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Crest-tailed Mulgara (Dasycercus cristicauda)

The Crest-tailed Mulgara is a small, ground-dwelling carnivorous marsupial of Australia’s arid sandy deserts. It occurs mainly in the Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts, including parts of the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia, and may shelter in burrows within a clearing footprint. The species is an EVNT species, with a Vulnerable listing in Queensland and a Priority 4 listing in Western Australia. In Queensland, it is protected wildlife and interference with a breeding place requires a species management program.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, WA Threatened and Priority Fauna List: Near threatened. Priority 4 (rare, near threatened) on the Western Australian priority fauna list. Priority species are not listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 but should be considered in assessments.

Breeding season

Crest-tailed Mulgara breeding is seasonal, with breeding recorded mainly in May and June. Pouch young and lactating females have been recorded from September to November, and timing may vary between regions and rainfall conditions.

Breeding mode: Marsupial breeding, with young developing in the pouch and later becoming independent outside it.

Breeding period: May to June.

Litter size: Five to eight young.

Gestation: Not recorded.

Weaning: October to November.

Breeding and shelter sites: Burrows, including burrows beneath raised dead spinifex hummocks and in sandy habitat.

Age at maturity and breeding frequency: Not recorded.

Timing may shift between years and regions, particularly after rainfall, and detection can be very low during dry conditions.

  • Seasonal breeding: Breeding is recorded mainly in May and June, although the species is poorly known across its full range.
  • Pouch young and dependent young: Females with pouch young have been recorded in September and October, with weaning in October and November.
  • Nocturnal foraging and burrow activity: The species is mainly nocturnal and shelters in burrows during the day throughout the year.
  • Burrow and breeding-site protection: Burrows and surrounding sandy habitat should be treated as potential shelter or breeding habitat, with greatest care during the breeding and dependent-young period.
  • Highest clearing risk: Clearing from May to November may harm breeding females, pouch young or recently weaned young, with the highest risk from September to November.

Identification: Appearance and size

The Crest-tailed Mulgara is a compact marsupial with a distinctive crest of black hairs along the upper tail. It is mostly nocturnal, but may bask outside a burrow on sunny winter days.

The upperparts range from buffy or pale fawn to tan, ginger or bright red brown. The underparts are usually white or creamy.

The tail is short and thickened for much of its length. Coarse chestnut hairs occur near the body, darker hairs occur along the middle, and longer black hairs form a narrow dorsal crest towards the tip.

Males may reach 230 mm in head and body length, 125 mm in tail length and 185 g in weight. Females may reach 170 mm in head and body length, 110 mm in tail length and 120 g in weight.

Female diagnostic feature: Females have eight nipples or teats.

Feet: The hind foot has long hair that folds over about one third of the sole from the lateral side.

Identification: Calls and similar species

A characteristic call or echolocation signal is not established for this species. Do not rely on calls for detection.

The Brush-tailed Mulgara, Dasycercus blythi, is the main similar species. It generally lacks the Crest-tailed Mulgara’s dorsal tail crest, has a different tail form and has six teats rather than eight.

The Kowari, Dasyuroides byrnei, is associated with gibber plains. It is more lanky and grey, has a longer bottlebrush-like tail tip and has four toes on the hind foot. Crest-tailed Mulgara and Ampurta may be difficult to separate in the field because of taxonomic history and overlapping identification features.

Identification: Field signs

Look for small burrows at the base of Canegrass, spinifex hummocks or shrubs. Burrow entrances may be similar in height and width, unlike the low, wide entrances of many reptile burrows.

Active burrows may have scoops of freshly excavated sand at the entrance and elongated, curved scats nearby. Scats may be up to 90 mm long and 6 mm wide.

Fresh tracks can be useful. Crest-tailed Mulgara tracks show clear toe marks, relatively rectangular hind feet and five short, stout front toes.

  • Photograph tracks with a scale and record the direction of travel.
  • Record burrow locations with a GPS fix or map reference.
  • Have uncertain tracks, scats, hair samples and photographs checked by an experienced ecologist.
  • Where species-level identification is required, consider tissue or molecular analysis under the appropriate permits.

Distribution: Australian range

The current confirmed range is concentrated in central Australian deserts. Contemporary records suggest a more restricted distribution than historical records, although low survey effort and low densities can make the species difficult to detect.

The species is currently associated with the southern Simpson Desert, where the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia meet, and with the Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts of South Australia.

In South Australia, records include the Simpson Desert, the western margin of the Strzelecki Desert, the western side of Lake Eyre, the southern Birdsville Track and areas as far south as William Creek. The historical range extended west to Ooldea.

Historical records also come from the Canning Stock Route and near Rawlinna on the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia, and from Sandringham Station in Queensland.

Approximate Australian extent of occurrence: About 156,717 square kilometres.

Estimated area of occupancy: About 2,000 to 10,000 square kilometres.

  • Northern Territory, mainly the Simpson Desert and adjacent arid sandy country.
  • Queensland, mainly the southern and eastern Simpson Desert region.
  • South Australia, including the Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts and adjacent sandy country.

Distribution: Records and detection risk

The species can occur at very low densities during dry periods and may be virtually impossible to detect under those conditions. Population numbers can increase after rain and capture rates may be higher in summer after young become independent.

The Crest-tailed Mulgara was formerly recorded more widely than its current confirmed range. A record from Sturt National Park in New South Wales was treated as a transient or dispersing individual rather than an established population.

  • Check recent records and local Indigenous knowledge before works begin.
  • Treat suitable sandy habitat as potential habitat even where recent records are absent.
  • Report new animals, tracks and burrows with accurate coordinates and habitat notes.

Distribution: Overseas range

The Crest-tailed Mulgara is an Australian species. No overseas range is recognised.

Habitat: Landforms and vegetation

Search for this species in arid sandy landscapes with sparse vegetation and loose soils suitable for burrowing. Habitat can be discrete, so a site may be suitable even when animals or burrows are not immediately obvious.

Preferred settings include sand dunes, sand ridges, broad swales between vegetated dunes, sand plains, sandy mounds and sandy watercourses.

Look for Sandhill Canegrass, Zygochloa paradoxa, on dunes and for Nitre Bush, Nitraria billardieri, around salt lakes and sandy mounds. Spinifex hummocks and, in some areas, mulga shrubland can also provide cover and burrowing habitat.

In the Simpson Desert, higher densities have been associated with low vegetation cover and scarce surface water.

  • Dune crests and flanks.
  • Eastern sides of dunes, where burrows are commonly reported.
  • Broad interdune swales with suitable grass cover.
  • Bases of Canegrass clumps, spinifex hummocks and shrubs.

Habitat: Site assessment

Walk the full proposed disturbance area and nearby undisturbed habitat. Map dunes, swales, vegetation patches, burrows, tracks and scats rather than assessing only the cleared alignment.

Burrow complexes can extend across up to a kilometre of suitable habitat. A narrow work area may therefore intersect a wider area used by animals for shelter and foraging.

  • Complete daytime habitat and sign searches before clearing or earthworks.
  • Mark active or potentially active burrows on site plans.
  • Retain connected sandy habitat where practicable and avoid unnecessary vehicle movement over dunes and swales.

Habitat: Habitat condition

Habitat condition can be affected by grazing, rabbits, altered fire regimes, wind erosion and changes in the cover of grasses and forbs. Artificial waters may increase grazing pressure and predator activity in some landscapes.

Low cover does not necessarily mean low value. The species can occur where vegetation is sparse, provided suitable prey, loose soil and burrow sites remain.

  • Record grazing pressure, rabbit activity, fire history, erosion and nearby artificial water points.
  • Inspect both apparently intact habitat and disturbed areas that retain suitable dune and swale features.

Foraging habitat: Diet

The Crest-tailed Mulgara is an opportunistic carnivore that forages mainly at night across dunes, dune flanks and swales. It obtains its water largely through food and rarely needs free-standing water.

Recorded prey includes insects and other arthropods, lizards, small mammals, reptiles, birds and centipedes. Beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders and scorpions are also recorded in the diet.

The species may eat fruits and seeds and may scavenge larger carcasses, including rabbit carcasses. Rodents can form a greater part of the diet in winter and spring.

  • Invertebrate-rich Canegrass and spinifex patches.
  • Dune margins and swales with lizards and small mammals.
  • Shrub bases and litter patches that support arthropods.

Foraging habitat: Night-time use of the site

Most foraging occurs at night. Animals may travel along dune crests and flanks and make forays into swales before returning to a burrow.

Radio-tracking information from Brush-tailed Mulgaras indicates that mulgaras may forage about 900 m from a burrow in a night. Use this as an indication that the wider habitat around a burrow may be relevant, not as a fixed buffer for the Crest-tailed Mulgara.

  • Avoid night works around confirmed burrows where practicable.
  • Keep lighting, vehicle movement and noise to the minimum needed for safe construction.
  • Do not assume that habitat outside a burrow entrance is unused during the day.

Foraging habitat: Survey focus

During daytime searches, inspect likely foraging habitat as well as burrow entrances. Look for tracks, scats, prey remains and recently disturbed sand.

A combination of sign searches, remote cameras, hair sampling and trapping methods may be needed because detectability is low in dry periods. Trapping should be undertaken only by suitably experienced and licensed personnel.

  • Use fresh track searches after suitable weather and surface conditions.
  • Use remote cameras near active-looking burrows or likely travel routes.
  • Confirm indirect signs with an expert, especially where Brush-tailed Mulgara or Kowari may occur.

Breeding habitat: Breeding period

Breeding information is limited, but females and young are associated with burrow systems in suitable sandy habitat. Treat active burrows and connected burrow complexes as potential breeding habitat during site planning and clearing.

Seasonal breeding is recorded from May to June. Females with pouch young have been captured in September and October, and lactating females without pouch young in November.

Five to eight young are reported, with weaning in October to November. Breeding and recruitment information can vary between sites and years.

Reported breeding period: May to June.

Reported weaning period: October to November.

Reported litter size: Five to eight young.

  • Plan pre-clearance surveys before disturbance in suitable habitat, including during the cooler months and the period when young may be emerging from the pouch.
  • Ask the relevant state authority about current seasonal requirements before works begin.

Breeding habitat: Breeding places

Specific maternity burrow features are not well defined. The species excavates and uses burrows, often in complexes with multiple entrances, at the base of Canegrass, spinifex hummocks or shrubs.

Do not enter, collapse, fill or disturb a burrow to determine whether it is being used for breeding. A burrow in suitable habitat should be managed as potentially occupied unless an appropriately authorised assessment shows otherwise.

  • Map all burrows and burrow complexes before clearing.
  • Retain suitable burrow habitat wherever practicable.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher with relevant experience for any approved disturbance near burrows.

Breeding habitat: Queensland protection

In Queensland, the Crest-tailed Mulgara is listed as Vulnerable and is protected wildlife. Interference with its breeding place requires a species management program.

The Queensland listing should be applied to the Crest-tailed Mulgara population occurring in Queensland, principally in the Simpson Desert region. Confirm the current approval pathway and any regional requirements before works.

  • Obtain the required approvals before clearing or disturbing potential breeding places.
  • Include burrows, nearby cover and connected habitat in the construction environmental management plan.
  • Stop work and seek advice if a live animal, pouch young or occupied burrow is found unexpectedly.

Sheltering habitat: Burrow locations and form

The species shelters during the day in excavated burrows and may use them during periods of extreme heat. Burrows are a central field feature and should be protected during surveys, vehicle access and earthworks.

Burrows are commonly at the base of Canegrass clumps, spinifex hummocks or shrubs, especially on the eastern side of dunes. They may have several entrances and occur in aggregated complexes.

Active burrows can show freshly scooped sand at pop-holes and scats near the entrances. Some complexes may extend across up to a kilometre of suitable habitat.

Reported entrances: Individual burrows may have six to ten pop-holes.

Burrow complex extent: Complexes can cover up to a kilometre of suitable habitat.

  • Inspect dune bases, grass clumps, shrub bases and swales carefully.
  • Mark entrances before machinery enters the site.
  • Include the broader burrow complex in the impact assessment, not only the visible entrance.

Sheltering habitat: Resting and basking

The species is mainly nocturnal and normally shelters in burrows during the day. On sunny winter days, an animal may bask near a burrow entrance.

There are no tree hollows, caves, roosts or colonies to search for. Focus shelter surveys on ground-level burrows and associated sandy habitat.

  • Keep people and vehicles away from burrow entrances during daylight searches.
  • Do not block entrances with spoil, fencing, stored materials or sediment.
  • Check proposed access tracks and laydown areas for burrows before use.

Sheltering habitat: Site protection during works

Retain burrows and surrounding vegetation where practicable. Use clearly marked exclusion areas and prevent accidental entry by machinery, vehicles and stock.

If a burrow must be disturbed under an approved action, obtain species-specific advice first. Do not relocate animals or destroy burrows without the required authorisation and a documented handling plan.

  • Fence or flag sensitive areas before clearing.
  • Brief all operators about the species, its tracks and burrow signs.
  • Inspect exclusion fencing and repair damage promptly.
  • Keep spoil, fuels and construction materials away from burrow entrances and dune bases.

Threats: Clearing and earthworks

The main risks on clearing and construction sites are loss of sandy habitat, damage to burrows, altered fire and grazing conditions, and increased access for predators. Threats are not fully resolved, so avoidable disturbance should be reduced and new records should be reported.

Clearing dunes, Canegrass, spinifex hummocks and shrubs can remove burrows, prey habitat and cover. Grading, trenching, vehicle traffic and spoil placement can collapse entrances or fragment burrow complexes.

Before works, complete a qualified habitat and sign assessment and map areas proposed for retention. Use existing disturbed access routes where practicable.

  • Avoid clearing suitable habitat where practicable.
  • Stage works so fauna spotter catcher inspections occur immediately before disturbance.
  • Keep machinery, storage and spoil out of mapped burrow areas.
  • Stop work if an animal or occupied burrow is found.

Threats: Predators and introduced herbivores

Foxes, feral cats and wild dogs may prey on Crest-tailed Mulgaras. Rabbits, goats and other introduced herbivores can reduce vegetation, compete for resources and alter prey availability.

Construction compounds, waste, artificial water and damaged fences can increase access for predators or herbivores. Keep sites clean and secure, and report incursions into predator-free areas.

  • Secure food, waste and water sources.
  • Do not feed wildlife or leave carcasses near work areas.
  • Control rabbits and other introduced herbivores under the approved land management program.
  • Maintain conservation fences and report breaches promptly.

Threats: Fire and grazing

Inappropriate fire timing, frequency or intensity can change vegetation structure and reduce food and shelter. Heavy grazing can reduce Canegrass, spinifex, forbs and prey habitat, while erosion can further degrade sandy country.

Fire and grazing responses should be site specific. Avoid creating new fire breaks or burn patterns without advice from the land manager and relevant authority.

  • Record recent fire history and current fuel conditions during the site assessment.
  • Keep construction activities from increasing ignition risk.
  • Manage grazing pressure around retained habitat where the land manager has control.
  • Protect vegetation patches that support burrows and invertebrate prey.

Threats: Taxonomic and detection uncertainty

Past taxonomic changes mean that Crest-tailed Mulgara, Ampurta and Brush-tailed Mulgara records may not always be comparable. Field signs may not resolve the species reliably, particularly where ranges overlap.

Low densities and dry conditions can produce false negative survey results. A lack of detections should not be treated as proof that suitable habitat is unoccupied.

Queensland: Vulnerable. Protected wildlife. Interference with a breeding place requires a species management program.

Western Australia: Priority 4, a non statutory DBCA category for rare and near threatened species needing monitoring. Apply this status to the relevant Western Australian population or record and confirm current advice before works.

  • Use the current accepted species name in reports and map the taxonomic basis of records.
  • Retain photographs, hair or tissue samples where permitted and necessary for confirmation.
  • Scale survey effort to the Vulnerable or equivalent risk level and the amount of suitable habitat affected.
  • Seek advice from the relevant state authority before clearing potential habitat or breeding places.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Crest-tailed Mulgaras are small, nocturnal, burrow-sheltering mammals that can be difficult to detect during dry periods. Use several survey methods together, especially in sandy desert habitat with Canegrass, spinifex or Nitrebush.

Check current records, habitat mapping, threatened species databases and local Indigenous knowledge before planning works.

Map sand dunes, swales, sand plains, sandy watercourses, Canegrass, spinifex hummocks, Nitrebush and other areas with loose soils suitable for burrowing.

Treat the Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts as potential habitat. Confirm the identification and taxonomic treatment where records may relate to Ampurta or Brush-tailed Mulgara.

Activity: Primarily nocturnal, with daytime shelter in burrows

Distribution: Current strongholds include the Simpson, Tirari and Strzelecki Deserts

Habitat: Sandy dunes, swales, sand plains, sandy watercourses and hummock grassland

  • Review records from the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.
  • Check whether the work area is within or near known populations, conservation reserves, predator-free areas or previous survey sites.
  • Plan surveys for all suitable habitat, not only the proposed clearing footprint, where animals may forage or move between burrow systems.

Survey methodology: 2. Daytime habitat and sign searches

Walk suitable habitat during daylight and inspect dune crests, flanks, swales and the bases of grass clumps or shrubs.

Search for small burrows, multiple entrances, fresh scoops of sand, tracks and elongated curved scats. Burrow entrances may have a similar height and width, unlike many reptile burrows.

Inspect raised dead spinifex hummocks and other cover that may support burrow complexes. Burrow complexes can extend across up to a kilometre of suitable habitat.

Burrow entrances: Often occur at the base of shrubs, Canegrass or spinifex

Burrow complexes: May cover up to a kilometre of suitable habitat

Scats: May be elongated and curved, and occur near entrances

  • Record every burrow or suspected burrow with a GPS location and photograph.
  • Record whether entrances appear active, including fresh sand, tracks, scats or other recent disturbance.
  • Have photographs of tracks, scats and burrows checked by a suitably experienced ecologist or fauna specialist.
  • Do not enter, block or excavate burrows during a survey.

Survey methodology: 3. Trapping, cameras and spotlighting

Use Elliott trapping, pitfall trapping, hair sampling, remote cameras and spotlighting as appropriate for the site, with methods selected by a suitably qualified ecologist.

Elliott trapping should follow the approved threatened mammal survey technique and should not be the only method in the Simpson Desert or other areas where capture rates may be low.

For areas up to 5 hectares, pitfall traps should be about 60 cm deep. If pitfall trapping is used without Elliott trapping, use twice the recommended effort and four sampling sites instead of two.

Nocturnal search: Search after dark, when animals are active

Pitfall depth: About 60 cm

Survey area guidance: Published methods include guidance for areas up to 5 hectares

  • Run spotlight searches on foot or from a vehicle during suitable nocturnal conditions, particularly after several consecutive good seasons when numbers may be higher.
  • Use remote cameras near active-looking burrows, tracks, scats and likely movement routes where trapping is unsuitable.
  • Use hair sampling or genetic testing when species-level identification is needed. Hair sampling does not reliably separate Crest-tailed Mulgara from Ampurta.
  • Use approved animal ethics, fauna survey and trapping procedures, with daily welfare checks for live traps and immediate release of non-target animals.

Survey methodology: 4. Timing, effort and records

Survey in suitable weather and avoid relying on a single visit during prolonged dry conditions. The species may occur at very low density and can be virtually undetectable during dry periods.

Repeat surveys where habitat is suitable, signs are ambiguous, the project has a large footprint or the consequences of clearing are high. Increase effort after rain and during periods when activity or recruitment is likely to be higher.

Record enough information to allow the survey to be repeated and the result to be assessed.

Breeding period reported for mulgara surveys: May to June

Pouch young reported: September to October

Weaning reported: October to November

  • Record survey dates, start and finish times, weather, recent rainfall, moon or light conditions where relevant, observers and survey methods.
  • Map all habitat searched, trap and camera locations, transects, burrows, tracks, scats and animals detected.
  • Record sex, age class where known, photographs, tail characteristics, tissue or hair sample identifiers and release locations.
  • Record all non-detections and any limitations caused by heat, rain, access, fire, grazing or low detectability.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Approvals and permits

Avoid clearing Crest-tailed Mulgara habitat wherever practicable. Before work starts, confirm the legal pathway, obtain approvals and complete a targeted survey that covers burrows and surrounding foraging habitat.

Have the project ecologist assess whether the action may have a significant impact on the species or its habitat under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Make an EPBC referral where required and do not start a controlled action without the necessary approval.

Confirm state and territory requirements before any clearing, capture, handling, release or disturbance. In Queensland, check whether the work affects protected wildlife or a breeding place and whether a species management program is required.

Confirm the relevant fauna survey, scientific, animal ethics, trapping, handling and relocation permissions. Keep approval conditions on site and brief the crew on them.

Commonwealth status in survey guidance: Vulnerable

Northern Territory status: Vulnerable

Queensland status: Vulnerable

  • Check the Commonwealth threatened species listing and any approval conditions.
  • In Queensland, obtain or comply with the required species management program where breeding-place tampering is proposed.
  • Check Northern Territory and South Australian permit and approval requirements for threatened fauna, clearing and handling.
  • Use only authorised people for capture, handling, transport and release.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Avoidance and site layout

Redesign the footprint to retain dunes, swales, Canegrass, spinifex hummocks, Nitrebush, active burrows and connected sandy habitat.

Use an ecologist to set a site-specific no-go area around active or suspected burrows and burrow complexes. The size should reflect the work type, vibration, vehicle access, lighting, fire risk and the extent of connected habitat. Do not apply an arbitrary small buffer to a burrow complex.

Keep machinery, laydown areas, spoil, access tracks, fuel, waste and temporary lighting outside retained habitat.

Foraging behaviour: Forages along dune crests and flanks, with movements onto swales

Typical shelter: Burrows at the base of grass clumps, shrubs or spinifex hummocks

Movement pattern: Generally sedentary, with relatively small ranges

  • Peg and fence exclusion areas before machinery arrives.
  • Maintain access to retained burrows and foraging habitat.
  • Avoid grading, rolling, trenching, vehicle traffic, compaction and material storage over burrows or likely burrow systems.
  • Prevent project lighting from shining into retained nocturnal foraging habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Pre-clearance survey and exclusion

Complete a final pre-clearance inspection shortly before works, after the site has been marked and before vegetation or soil disturbance. Search during the day for burrows and signs, then use nocturnal searches or cameras where the risk remains high.

Treat an active-looking burrow, fresh tracks, fresh scats or a confirmed animal as a trigger for ecological review before clearing proceeds.

Do not seal or fill a burrow until an authorised ecologist has assessed it and confirmed that no animal is inside and that the action is lawful.

Day shelter: Burrows are used during the hottest periods and through the day

Signs to inspect: Burrows, pop-holes, fresh sand, tracks and scats

  • Walk the entire clearing footprint and the proposed access and stockpile areas.
  • Mark active or suspected burrows, burrow complexes and retained habitat with durable field markers and GPS points.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher or other authorised specialist where capture or handling may be required.
  • Set out a practical exclusion zone that can be seen from plant cabins and maintained throughout the work.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Timing, induction and contingency planning

Crest-tailed Mulgaras do not undertake a known migration that requires a seasonal migration closure. Schedule works to avoid the reported breeding and recruitment period where practicable, especially where active burrows or females with young are present.

Prepare a fauna management plan before clearing. Include stop-work triggers, contacts, handling arrangements, release arrangements, injury response and reporting requirements.

Induct every worker, contractor and plant operator before entering the work area.

Reported breeding period: May to June

Reported pouch young: September to October

Reported recruitment or weaning period: October to November

  • Explain the species identification features, including the black tail crest and small rectangular hind-foot tracks.
  • Show workers photographs of burrows, tracks and scats, and explain that burrows must not be disturbed.
  • Give the spotter catcher clear authority to stop or redirect work.
  • Place the stop-work procedure, approval conditions and emergency contacts in plant cabins and site offices.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clear in a controlled sequence, with the spotter catcher directing plant and checking each area before disturbance. Stop work whenever an animal, active burrow or other unexpected fauna risk is found.

Clear from the least disturbed edge towards retained habitat so animals have an opportunity to move away from machinery. Use small work areas and inspect each area before progressing.

First remove habitat in a staged manner where approved, then pause to inspect burrows, tracks and cover. Avoid pushing soil, shrubs or spinifex into retained habitat or across burrow entrances.

Keep the fauna spotter catcher close enough to see the work face and able to stop plant immediately.

Preferred activity period: Night, although animals shelter in burrows during the day

Shelter locations: Burrows under vegetation or raised dead spinifex hummocks

  • Maintain marked exclusion areas throughout clearing.
  • Use low-speed plant movement near retained habitat and known burrows.
  • Do not clear at night unless the approved method specifically requires it and the fauna specialist is present.
  • Stop if visibility, heat, dust, smoke, fire or machinery noise prevents effective fauna observation.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animal handling and active burrows

Only an authorised and suitably trained person may capture, handle, transport or release a Crest-tailed Mulgara. Workers must not chase, catch, feed or relocate an animal.

If an animal is found, stop nearby work and allow the spotter catcher to assess whether it can move safely into retained habitat. Use approved capture equipment and methods if handling is necessary.

If an active breeding place or burrow with young is found, stop work around the site. Protect the place from machinery, vibration, heat, smoke, dust and people until the ecologist has assessed it and applied the approval conditions.

Breeding places: Burrows are the relevant shelter and potential breeding setting described for this species

Handling: Restricted to authorised and suitably trained personnel

  • Keep people and machinery back from the animal and its likely escape route.
  • Do not block burrow entrances or disturb the surrounding soil.
  • Do not remove pouch young from a female or separate dependent young from an adult.
  • Record the location and condition of the animal, then follow the approved release or veterinary pathway.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Unexpected finds and stop-work triggers

The spotter catcher has authority to stop work for any suspected Crest-tailed Mulgara, active burrow, dependent young, injured animal, trapped animal or damage to an exclusion fence.

Keep the area undisturbed while the ecologist confirms the species and determines the next action. Do not assume that an empty-looking burrow is unused.

Escalate any find that may affect an approval condition, listed population, breeding place or protected habitat.

  • Stop work for a live animal in the clearing footprint.
  • Stop work for fresh tracks, scats, sand scoops or a burrow that cannot be safely avoided.
  • Stop work if machinery damages a burrow, fence, habitat exclusion area or access control.
  • Notify the project manager and environmental representative before restarting.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured, dead or captured animals

Keep an injured animal in a quiet, dark, temperature-controlled container suitable for a small dasyurid. Minimise handling and do not offer food or water unless directed by a wildlife veterinarian or authorised carer.

Contact the approved wildlife rescue, veterinarian or government wildlife authority immediately. Follow the permit and project fauna plan for transport and release.

If an animal dies, leave it undisturbed until the authorised person records and manages the specimen. Report any suspected project-related mortality.

  • Record the exact location, time, condition, injuries and circumstances of the find.
  • Photograph the animal only when this can be done without added stress.
  • Use a clean container and prevent escape, overheating, drowning and contact with chemicals.
  • Do not release an injured animal without veterinary or wildlife authority advice.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Daily records and release

Complete a fauna record for every sighting, capture, relocation, injury, mortality and stop-work event. Release only at a lawful, ecologically suitable location approved by the project ecologist and permit conditions.

Record the release location and habitat so later monitoring can distinguish relocated animals from resident animals.

Provide a daily summary to the site supervisor and environmental representative.

  • Record date, time, GPS location, habitat, weather, observer and work activity.
  • Record identification confidence, photographs, sex or age where known, and any sample or tag number.
  • Record capture equipment, handling time, transport conditions, release location and outcome.
  • Retain records with the project environmental file and approval compliance records.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance checks should confirm that no animals, active burrows or damaged exclusion areas remain within the work zone. Follow up the site according to the project approval, risk level and any management plan.

Inspect the cleared area, edges, access routes, trenches, spoil piles, erosion controls and exclusion fencing at the end of each clearing stage and again before the next stage.

Check for animals sheltering under materials, in excavations or in remaining vegetation. Inspect burrows and habitat edges for signs of collapse, infill or machinery damage.

Make safe any trench, pit or hole that could trap fauna, or provide a lawful escape device where required by the project plan.

  • Confirm that all approved clearing limits were followed.
  • Check that retained habitat and burrow exclusion areas remain intact.
  • Remove temporary hazards such as open containers, exposed pipe, loose netting and uncovered water tanks.
  • Document any residual fauna risk before construction proceeds.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring and relocated animals

Monitor retained habitat and any approved release areas where the project may affect a known population or burrow complex. Use repeat cameras, track searches, spotlighting and other methods selected by the ecologist.

Interpret non-detection carefully, particularly during dry conditions. A lack of sightings does not demonstrate that the species is absent.

Track relocated animals separately from resident animals and do not count a release as evidence of population persistence without suitable monitoring.

Detectability: Can be very low during dry conditions

Monitoring metric: Population estimates are used in the Sturt National Park conservation action plan

Activity: Primarily nocturnal

  • Repeat searches at the frequency required by the approval or management plan.
  • Use the same locations and methods where practical so results can be compared.
  • Record fresh burrows, tracks, scats, cameras detections, captures, mortalities and habitat condition.
  • Review monitoring after rain and after major fire, grazing or predator-control events.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Report all threatened fauna interactions, breeding-place finds, injuries, mortalities, permit breaches and unplanned habitat damage within the timeframe required by the approval or fauna management plan.

Provide maps, photographs, field sheets, trap records, release details and monitoring results to the project environmental representative and relevant authority where required.

Keep a clear audit trail from the pre-clearance survey through to final rehabilitation and monitoring.

  • Prepare a post-clearance report with methods, effort, weather, results, limitations and incidents.
  • Compare the cleared area with approved plans and record any variance.
  • Notify the regulator, permit holder or conservation agency when an approval condition requires notification.
  • Store records securely and make them available for compliance audits.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and corrective action

Review every injury, mortality, active-burrow disturbance, failed exclusion or unplanned detection before similar work continues.

Identify whether the cause was survey coverage, timing, plant operation, worker behaviour, fencing, lighting, access control or an approval gap.

Update the work method, induction, exclusion layout and monitoring plan before restarting or moving to the next work area.

  • Hold a short review with the spotter catcher, supervisor, operator and ecologist.
  • Record the corrective action, person responsible and completion date.
  • Increase survey or supervision where the original method did not detect animals or signs.
  • Share lessons with all crews working in suitable habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore sandy habitat, ground cover and connected burrow opportunities rather than simply revegetate the cleared footprint. Crest-tailed Mulgaras shelter in ground burrows, so retain and rebuild suitable soil and vegetation structure wherever possible.

Use local, clean, disease-free materials and seed from suitable local sources where available. Replace topsoil and surface materials in the correct order to retain soil function and natural regeneration.

Recreate the local landform, including dunes, swales, sand plains and sandy drainage lines where these were disturbed. Avoid smoothing the site into a uniform surface.

Retain or re-establish Canegrass, spinifex, Nitrebush and other native cover suited to the local habitat.

Key habitat features: Sandy dunes, swales, sand plains, sandy watercourses and hummock grassland

Burrow setting: Bases of shrubs, Canegrass, spinifex hummocks and other loose soils

  • Remove temporary roads, hardstands, pads, fencing and spoil unless they are required for an approved conservation purpose.
  • Decompact soil where compaction limits burrowing or plant establishment, using a method suited to the soil and erosion risk.
  • Stabilise eroding surfaces without sealing or obstructing likely burrow areas.
  • Keep rehabilitation connected to surrounding suitable habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Burrows and replacement structures

Protect existing burrows and natural burrow systems wherever possible. Do not install nest boxes, bat boxes, artificial nests or roost structures as a substitute for habitat because this is a ground-dwelling, burrow-sheltering mammal.

Where a lawful project action removes burrow habitat, have a suitably qualified ecologist design any replacement ground shelter or soil reconstruction. Treat it as an experimental conservation measure and monitor its use.

Do not construct replacement burrows without approval, a clear ecological rationale and a method that will not create predator traps, flooding problems or unsafe access for other fauna.

Shelter type: Excavated ground burrows

Artificial structures: Nest boxes, bat boxes and roost structures are not suitable substitutes for natural burrow habitat

  • Prioritise retaining natural burrows, spinifex hummocks, shrubs and loose sandy soil.
  • Keep burrow entrances open and free from spoil, mulch, weed mat and erosion-control mesh.
  • Use fauna-friendly erosion controls that cannot entangle or trap small mammals.
  • Record the location, design and condition of any approved replacement shelter.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, grazing, predators and fire

Control weeds before they alter native ground cover or increase fuel continuity. Use methods that avoid poisoning animals, contaminating burrows or leaving entangling materials.

Manage rabbits, goats, pigs, livestock and other herbivores so grazing and trampling do not remove cover or degrade sandy habitat. Control cats, foxes and other introduced predators in accordance with approved programs.

Develop a site-specific fire approach with the land manager. Avoid fire regimes that remove all cover across large areas or leave no connected refuge habitat.

Recognised threats: Introduced predators, introduced herbivores and altered fire regimes

Predators identified in conservation planning: Foxes, feral cats and wild dogs

  • Inspect rehabilitation for new weeds, rabbit warrens, feral animals, erosion and predator activity.
  • Repair fences and gates that are intended to exclude predators or herbivores.
  • Remove or secure food and waste that may attract feral predators.
  • Coordinate prescribed burning with habitat condition, retained burrows, seasonal risk and the relevant land manager or authority.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Water, lighting and construction legacy

Do not create artificial water points as a default rehabilitation measure. Crest-tailed Mulgaras obtain water through food and are associated with arid sandy habitats.

Remove or redesign infrastructure that creates open pits, smooth-sided tanks, drowning hazards or barriers to movement. Use fauna-friendly covers, ramps and fencing where infrastructure remains.

Limit permanent lighting near retained or rehabilitated habitat. Use the lowest practical intensity, direct lights away from habitat and avoid unnecessary overnight lighting.

Water balance: The species obtains its water needs through food intake

Activity period: Primarily nocturnal

  • Cover tanks and pits or provide escape ramps suitable for small mammals.
  • Inspect culverts, drains, trenches and construction compounds for trapped fauna.
  • Remove rubbish, wire, plastic mesh and other entanglement hazards.
  • Keep vehicle access on defined routes and prevent informal tracks through rehabilitation areas.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Long-term monitoring and handover

Monitor rehabilitation until native cover and soil conditions are stable and the site is no longer creating a fauna risk. The duration and methods should match the approval, habitat condition and project risk.

Use repeat daytime sign searches, nocturnal spotlighting, remote cameras and targeted genetic or hair sampling where identification is uncertain. Compare results with nearby retained habitat rather than relying only on planted cover.

Handover should include a habitat map, maintenance schedule, monitoring results and triggers for further action.

Monitoring consideration: Detection can remain low during prolonged dry conditions

Useful signs: Burrows, pop-holes, fresh sand, tracks, scats and camera detections

  • Inspect burrows, tracks, scats, vegetation cover, weeds, erosion, grazing and predator activity.
  • Repeat monitoring after major rainfall, fire, predator incursions or other events that may change detectability or habitat condition.
  • Repair failed rehabilitation promptly and replace damaged fauna exclusion or predator-control infrastructure.
  • Keep monitoring records with the long-term land management and compliance documents.

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