused with historical desert records of the Brush-tailed Bettong.

Identification: Field signs

Look for shallow nest depressions concealed under vegetation, fallen timber or other cover. Nests are lined with grass and shredded bark, and may be difficult to see unless the cover is gently inspected.

Diggings may indicate feeding on underground fungi, tubers or bulbs. Tracks and diggings can resemble those of other small mammals. Scats are difficult to locate and should be confirmed by an appropriately qualified person, with molecular testing used where species identity matters.

  • Grass and bark nests in shallow depressions.
  • Small feeding diggings, particularly in soft soil or leaf litter.
  • Hopping tracks, sometimes with a tail drag.
  • Dark brown to black scats that may contain plant material or insect fragments.

Distribution: Current and historical range

The Brush-tailed Bettong formerly occupied most of mainland Australia south of the tropics. The eastern subspecies is considered extinct, while the Woylie survives naturally in south western Western Australia and has been translocated to several other states.

Historical records extend across Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. The species formerly occurred in habitats from desert spinifex grasslands to forests.

The Woylie has contracted to a small part of its former range. Natural populations remain in south western Western Australia, including Dryandra Woodland, Tutanning Nature Reserve and the Upper Warren area around Perup.

  • Western Australia, especially the wheatbelt, south west and southern forest regions.
  • South Australia, including island, mainland and sanctuary populations.
  • New South Wales, including reintroduced populations such as Scotia Sanctuary.
  • Historical records from the Northern Territory and Victoria, with no current established range confirmed in those jurisdictions.

Distribution: Translocated populations

The Woylie has been translocated to sites in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales. Some sites are fenced or island populations, and success has varied between locations.

A record near a known release site may represent a reintroduced population rather than a natural range extension. Check local records and the relevant state database before clearing.

  • Treat records from remnant habitat, sanctuaries, islands and fenced reserves as potentially significant.
  • Use local fauna records to identify release sites and nearby habitat links.

Distribution: Status and project screening

Listing is not uniform across the broad species entry. The Woylie, or Western Australian subspecies, is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act and as threatened fauna in Western Australia. The eastern subspecies is extinct in New South Wales and under the Commonwealth listing.

For a clearing or construction project, confirm the subspecies, population origin and state listing. In South Australia, rare listings are the relevant near threatened equivalent. In Western Australia, Priority 4 is a non statutory category for rare and near threatened species that need monitoring.

  • Assume a confirmed Woylie record requires specialist ecological advice and a site specific management response.
  • Do not apply the extinct status of the eastern subspecies to a translocated Woylie population.
  • Where the population identity is unclear, retain the record as a conservation sensitive fauna record until resolved.

Habitat: Vegetation communities

Look for dense ground cover, a tussock grass layer and connected patches of scrub or woodland. The species can use a wide range of vegetation, but surviving populations often depend on sites with shelter close to food and water.

Potential habitat includes open forest, woodland, sclerophyll forest, heath, mallee shrubland and dense low scrub. Historical habitat also included arid spinifex grasslands and desert woodlands.

In south western Western Australia, look for a tussock grass ground layer, woody scrub and thickets of Gastrolobium. In arid areas, inspect spinifex hummocks, grass clumps and dense bushes.

  • Open eucalypt forest and woodland.
  • Mallee and low woody shrubland.
  • Heath and dense understorey.
  • Spinifex grassland and other areas with continuous ground cover.

Habitat: Site features to retain

Retain connected understorey, fallen timber, grass clumps and sheltered ground depressions. These features provide nest materials, daytime cover and movement routes.

Avoid creating isolated patches of suitable vegetation. A site with food plants but little cover may not support the species, particularly where foxes or feral cats are present.

  • Dense shrubs and grass tussocks.
  • Grass tree foliage and fallen logs.
  • Leaf litter and undisturbed soil where fungi and other food resources occur.
  • Links between woodland, scrub and heath patches.

Habitat: Site inspection

Inspect likely habitat during the day for nests, diggings, tracks and shelter sites. Mark all signs before vegetation removal or machinery access.

A lack of visible animals does not rule out presence. The species is nocturnal and may remain concealed during daytime inspections.

  • Search beneath bushes, grass trees, logs and dense grass clumps.
  • Record habitat condition, recent fire, grazing pressure, predator control and nearby water.
  • Check both the work footprint and adjoining vegetation that may be used for escape or shelter.

Foraging habitat: Food resources

The Brush-tailed Bettong is strongly associated with underground food resources, especially fungi. Disturbance to soil, leaf litter and ground cover can reduce feeding habitat even when the tree canopy remains.

Underground fungi, including native truffles, form a major part of the diet. The species also eats tubers, bulbs, seeds, grains, insects and resin exudates from Hakea and other plants.

It can carry food in its cheek pouches and cache items. Feeding areas may therefore extend beyond the immediate nest site.

  • Undisturbed soil and leaf litter.
  • Tussock grass and low scrub.
  • Woodland and forest with a developed understorey.
  • Areas supporting fungi, bulbs, tubers and seed producing plants.

Foraging habitat: Foraging signs

Small, shallow diggings in soil or leaf litter may indicate feeding. Signs are not diagnostic on their own, so consider tracks, scats, nests and habitat together.

Foraging is mainly nocturnal. Daytime searches should focus on signs and likely feeding habitat rather than active animals.

  • Freshly disturbed soil around plant bases or under leaf litter.
  • Small holes or scrapes near grass tussocks and shrubs.
  • Tracks leading between shelter and feeding areas.
  • Scats containing plant or insect material, subject to species confirmation.

Foraging habitat: Works controls

Keep clearing to the approved footprint. Use low impact access routes through areas with dense ground cover, and avoid unnecessary soil disturbance.

Where habitat must be removed, have an ecologist inspect it first. Stage clearing so fauna can move towards retained habitat, and stop work if a live animal or active nest is found.

  • Protect retained understorey and leaf litter from vehicles and storage.
  • Avoid broad soil stripping outside the approved footprint.
  • Control introduced herbivores where grazing is degrading ground cover.
  • Maintain links between retained habitat patches.

Breeding habitat: Breeding pattern

The species can breed throughout the year when conditions are suitable. Breeding information is less detailed than for many better studied mammals, so active nests and dependent young should be managed conservatively.

Females usually give birth to one young, rarely two, and may produce up to three young per year. Embryonic diapause allows the next embryo to remain paused while a young develops.

Females can become sexually mature at about six months. Young remain in the pouch for about 90 days, based on available field accounts.

  • Breeding can occur throughout the year under suitable conditions.
  • There is no reliable project wide breeding season for scheduling works.
  • Dependent young may accompany the mother after leaving the pouch.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Breeding occurs in concealed ground nests. These are made from grass, shredded bark and other available material, and are usually placed in a shallow depression under cover.

Nests may occur beneath bushes, grass tree foliage, fallen logs or dense grass. They are not communal colonies, tree hollows or roosts.

  • Shallow depressions under dense vegetation.
  • Grass and bark nests beneath fallen timber or bushes.
  • Sheltered ground close to feeding habitat and movement cover.

Breeding habitat: Before clearing

Inspect dense cover immediately before clearing, particularly where nests or fresh signs have been recorded. Use an experienced fauna spotter catcher and avoid pulling apart cover unless authorised and necessary.

If a nest, live animal or pouch young is found, stop work in the immediate area and obtain direction from the project ecologist and the relevant wildlife authority.

  • Set aside active nests and nearby cover until the animal has moved or a licensed relocation response is approved.
  • Do not release captured animals during the day unless directed by an appropriately qualified person.
  • Record the location, habitat condition and outcome of each encounter.

Sheltering habitat: Nest structure and location

During the day, the Brush-tailed Bettong rests in a concealed nest on the ground. Shelter is usually made from grass and bark and is placed where dense cover protects the animal from predators and weather.

Nests are built over shallow depressions and may be hidden beneath a bush, grass tree, fallen log, grass tussock or other dense cover. In arid areas, shelter may occur under spinifex or dense bushes.

The species carries nesting material in its tail. A loose bundle of grass or shredded bark leading into a small covered depression can be a useful sign.

  • Grass lined or bark lined ground nests.
  • Shallow depressions under vegetation or fallen timber.
  • Spinifex hummocks and dense shrub cover.
  • Shelter close to feeding areas and movement routes.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter inspection

Search from the edge of cover first. Look for a worn entry, flattened grass, a shallow depression, nesting material or tracks. Avoid trampling likely nests.

A nest may be empty when inspected. Record it and protect the surrounding cover if the site is within or beside the work area.

  • Use hand tools only where an inspection is needed and where this is safe and authorised.
  • Do not place spoil, pipes, vehicles or materials over likely shelter sites.
  • Retain fallen logs, grass clumps and dense understorey wherever practicable.

Sheltering habitat: Handling and release

Capture can cause injury, capture myopathy and rejection of pouch young. It can also increase predation risk if an animal is released during daylight.

Any capture, examination or relocation should be undertaken under the relevant permit and by trained personnel. Keep handling brief and follow the approved project fauna management plan.

  • Use an experienced fauna spotter catcher for any live capture.
  • Check females for pouch young under approved handling procedures.
  • Release animals into suitable nearby cover at an appropriate time, as directed by the project ecologist or authority.

Threats: Clearing and construction

The main pressures are predation, loss of shelter and food, altered fire, grazing and small population size. Construction can add direct risks by removing nests, breaking habitat links and exposing animals to vehicles and predators.

Vegetation removal can destroy nests and remove the dense ground cover used for daytime shelter. Soil disturbance can also reduce underground fungi and other food resources.

Vehicle movements, night lighting, open trenches and stored materials can injure animals or block movement between shelter and feeding areas.

  • Keep works within the approved footprint.
  • Inspect and mark nests, diggings and dense shelter before clearing.
  • Cover or fence trenches and check them regularly where fauna could enter.
  • Use fauna sensitive traffic controls near retained habitat.

Threats: Predators and grazing

Foxes and feral cats are major predators. Dogs can also pose a risk. Rabbits, domestic stock and other feral herbivores compete for food and can remove the ground cover needed for shelter.

Do not attract predators with food waste or leave carcasses, pet food or unsecured rubbish at the site.

  • Secure waste and remove food scraps daily.
  • Keep domestic dogs out of occupied habitat unless authorised for a specific survey purpose.
  • Coordinate fox and cat control with the land manager.
  • Limit grazing and protect regenerating understorey.

Threats: Fire and habitat condition

Both overly frequent fire and inappropriate fire can remove protective understorey and nest materials. Fire planning should consider the need for a patchy structure with retained shelter, rather than treating all ground cover in the same way.

After fire, inspect for nests and signs before significant rain or wind removes evidence. Do not assume burnt areas are unused, as animals may remain in nearby unburnt cover.

  • Retain unburnt refuge patches where practicable.
  • Protect dense regrowth and grass cover after fire.
  • Record fire history during habitat assessments.
  • Review fire and grazing controls with the land manager and ecologist.

Threats: Population and disease risk

Several populations have undergone severe declines, and the causes of some recent declines remain uncertain. Disease has been implicated in making animals more vulnerable to predation.

Treat every confirmed record as valuable for local planning. Report unusual deaths, injured animals or sudden changes in activity to the project ecologist and relevant wildlife authority.

  • Avoid unnecessary capture and handling.
  • Use clean equipment between sites where animals are trapped or handled.
  • Record all sightings, signs, captures and mortalities.
  • Review the management response if monitoring shows a decline.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Brush-tailed Bettongs are nocturnal and ground dwelling. Use several methods because tracks, diggings and scats can be difficult to distinguish from signs of other small mammals.

Map remnant woodland, open forest, mallee, heath, tussock grass, dense shrub cover and known or potential translocation sites before field work.

Check state databases, recovery plans, reserve records, recent fauna surveys and land manager records. Confirm whether the record relates to the Woylie subspecies, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi, or the extinct eastern subspecies, Bettongia penicillata penicillata.

Treat records from central Australia with care because the identity of some historical desert records is uncertain.

  • Map habitat connections, likely shelter areas, recent fire areas, water sources, fox and cat control areas, and proposed clearing limits.
  • Search for records from Dryandra, Tutanning, Perup and other known natural or translocated populations in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
  • Obtain advice from the relevant state wildlife agency and land manager before planning works near a known population.

Survey methodology: 2. Sign searches and spotlighting

Search during the day for concealed nests, shallow nest depressions, grass and bark lining, diggings, tracks and scats. Nests may occur under bushes, grass tree foliage, fallen logs, dense grass, spinifex or other cover.

Search nest sites soon after fire and before significant rain or wind removes signs. Use early morning conditions for track and sign work. Avoid very windy weather and surveys immediately after rain.

Conduct car based spotlighting along fixed transects at night where access and safety allow. The species is active from dusk until shortly before dawn.

  • Use October and April surveys where a repeatable seasonal monitoring program is required. Use the same areas and methods each year.
  • Record the start and finish time, transect length, weather, recent rain, wind, fire history and observer names.
  • Photograph and map each nest, track set, digging, scat and animal observation.

Survey methodology: 3. Confirmation and trapping

Confirm suspected records with more than one sign type where possible. Diggings and tracks can resemble those of other mammals. Scats are difficult to identify, so use molecular confirmation when scat identity matters.

In areas where animals occur at higher density, use cage trapping only under an approved wildlife research, survey or management program. The established bait mixture is peanut butter, rolled oats and sardines.

Use hair tubes or other approved non invasive methods where density is low or trapping is not justified. Follow the current Woylie Conservation Research Project Operations Handbook or the relevant state protocol.

  • Use experienced fauna personnel to set, check and close traps.
  • Provide suitable protection from weather, check traps at the frequency required by the permit and avoid daytime release where this would increase predation risk.
  • Record trap effort, trap nights, bait, capture location, sex, age class, breeding condition, pouch young, body condition, injuries, release location and fate.
  • Stop trapping if heat, cold, rain, predator activity, animal stress or other conditions create unacceptable risk.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey reporting

Report the species, subspecies where known, confidence in identification and the evidence supporting each record. Treat a nest or sign record as a potential occurrence until identification is confirmed.

Use a consistent site grid or transect system so results can be compared before and after works.

  • Record coordinates, habitat, shelter cover, food resources, fire history, grazing, fox and cat signs, nearby clearing and the number of signs or animals detected.
  • Map all occupied or potentially occupied habitat within and beside the work area.
  • Provide survey results to the project ecologist, approving authority and relevant land manager before disturbance begins.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Plan around the animal and its shelter habitat, not only around visible animals. The Woylie breeds continuously under suitable conditions, so there is no reliable month when all breeding risk can be avoided.

Confirm the current legal status of the population and taxon before works. The Woylie subspecies, Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi, is listed as endangered under the EPBC Act, while the eastern subspecies is extinct in New South Wales and under Commonwealth listings.

Assess whether the action needs an EPBC Act referral. Obtain state scientific, wildlife handling, trapping, relocation and clearing approvals before survey or disturbance.

In Queensland, seek advice from the relevant authority where near threatened protected wildlife or a breeding place may be affected. Obtain a species management program where required.

  • Check Western Australian, South Australian, New South Wales, Victorian, Northern Territory and Queensland requirements for the actual population and work location.
  • Use only fauna handlers with the authority and experience required by the permit.
  • Keep copies of permits, conditions, approvals, translocation plans and emergency contacts at the work site.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and work planning

Retain occupied habitat, dense understorey, tussock grass, fallen logs, grass trees, shrubs and other nest cover wherever practicable. Avoid clearing habitat links between known records.

There is no species specific standard buffer stated for nests or shelter sites. Set a site specific no go area around each nest, animal, occupied habitat patch or other sensitive feature in consultation with the project ecologist and regulator.

  • Redesign the footprint to retain nests, shelter cover, feeding habitat and access to water where practicable.
  • Fence and sign exclusion areas before machinery arrives. Keep vehicles, storage, spoil, fire and lighting outside them.
  • Control foxes and feral cats where the land manager has an approved program. Manage domestic dogs and other predators around the work area.
  • Avoid clearing immediately after fire if nest signs are being used to locate occupied habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre clearance checks

Complete a final walkover immediately before clearing. Search all vegetation and ground cover that will be disturbed, including grass tussocks, bushes, fallen logs, grass tree foliage, spinifex and shallow nest depressions.

Use nocturnal spotlighting or other approved confirmation methods where daytime signs are inconclusive. A recent survey does not remove the need for a pre clearance check.

  • Mark all nests, tracks, diggings, scats, animals and exclusion areas with visible tags and mapped coordinates.
  • Inspect the underside of logs and dense cover carefully before movement or removal.
  • Give the spotter catcher authority to delay or stop clearing when a nest, animal, fresh sign or unexpected habitat feature is found.
  • Do not destroy or move a nest unless the approved method and permit allow it.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Induction and equipment

Brief every worker, visitor and operator before entering the work area. Explain the animal's appearance, nocturnal habits, nest signs and the stop work process.

Use a staged clearing plan that allows the fauna team to inspect each area safely before machinery enters.

  • Show workers photographs of the dark tail brush, grey to grey brown coat, nests and likely tracks.
  • Set speed limits and exclusion zones for vehicles and machinery.
  • Keep suitable containers, towels, gloves, head torches, first aid supplies and contact details for a wildlife carer or veterinarian available.
  • Do not allow untrained workers to catch, handle, feed or release an animal.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence from retained habitat towards open ground. The fauna spotter catcher must be able to stop work at once and must control all handling.

Clear in small, defined stages after the spotter catcher has inspected the area. Start with low risk ground cover and work progressively towards retained habitat or another safe area.

Use machinery at low speed and keep the operator in direct contact with the spotter catcher. Pause between stages so animals can move away without being trapped by machinery or materials.

  • Remove loose materials and vegetation in a way that allows inspection of nests, logs and dense cover before they are moved.
  • Do not push vegetation into retained habitat or create piles that may contain animals.
  • Keep cleared areas free of food waste and materials that could attract predators.
  • Stop work for heat, storms, poor visibility, unsafe access or any condition that prevents a reliable fauna search.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and breeding places

Only authorised and trained fauna personnel may catch, examine, transport or release a Brush-tailed Bettong. Minimise handling time and keep the animal quiet, shaded and secure.

If a nest with a pouch young, dependent young, or an adult using it is found, stop work and protect the area. Obtain advice from the project ecologist and relevant authority before moving the nest or animal.

  • Treat every occupied nest as a sensitive breeding place even though the species does not form colonies or use roosts.
  • Do not separate a female from pouch young or a dependent young following at heel.
  • Do not use nest boxes, bat boxes, hollows or communal roost structures as substitutes for the species' normal ground nests unless a specialist has approved the design and purpose.
  • Record the location and condition of each breeding place and maintain the exclusion area until the authorised fauna lead confirms that work can resume.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Injured or distressed animals

Place an injured or distressed animal in a secure, ventilated container suitable for a small macropod. Keep it dark, quiet and at a stable temperature, and minimise handling.

Do not provide food, water or medication unless directed by a veterinarian or authorised wildlife carer.

  • Contact the approved wildlife carer, veterinarian, wildlife authority and project ecologist immediately.
  • Record the time, location, apparent cause of injury, condition, handler, treatment advice and destination.
  • Treat heat stress, capture myopathy, collision injuries, burns and predator attack as emergencies.
  • Do not release an injured animal or a female with young without advice from the authorised fauna lead.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Records and stop work

Maintain a live fauna register throughout clearing. Include animals seen, captured, released, injured, dead or transferred for care, as well as nests and other signs.

Report any unexpected record, death, injury, breeding place or failure to comply with an approval condition to the project manager and the relevant authority within the required timeframe.

  • Record coordinates, time, habitat, clearing stage, machinery involved, action taken and the names of all personnel present.
  • Photograph animals and sensitive features where this can be done without increasing stress or delaying care.
  • Restart work only after the spotter catcher and project ecologist confirm that the area is clear and the approval conditions are being met.
  • Review the clearing method immediately after an incident and change the sequence or exclusion controls before continuing.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post clearance inspection

Finish each clearing stage with a documented check. Monitor the retained habitat and any released or relocated animals closely because recent declines have been severe in some populations.

Inspect the cleared footprint, retained habitat edge, spoil areas, access tracks and material piles after machinery leaves. Look for injured animals, nests, fresh tracks, diggings and animals sheltering in remaining cover.

Complete the inspection in daylight and, where the risk assessment requires it, repeat it at night using approved spotlighting.

  • Check areas beneath logs, vegetation piles, temporary fencing and stored materials before they are removed or moved.
  • Remove hazards such as open pits, exposed trenches, unsecured pipes and uncovered containers.
  • Record the date, personnel, area checked, search conditions, findings and any corrective action.
  • Keep exclusion fencing in place until the project ecologist confirms that it is safe to remove.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Relocated and released animals

Release or relocate animals only under the approved plan and by authorised personnel. Use a release site with suitable shelter, food resources, water and predator management.

Avoid releasing animals during the day where this would increase exposure to predators. Follow the advice of the wildlife authority, veterinarian and translocation plan for timing and monitoring.

  • Record the animal identity if known, sex, age class, breeding condition, health assessment, origin, destination, transport, release time and release condition.
  • Check for pouch young before transport or release.
  • Use post release checks suited to the permit and population, such as spotlighting, track and sign searches, hair tubes or other approved methods.
  • Report mortality, dispersal outside the approved area, predation and failure to settle.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Provide a completion report to the project manager, approval holder and relevant regulator. Include all survey, clearing, handling, injury, mortality, nest and release records.

Compare actual impacts with the approved footprint and conditions.

  • Map cleared areas, retained habitat, exclusion zones, incidents and rehabilitation areas.
  • List all permit conditions and state whether each was met.
  • Report any threatened species impact, unauthorised clearing or animal death through the required incident pathway.
  • Retain photographs, field sheets, GPS data, laboratory results and chain of custody records.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and monitoring

Hold a short review after each clearing stage and after any animal incident. Include the operator, spotter catcher, ecologist and project manager.

Use the findings to improve the next clearing stage and the wider site method.

  • Check whether the survey timing, search conditions, exclusion areas and machinery sequence were effective.
  • Add controls for any repeated problem, such as unsearched cover, poor visibility, predator access or unsafe release timing.
  • Monitor retained habitat and known records over several years where the project affects an occupied or translocated population.
  • Use repeated methods and the same monitoring areas so changes can be detected.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore connected ground cover and the resources that support nests, food and shelter. The species uses concealed ground nests, not tree hollows or communal roosts, so restoration should focus on vegetation structure at ground level.

Retain and reinstate tussock grass, low woody scrub, dense understorey, fallen timber and other cover suitable for concealed nests.

Use locally appropriate native species and soil handling methods that support underground fungi, bulbs, tubers and seeds. Avoid compacting or sterilising soil unnecessarily.

  • Reconnect retained habitat patches where practicable.
  • Stage rehabilitation so bare ground is not left exposed for longer than necessary.
  • Protect revegetated areas from grazing, rabbits, feral herbivores, vehicles and fire until cover is established.
  • Use fire planning that maintains shelter and avoids removing all protective understorey from an occupied site.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Nest resources and artificial structures

Brush-tailed Bettongs build shallow, concealed ground nests from grass and shredded bark. Retain natural materials and cover before considering artificial structures.

Nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial roosts and hollow based structures are not standard replacement habitat for this species.

  • Use artificial nest sites only where a specialist and the relevant authority approve the design, placement, hygiene and monitoring method.
  • Do not place boxes or structures in trees as a substitute for lost ground nests.
  • Provide grass, bark, dense bushes, fallen logs or other natural cover through habitat restoration rather than importing structures by default.
  • Remove temporary shelters when the approved monitoring period ends unless the land manager has accepted them as a long term measure.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, predators and water

Control weeds that replace tussock grass, native scrub or other shelter. Use methods that do not expose animals to toxic bait, machinery or sudden loss of cover.

Maintain access to suitable natural water resources and avoid creating pits, drains or contaminated pools.

  • Coordinate fox and feral cat control with the land manager and approved conservation program.
  • Manage rabbits, domestic stock and other grazing animals where they reduce food, shelter or regeneration.
  • Keep chemicals, baits, fuels and construction waste away from retained habitat and nest areas.
  • Design drainage and erosion controls to avoid flooding nests or concentrating predators at water points.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Lighting, access and long term monitoring

Limit artificial light near retained habitat, release sites and movement routes. The species is nocturnal and may be exposed to predators or disrupted by poorly placed lighting.

Keep permanent access, fencing and maintenance activities outside retained shelter areas where practicable.

  • Use the lowest practical light levels, direct lights away from habitat and avoid unnecessary all night lighting.
  • Use wildlife sensitive fencing that does not trap or injure ground dwelling animals and maintain movement routes.
  • Monitor rehabilitation using repeatable searches for nests, tracks, diggings, scats and animals. Use molecular confirmation for scats when species identification matters.
  • Sample before and after management actions and continue for several years where the population is endangered, translocated or subject to ongoing predator, fire or grazing pressure.
  • Review rehabilitation success against survival, shelter cover, predator activity, fire history and recolonisation, then adapt management.

Sources