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Gilbert's Potoroo (Potorous gilbertii)

Gilbert's potoroo is a small, nocturnal rat-kangaroo found only in dense coastal heath at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia. It is one of Australia's most threatened mammals, so clearing, fire, predator access, dieback and loss of habitat corridors require careful assessment and management on any project near suitable south coast heath.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Critically endangered.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Critically endangered.

Breeding season

Gilbert's potoroo has no confirmed narrow breeding season. Small pouch young have been recorded in every month, so clearing risk is present throughout the year.

Month values run from January to December. A value of 1 indicates occurrence or risk; no evidence in the supplied documents supports assigning a peak month.

  • Breeding: Breeding may occur throughout the year. Evidence for strong seasonal peaks in Gilbert's potoroo is limited.
  • Young: Small pouch young have been recorded in every month. Young remain in the pouch until about 190 g, with two captive observations indicating about four months in the pouch.
  • Movement and dispersal: The species is nocturnal and may travel up to 1 km from daytime shelters while foraging. Dispersing sub-adults and some older males move between habitat patches, but no seasonal movement period is established.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is year-round because breeding, pouch young and foraging occur throughout the year. Clearing dense heath can also remove long-term shelter, fungal food resources and movement habitat.

Identification

Gilbert's potoroo is a small ground-dwelling marsupial with a densely furred body, a tapered tail and long hind feet. It is most likely to be detected by camera, tracks, diggings, nests or hair sampling rather than by direct observation.

The species resembles a small rat-kangaroo or bandicoot. Its body is densely furred but the tapered tail is not. The coat is described as greyish brown, becoming more reddish brown on the back, with whitish grey underparts. The face is long and narrow, and the eyes appear to look obliquely upwards.

It has long hind feet and long, curved claws on the forefeet. Males and females are similar in body size, although the reported approximate body lengths are 380 mm for males and 340 mm for females.

Weight: 0.9 to 1.2 kg; average 875 g in the survey guideline.

Body length: About 340 mm in females and 380 mm in males.

Tail length: About 198 to 254 mm in females and 204 to 262 mm in males.

Activity period: Nocturnal.

Identification: Similar species

The main documented field comparison is with the southern brown bandicoot, which occurs with Gilbert's potoroo at Two Peoples Bay. Gilbert's potoroo has five digits on the forefeet, while bandicoot forepaw tracks have three.

Bandicoot diggings are typically conical. Potoroo foraging pits are smaller and more conical than those of some other potoroids, but they can be difficult to identify confidently without experience.

  • Do not rely on a single small digging to confirm Gilbert's potoroo.
  • Use a combination of track features, digging form, habitat, camera images and, where needed, genetic or expert identification.
  • The species is more rufous than the long-nosed potoroo, but the long-nosed potoroo is not reported as sympatric with Gilbert's potoroo in the supplied material.

Identification: Field signs

Gilbert's potoroos make small foraging diggings while searching for underground fungi. Tracks may show five forepaw digits. Day shelters and nests may occur in ferns or wire-grass, and accumulations of sheoak needles are sometimes used for shelter.

Scat analysis is useful for ecological work because fungal material commonly makes up more than 90 per cent of the faecal material. The supplied documents do not provide a diagnostic scat description, call or eyeshine characteristic for field confirmation.

  • Search for small diggings in or beside dense heath, including semi-open patches within the heath.
  • Inspect dense ground cover, ferns, wire-grass and sheoak needle accumulations for nests or resting sites.
  • Use baited camera traps, hair arches or hair funnels where possible because the species is critically endangered and capture stress should be minimised.
  • Treat hair samples cautiously because the survey guideline does not list Gilbert's potoroo as identifiable from hair alone.

Distribution

The only confirmed living population is in Western Australia. No current confirmed population outside Western Australia is identified in the supplied documents.

Gilbert's potoroo is currently known only from the Mount Gardner headland in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, about 35 km east of Albany, Western Australia. The known animals occur in at least four separate patches of long-unburnt, dense shrubland within an area of about 1,000 ha.

Historical records indicate a formerly wider distribution in the high rainfall south-west of Western Australia, including the Albany region. Subfossil material has been recorded from caves near Margaret River and Yanchep, but these records do not establish current populations.

State with a confirmed current population: Western Australia.

Known stronghold: Mount Gardner, Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, near Albany.

Known occupied area: About 1,000 ha.

Known habitat patches: At least four separate patches of long-unburnt, dense shrubland.

Distribution: Population and trend

The known wild population was reported as fewer than 20 individuals in 2003. Increased trapping effort raised the number of known animals from about eight to about 17 between 1999 and 2003, but trap success changed little, suggesting no clear increase in the total population at that time.

The recovery plan considered it very unlikely that more than 30 animals occupied the Mount Gardner population. Dispersing sub-adults and some older males move between habitat patches, but the occupied colonies are isolated from one another.

Known individuals reported in 2003: About 17, with fewer than 20 known wild individuals overall.

Estimated upper population at Mount Gardner: Probably no more than 30 animals.

Population trend reported in the recovery plan: Little change indicated by trap success between 1999 and 2003.

Subpopulations: At least four isolated colonies or habitat patches were recognised within the known area.

Distribution: Bioregional context

The supplied documents place the species in the south coast area near Albany and describe its former range as the high rainfall south-west of Western Australia. They do not provide a formal Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia bioregion name.

Habitat

Gilbert's potoroo is associated with dense, long-unburnt coastal heath and shrubland. Habitat structure appears to be more important than a single plant species.

Known habitat on Mount Gardner consists of upland, dense heath on valley slopes, with many small patches of open ground. Core patches are typically Melaleuca striata and Melaleuca uncinata shrubland about 1.5 to 2 m high, with 70 to 100 per cent canopy cover and a dense sedge layer.

The understorey includes Lepidosperma species and Anarthria scabra. Historic observations described dense thickets and rank vegetation bordering swamps and running streams, indicating that suitable habitat may also occur in dense wet or drainage-line vegetation.

Known vegetation height: About 1.5 to 2 m in the described core shrubland.

Canopy cover: About 70 to 100 per cent.

Fire history of known habitat: Known habitat had not been burnt for at least 50 years when described in the recovery plan.

Elevation and climate limits: No elevation limit is provided. The species is associated with the high rainfall south-west of Western Australia.

  • Retain dense, continuous ground and shrub cover around any proposed work area.
  • Map long-unburnt heath, dense shrubland, sedge understorey and habitat corridors before clearing.
  • Treat suitable unoccupied vegetation as potentially important where it connects known or historically suitable habitat.

Foraging habitat: Food and feeding method

Gilbert's potoroo is a specialist fungal feeder. It digs in the soil, mainly for subterranean fungal fruiting bodies, and uses both dense cover and small open patches within the heath.

Fungi make up more than 90 per cent of the reported faecal material. The diet includes hypogeal, or underground, mycorrhizal fungi, with some above-ground fungi, invertebrates, roots and occasional seeds from fleshy fruits.

Forty-four fungus species were recorded in the diet study. Five species were eaten by more than 60 per cent of animals in all seasons. The potoroo uses its long, curved foreclaws to dig for food, leaving small pits.

Main food: Fungi, primarily subterranean sporocarps and mycorrhizal fungi.

Fungal material in faeces: More than 90 per cent in the reported quantitative diet study.

Fungal diversity recorded: Forty-four fungus species.

Foraging distance: Individuals may travel up to 1 km from daytime shelters while foraging.

  • Protect soil and litter layers that support fungal fruiting bodies and their plant hosts.
  • Avoid disturbing dense heath and semi-open foraging patches, even where the vegetation appears low or discontinuous.
  • Use small diggings as a prompt for targeted camera trapping and expert assessment, not as a stand-alone identification.

Foraging habitat: Movement within foraging habitat

Individuals return to the same general shelter area each morning after nocturnal foraging. Radio-tracking indicated male home ranges of 15 to 25 ha, while females, young-at-heel and sub-adults of both sexes moved within about 3 to 6 ha in measurements taken over two weeks in summer.

  • Assess the full area used for movement between shelter, foraging patches and neighbouring colonies, rather than only the proposed clearing footprint.
  • Maintain vegetated links between occupied patches because sub-adults and some older males move between colonies.

Breeding habitat

Breeding can occur throughout the year, and small pouch young have been recorded in every month. The limited population means that dense cover and secure movement routes should be retained wherever breeding habitat may occur.

Females are believed to become sexually mature at about 12 months. One captive male sired young at about 14 months, although sperm was not detected in another captive male until two years of age. Gilbert's potoroo shows embryonic diapause, allowing a female to produce another young after the first young leaves or is lost without immediate further contact with a male.

The species' breeding habitat is not defined by a particular nest tree or breeding colony. It is associated with dense, long-unburnt heath that provides shelter, food and movement cover.

Breeding season: Breeding may occur throughout the year. Small pouch young have been recorded in every month.

Litter size: The supplied species information does not establish litter size directly. Related potoroo information reports a single young.

Gestation: Not known for Gilbert's potoroo. The related long-nosed potoroo has a gestation of about 38 days, or 29 days after diapause.

Age at maturity: Females are believed to mature at about 12 months. A captive male sired young at about 14 months.

Pouch period: Young remain in the pouch until about 190 g. Two captive young remained in the pouch for about four months.

Lifespan: Wild animals can live for more than seven years. One known wild male was at least 10 years old.

  • Avoid clearing dense heath at any time of year unless surveys and impact controls demonstrate that the area is not used.
  • Retain links between dense habitat patches because isolated colonies and movement by sub-adults are reported.
  • Plan handling, trapping and any fauna relocation with species specialists because breeding females may carry pouch young.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter features

Gilbert's potoroos shelter in dense ground cover during the day and return to the same general area after night-time foraging.

The survey guideline describes nests in ferns or wire-grass. Field observations also report accumulations of sheoak needles being used as shelter. The surrounding habitat is dense brushy undergrowth, including heath and sedge cover.

The supplied documents do not give dimensions for nests or shelters. No burrow, hollow or den requirement is documented.

Recorded shelter types: Nests in ferns or wire-grass, and accumulations of sheoak needles.

Shelter location: Dense heath and brushy undergrowth.

Shelter dimensions: Not provided.

Burrows or hollows: No specific requirement is documented.

  • Inspect dense ferns, wire-grass, sedges and sheoak needle accumulations before vegetation removal.
  • Retain ground cover and shrub layers around any detected nest or shelter, including the route to nearby foraging areas.
  • Use non-invasive cameras and hair sampling before considering live trapping.

Threats: Clearing and fragmentation

The known population is exposed to several threats that can act together. Clearing or changing dense heath can remove shelter, food and movement habitat, while fire, predators and dieback can affect the remaining habitat across the reserve.

The recovery plan identifies loss of vegetation adjacent to Two Peoples Bay as a threat because young animals may disperse through adjoining bushland corridors to suitable habitat. Some linking bushland occurs on private land.

Any clearing that removes core heath, narrows a corridor or separates habitat patches may reduce safe dispersal and the opportunity to establish additional colonies. The recovery plan identifies actions that reduce safe dispersal or remove suitable reintroduction habitat as potential significant impacts.

  • Avoid clearing known or potentially suitable long-unburnt heath, including connecting vegetation outside the occupied patches.
  • Map and protect corridors between Two Peoples Bay, Boulder Hill, Mount Manypeaks and other suitable south coast habitat where relevant to the project area.
  • Keep construction access, laydown areas and temporary works out of dense heath and sedge understorey.
  • Rehabilitate disturbed areas with locally appropriate native vegetation where avoidance is not possible, but do not treat rehabilitation as a substitute for retaining established habitat.

Threats: Fire

The only known wild population occurs in dense, long-unburnt vegetation that is vulnerable to wildfire. Fire can remove the cover used for shelter, movement and protection from predators.

Fire exclusion is identified as a high priority for the known population. Project activities that increase ignition risk, fuel continuity or the likelihood of wildfire in suitable heath require strict controls.

  • Prepare and enforce hot-work, vehicle and machinery controls near suitable heath.
  • Do not burn cleared vegetation or conduct planned fire in or beside known or potential habitat without species-specific approval and planning.
  • Protect long-unburnt habitat from escaped burns and avoid creating new ignition points along access routes.

Threats: Predators and disease

Foxes and feral cats occur in the Two Peoples Bay area and can prey on Gilbert's potoroos. The species falls within the 35 g to 5 kg critical weight range identified as vulnerable to decline from introduced predators.

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a major concern because it can change vegetation structure and remove plants that host the mycorrhizal fungi used as food. Known potoroos have been found only in areas of the reserve considered free of dieback.

Introduced predators: Foxes and feral cats.

Relevant prey size range: 35 g to 5 kg.

Plant disease: Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback.

  • Prevent construction activities from increasing fox or cat access to occupied or suitable habitat.
  • Use clean-down and hygiene procedures to prevent movement of Phytophthora contaminated soil, gravel, water and plant material.
  • Do not use predator control baits or traps near potential potoroo habitat without an approved fauna risk assessment and direction from the relevant wildlife managers.

Threats: Roads, hydrology and other disturbance

The supplied documents do not provide a separate road mortality study or a direct hydrology impact study for Gilbert's potoroo. Roads and construction corridors can nevertheless remove or divide the dense vegetation used for shelter, foraging and dispersal.

Historic habitat descriptions include dense vegetation bordering swamps and running streams. Changes to drainage, water movement or wet vegetation should therefore be assessed for their potential to alter habitat structure and fungal food resources.

  • Keep new roads and repeated vehicle movements away from dense heath and known movement corridors wherever practicable.
  • Control vehicle speed, night lighting and access in suitable habitat because the species is nocturnal and may move across tracks.
  • Prevent sediment, altered drainage and contaminated water from entering dense heath, swamp margins or streamside vegetation.
  • Use non-invasive detection methods before works because direct observations are uncommon and the population is extremely small.

Survey methodology: 1. Habitat and sign searches

Gilbert’s potoroo is known from dense, long-unburnt coastal heath at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia. Surveys should prioritise non-invasive detection because the species is critically endangered and handling stress must be minimised.

Search dense coastal heath and other suitable dense understorey, including areas with ferns, wire-grass, sedges and small patches of open ground.

Record diggings, tracks, nests and likely day shelters during daylight searches.

Gilbert’s potoroo tracks have five forepaw digits, unlike the three-digit forepaw tracks of sympatric southern brown bandicoots. Its diggings are generally less conical than bandicoot diggings.

Recommended survey area basis: The guideline effort is based on a study area of up to 5 hectares; larger areas require replication.

Activity pattern: Nocturnal

Typical habitat: Dense coastal heath, especially dense, long-unburnt vegetation

  • Stratify the survey across plant communities and habitat condition, targeting known or potentially suitable dense understorey.
  • For study areas larger than 5 hectares, replicate the survey across habitat types and plant communities.
  • Record recent fire, dieback, predator sign, dense cover, open foraging areas and links to retained native vegetation.

Survey methodology: 2. Baited camera surveys

Use baited cameras to search for animals in suitable habitat and to reduce the need for capture.

The survey guideline identifies universal bait, peanut butter and rolled oats, with truffle, pistachio or walnut oil, as suitable bait options for this species.

Useful bait additives: Truffle, pistachio or walnut oil

General bait identified in the guideline: Peanut butter and rolled oats

  • Place cameras on animal runways, near diggings and beside dense cover where access will not damage habitat.
  • Use the same deployment period and camera settings across comparable sites, and document the deployment period, bait, camera location and habitat condition.
  • Use cameras wherever possible before live trapping because non-trap methods are preferred for this species.

Survey methodology: 3. Hair sampling, spotlighting and trapping

Use hair arches or other hair sampling devices in animal runways as a lower-impact direct detection method.

A hair arch uses flexible plastic sheeting held in an arc by bent fence wire, with double-sided sticky tape on the inside to collect hair. Hair arches may be baited with universal bait.

Where indirect methods do not provide a clear result, supplement them with spotlighting on foot, cage trapping or other approved direct detection methods.

Hair sampling limitation: Hair sampling is less invasive than live trapping but can be labour intensive.

Direct detection options: Spotlighting, cage trapping or hair sampling, used with indirect methods

Identification from hair: Gilbert’s potoroo is not listed as reliably identifiable from a hair sample in the guideline table

  • Treat live trapping as a last resort and use it only under an approved fauna survey or management plan.
  • If trapping is authorised, use the minimum handling and capture effort needed to answer the survey question and follow animal welfare requirements.
  • Do not rely on hair identification alone for a positive record where the sample cannot distinguish Gilbert’s potoroo from other species; submit samples to an appropriately qualified specialist.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Complete a desktop habitat assessment and a stratified field assessment before selecting survey locations.
  • For sites up to 5 hectares, apply the minimum effort specified in the current survey guideline for each selected method; replicate effort across habitat types where the site is larger than 5 hectares.
  • Survey at night for nocturnal detection methods, and record weather, wind, rain, temperature if measured, moon conditions if relevant, start and finish times, observer effort and equipment settings.
  • Use non-trap methods first and stop or redesign the survey if the method risks injury, excessive handling or damage to dense heath.
  • Report positive, negative and inconclusive results, photographs, tracks, diggings, hair samples, camera records and habitat mapping to the project environmental officer and relevant state wildlife database.
  • Notify the relevant Western Australian wildlife authority of records from Western Australia and check the current database and reporting requirements before fieldwork.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Treat any dense, long-unburnt heath or connected native vegetation in south-western Western Australia as potential Gilbert’s potoroo habitat until assessed. The species is known from a very small area and actions that remove cover, increase fire risk, spread dieback or reduce movement between habitat patches may have a significant impact.

Avoid clearing dense, long-unburnt heath, dense sedge cover, fern or wire-grass shelter areas and native vegetation corridors wherever practicable.

Retain connected native vegetation between occupied or suitable patches so animals can move between areas.

Keep work areas, access tracks, stockpiles, drainage works and lighting out of retained habitat unless the impact has been assessed and approved.

Do not assume recently burnt habitat is irrelevant, because areas capable of supporting the species after vegetation recovery can be habitat critical to survival.

  • Map retained habitat, potential movement corridors, recent fire areas, known diggings, nests and dense cover before finalising the footprint.
  • Use the smallest practicable clearing footprint and locate laydown areas and access routes in already disturbed areas.
  • Design the work to avoid increasing the likelihood of wildfire, introduced predator access or Phytophthora spread.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

Confirm whether the proposed action is likely to have a significant impact on a nationally listed species and obtain environmental advice before works begin.

Check EPBC Act requirements because Gilbert’s potoroo is listed as critically endangered nationally.

Check Western Australian threatened fauna, clearing, animal welfare and relocation requirements, including any permit needed for trapping, handling, spotlighting or moving fauna.

Prepare a species-specific fauna management plan where habitat may be disturbed, including survey results, exclusion zones, stop-work triggers, fauna handling arrangements and reporting pathways.

  • Schedule works to avoid periods identified by the project ecologist as presenting the greatest risk to dependent young, sheltering animals or access to retained habitat.
  • Stage clearing so that retained habitat remains connected and escape routes lead towards suitable retained vegetation.
  • Brief machinery operators, supervisors and fauna spotters on the species’ appearance, nocturnal habits, habitat and stop-work procedure.

Before habitat disturbance: Pre-clearance preparation

Complete a pre-clearance survey using habitat searches, signs, cameras and hair sampling before vegetation removal.

Mark no-go areas, retained dense cover, movement corridors and any confirmed or suspected animal locations on plans and in the field.

Install exclusion fencing only where it will prevent entry into the work area without blocking movement to retained habitat or trapping animals inside the exclusion zone.

Inspect the work area for diggings, nests, tracks, dense shelter and predator sign immediately before clearing, because the species is nocturnal and may use small habitat patches.

  • Clean vehicles, machinery, footwear and equipment before entering suitable habitat and between infected and uninfected areas to reduce Phytophthora spread.
  • Confirm the location of a suitably authorised fauna spotter catcher, wildlife carer and veterinarian before starting work.
  • Provide a quiet holding container and transport plan only if handling is authorised and unavoidable.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery coordination

Use a slow, supervised clearing process that allows animals to move towards retained habitat and allows the fauna spotter catcher to inspect disturbed areas. Stop work whenever the approved fauna management plan requires it or when an animal, fresh sign or unexpected habitat risk is found.

Inspect exclusion fencing, retained habitat boundaries and access routes at the start of each shift.

Use a fauna spotter catcher who remains in communication with the machine operator and can see the active clearing area.

Clear progressively towards retained habitat where this is safe and consistent with the approved method, rather than isolating animals in small remnants.

Keep machinery speed low enough for the spotter catcher to inspect vegetation, ground cover and disturbed material between machine movements.

Do not work at night unless the method has been specifically assessed and approved for this species and habitat.

  • Stop the machine immediately when the spotter catcher calls stop, when an animal is seen, or when a nest, diggings, dense shelter area or other unexpected fauna feature is identified.
  • Do not allow machinery, vehicles, workers, dogs or stock to enter retained habitat or marked exclusion areas.
  • Maintain weed, soil and hygiene controls throughout the work, particularly where Phytophthora may be present.

During habitat disturbance: Animal and habitat handling

The fauna spotter catcher must not handle Gilbert’s potoroo unless authorised under the relevant approval, permit and fauna management plan.

If an animal is found, stop work, keep people and machinery back, and allow the authorised fauna professional to assess whether it can move safely to nearby retained habitat.

If relocation is authorised, move the animal only to suitable nearby retained dense native vegetation identified in advance by the project ecologist.

Do not release an animal into recently cleared, burnt, isolated or unsuitable vegetation.

Handle nests, logs, rocks, dense ground cover and other shelter material as potential fauna habitat until inspected by the fauna spotter catcher.

Do not cut, drag or crush shelter features containing an animal, and do not dismantle habitat in a way that blocks escape to retained vegetation.

  • Use a quiet, ventilated container and minimise holding time if temporary containment is authorised.
  • Keep the animal cool, shaded and separate from machinery, pets and other fauna.
  • Send an injured animal to a veterinarian or approved wildlife carer through the authorised fauna professional.
  • Do not provide food, water or medication unless directed by the treating veterinarian or wildlife carer.

During habitat disturbance: Stop-work triggers and records

Stop work in the affected area if Gilbert’s potoroo is detected, if an animal is injured, or if clearing threatens an occupied shelter or movement route.

Stop work if fire, smoke, unexpected dieback, predator activity or a failure of exclusion fencing creates a new risk to retained habitat.

Recommence only after the fauna spotter catcher and project environmental officer have documented the response and confirmed that the approved controls remain adequate.

  • Record the date, time, location, habitat condition, activity, machinery, observer, animal identification, photographs and action taken for every detection or suspected detection.
  • Record all handling, containment, relocation, injury, mortality and veterinary or wildlife carer outcomes.
  • Report a confirmed record promptly to the relevant state wildlife authority and the project approval holder.
  • Preserve photographs, camera footage, hair samples and field notes for verification and audit.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance inspection

Post-clearance work must confirm that no animals remain in the disturbance area, that retained habitat and movement links are functioning, and that project controls have not created new fire, predator or dieback risks.

Complete a final inspection of the cleared area, retained vegetation edge, access routes and exclusion fencing after each clearing stage.

Search for live animals, injured animals, carcasses, fresh tracks, diggings, nests and disturbed shelter features before demobilising the fauna spotter catcher.

Repair or remove fencing that could trap animals or prevent movement between retained habitat patches.

Remove waste, spoil and unused materials from retained habitat and drainage paths.

  • Record the area cleared, area retained, habitat condition, any fauna observations and any departures from the approved method.
  • Update the site map with final clearing limits, retained habitat, confirmed records and rehabilitation areas.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring, reporting and ongoing controls

Monitor retained and rehabilitated habitat for Gilbert’s potoroo activity using cameras, hair sampling, signs and other approved methods selected by the project ecologist.

Continue predator control, fire management and Phytophthora hygiene where these controls form part of the approval or fauna management plan.

Maintain connectivity and prevent new access tracks, stockpiles, weeds, altered drainage or repeated fire from degrading retained habitat.

Complete approval reporting and provide confirmed records, survey data, incidents, injuries, mortalities, relocations and monitoring results to the relevant authorities.

  • Use the recovery criteria as a project outcome reference: the known wild population should remain stable or increase, and the species should occur at additional locations through discovery or successful reintroduction.
  • Review the fauna management plan if monitoring detects the species, declining habitat condition, increased predator activity, fire damage or dieback spread.
  • Assess offsets or other approved conservation measures where residual impacts remain after avoidance and mitigation.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat structure and connectivity

Rehabilitation should restore dense, connected native cover and the below-ground food resources used by Gilbert’s potoroo. It must also reduce the risks from wildfire, introduced predators and Phytophthora that threaten the remaining population.

Re-establish dense native heath and sedge understorey on disturbed ground, using locally appropriate species from the surrounding plant community.

Where suitable, use Melaleuca striata and Melaleuca uncinata as structural reference species, with dense sedges such as Lepidosperma and Anarthria scabra beneath.

Reconnect retained habitat patches with native vegetation corridors and keep corridors protected from clearing, fire and unnecessary vehicle access.

Reinstate suitable natural shelter features such as logs, sheoak needle accumulations and undisturbed ground cover where they were removed, provided this does not spread weeds or Phytophthora.

Reference habitat height: Dense shrubland at Two Peoples Bay is about 1.5 to 2 metres tall with 70 to 100 per cent canopy cover.

Key food association: The species feeds mainly on hypogeal, mycorrhizal fungi associated with native vegetation

  • Do not rely on short grass or open landscaping as rehabilitation in potential Gilbert’s potoroo habitat.
  • Protect planted and regenerating areas from trampling, grazing, weeds, inappropriate mowing and repeated fire.
  • Do not introduce artificial hollows or nest boxes as a substitute for the dense ground and heath cover used by this species unless the project ecologist identifies a specific need.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire, predators and dieback management

Manage rehabilitation areas to exclude wildfire while using strategic fuel reduction only where it protects retained habitat and is consistent with the species’ need for long-unburnt cover.

Maintain fox control and assess feral cat activity because both predators occur or have been recorded in the species’ range.

Apply strict vehicle, soil, water and equipment hygiene to prevent Phytophthora entering rehabilitated or retained habitat.

Control weeds without disturbing dense native cover or contaminating soil and drainage areas.

  • Map fire history and dieback status for rehabilitation areas and include both in the maintenance plan.
  • Do not burn rehabilitation areas without written approval from the responsible conservation authority and advice from the species recovery team or project ecologist.
  • Inspect for predator tracks, camera detections, cat or fox sign and new dieback symptoms during maintenance visits.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Monitor vegetation recovery, canopy cover, understorey density, native species composition, weed cover, fire damage, dieback and connectivity at fixed photo points or mapped plots.

Use baited cameras, hair arches and searches for tracks, nests and diggings to test whether rehabilitated areas are being used.

Treat rehabilitation as successful only when it provides stable, connected dense native cover, remains free of avoidable predator and dieback impacts, and shows evidence of Gilbert’s potoroo use where the project objective includes habitat reoccupation.

  • Set monitoring frequency and duration in the approved rehabilitation plan, based on the time needed for the local heath and sedge community to recover.
  • Record failed plantings, erosion, weed invasion, fire, predator activity and dieback, then implement corrective action.
  • Provide monitoring results to the project environmental officer, approval holder and relevant state wildlife database or authority where they include species records.

Sources