Fauna Spotters logo

Krefft's Glider (Petaurus notatus)

Krefft's Glider is a small, nocturnal gliding possum of eastern and northern Australia. It uses connected woodland, mature trees and multiple tree hollows, so clearing can remove den sites and isolate animals from feeding areas. The species is least concern and is not listed as endangered, vulnerable or near threatened in Australia, but in Queensland a breeding hollow shared by several animals can be treated as a breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder under the applicable fauna management rules.

Conservation status

Queensland, Nature Conservation Act 1992: Colonial breeder. Gliders den together in shared tree hollows, and approved Queensland species management programs have treated them as colonial breeders. Plan for a high risk program where a den hollow may be disturbed.

Breeding season

Krefft's Gliders breed in Australia mainly from June to December, with timing varying between regions and records. The species uses communal tree hollows, but these groups are small and flexible, rather than colonies like those of bats or waterbirds.

Breeding mode: Live-bearing marsupial. Young develop in the pouch and then remain dependent in a den and on the mother. They do not lay eggs.

Mating season: June to December. A Victorian record places births in July to August, while another Victorian summary records breeding activity from August to October.

Litter size: Usually 1 to 2 young. Two young are more usual, with single young also recorded.

Gestation and pouch life: Gestation is 15 to 17 days. Pouch life is about 70 days.

Den young and weaning: Den young are recorded from October to December. Weaning takes about 120 days.

Sexual maturity and dispersal: Both males and females may reach sexual maturity at about 8 months. Juveniles disperse at about 7 to 10 months, although there is no distinct seasonal dispersal period.

Colonies and breeding places: Krefft's Gliders are communal den users and may share a hollow in groups of 2 to 12. Groups of up to seven adults and their young have also been recorded. They use multiple mature, hollow-bearing trees and may change hollows every few days, so a breeding place is not necessarily a single permanent hollow. A likely active den tree has a suitable hollow and may contain a leaf nest or show repeated use during spotlighting or stag-watching. Site fidelity to one hollow is not recorded. Treat shared hollows as high-risk breeding places, not as bat-style maternity colonies. For Queensland projects, confirm the current high-risk colonial breeder SMP requirements before disturbing a hollow-bearing tree. Where trees must be removed, use a qualified fauna ecologist to plan two-stage felling, retain the felled hollow section where safe, and provide more than one nest box above 6 m in suitable nearby trees. Nest boxes are a supplement, not a replacement for mature hollows.

Timing can shift between years and regions, so treat the calendar as a planning guide and confirm occupancy locally before clearing, especially around mature hollow-bearing trees.

  • Breeding, births and pouch young: Mating is recorded from June to December, with births and pouch young concentrated from July to October in the available Victorian records.
  • Dependent den young: Young remain dependent after pouch life and are recorded as den young from October to December, with dependence extending beyond that period during weaning.
  • Communal den use and hollow sharing: Shared hollows can be occupied throughout the year, and animals may move between multiple hollows every few days.
  • Juvenile dispersal: Dispersal is mainly age based at about 7 to 10 months, rather than tied to a particular calendar month.
  • Nocturnal activity and cold-weather torpor: Krefft's Gliders are active at night throughout the year and may huddle or enter torpor during cold weather.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest from June to December when mating, births and dependent young overlap, but occupied hollows can require protection in every month; use spotlighting and stag-watching before works and plan two-stage felling where removal cannot be avoided.

Identification: Appearance and size

Krefft's Glider is a small, grey, nocturnal possum with a gliding membrane between the wrist and ankle. It is shy and may be detected more often by its call, eye shine or den use than by a clear daytime sighting.

Look for grey fur, a dark stripe along the head and back, pale grey to cream underparts, and a dark tail with a possible white tip. The gliding membrane extends from the wrist to the ankle.

Adults have a head and body length of 160 to 210 mm and a tail length of 165 to 210 mm.

  • Females weigh 95 to 135 g.
  • Males weigh 115 to 160 g.
  • The body is up to 20 cm long and the tail is up to 21 cm long.

Identification: Calls and night detection

The call is a distinctive repeated “yip yip”, often described as sounding like a small dog's yap. Krefft's Glider has no echolocation call, as it is a marsupial rather than a bat.

During night searches, eye shine may show as a pale red reflection in a spotlight. A glider may cross between trees or be seen on a trunk, branch or wattle.

  • Spotlight likely den trees, nearby feeding trees and connected canopy.
  • Listen for repeated yip yip calls before and during tree removal.
  • Record the direction of calls and any animals seen entering or leaving hollows.

Identification: Similar species

Krefft's Glider can be confused with the Squirrel Glider and with other animals formerly identified as Sugar Gliders. It is usually smaller than a Squirrel Glider, with a blunter face and a less bushy tail base.

The recent split of the former Sugar Glider complex means that locality and confirmed identification should be recorded carefully.

  • Krefft's Glider, Petaurus notatus.
  • Squirrel Glider, generally larger with a longer face and nose.
  • Savanna Glider and Sugar Glider, which occur in other parts of Australia.

Identification: Field signs

Signs can be subtle. Look for a small nest of leaves in a tree hollow, fresh chew marks on wattles where gum has been taken, and repeated call activity around a hollow-bearing tree.

Droppings, whitewash, stains and odour are not reliable stand-alone indicators for this species. A suspected den should be confirmed through direct observation where possible.

  • Leaf nests or nesting material visible in a hollow.
  • Small tooth marks and sap wounds on Acacia trunks and branches.
  • Repeated spotlight sightings or calls at one tree.
  • Scratch or access marks around a hollow entrance.

Distribution: Australian range

Krefft's Glider occurs across much of eastern and northern Australia, including the states and territories mapped for this profile. Local records can be patchy because the species is nocturnal and difficult to detect.

The species is recorded in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. On the mainland, it occurs from South Australia through New South Wales and Queensland, including areas east and west of the Great Dividing Range.

In the NSW Murray region it is typically found east of the Hume Highway, with some records extending west along the Murray River. In Victoria it is the only one of the three recognised nocturnal gliding possums.

  • Look for records in open woodland, dry forest and forested riparian areas.
  • Treat suitable hollow-bearing habitat as potentially occupied even where recent records are absent.
  • Check local databases and planning requirements before clearing.

Distribution: Tasmania and overseas records

Krefft's Glider was introduced to Tasmania in 1835 and now occurs on mainland Tasmania. Related records also extend to New Guinea and neighbouring islands.

In Tasmania, the animal can affect nesting Swift Parrots by preying on eggs, chicks and nesting adult females.

  • Do not assume that a Tasmanian record represents a naturally occurring mainland population.
  • Consider site-specific species and threatened fauna issues when planning works in Tasmanian forest.

Distribution: Site-scale distribution

Animals may move between several hollows within a local home range and can glide between trees for up to 50 m. Retained habitat should therefore be considered as a connected network rather than as isolated hollow trees.

A lack of daytime sightings does not demonstrate absence.

  • Map hollow-bearing trees and likely movement routes.
  • Map gaps in canopy, roads, fences and other features that may force animals to the ground.
  • Retain links between den trees, wattles and flowering eucalypts where practicable.

Habitat: Vegetation types

Suitable habitat is usually woodland or forest with mature trees, a functioning understorey and enough hollow-bearing stems for repeated denning. Habitat quality depends on both tree resources and the ability to move through the canopy.

Look for open woodland and dry forest containing eucalypts with wattles in the understorey. Suitable communities may include ironbark, box, stringybark and other eucalypt forests with mature trees.

Acacia-rich understorey is useful habitat because wattles provide gum, flowers and associated insects.

  • Eucalypt forest with Acacia understorey.
  • Open woodland and dry forest.
  • Riparian woodland and connected vegetation patches.
  • Roadside, reserve and fragmented remnants containing mature hollow-bearing trees.

Habitat: Features to map on site

During pre-clearing inspections, map mature trees, hollow-bearing trees, likely den trees, large limbs, canopy links and wattles with fresh sap wounds. Include trees outside the immediate clearing footprint where they could be affected by machinery, access tracks or falling operations.

Gliders may avoid crossing open ground because of predators. Canopy breaks and isolated trees can therefore reduce the functional value of otherwise suitable habitat.

  • Hollow-bearing trees and stag trees.
  • Dense canopy links between retained trees.
  • Mature wattles and flowering eucalypts.
  • Creek lines, drainage lines and connected roadside vegetation.
  • Potential nest-box trees if natural hollows are lost.

Habitat: Habitat condition

Retain old trees where possible. Reconnecting fragmented vegetation through revegetation can improve movement between feeding and denning areas.

A site with few hollows may still be used if it provides a den tree within the wider connected patch. Assess the surrounding habitat, not only the development footprint.

  • Prioritise retention of trees with multiple hollows.
  • Avoid unnecessary canopy gaps between retained trees.
  • Keep fallen hollow limbs and coarse woody habitat where safe and suitable.
  • Plan replacement habitat before hollow-bearing trees are removed.

Foraging habitat: Food plants

Krefft's Glider forages at night, usually in trees and connected canopy. Its diet combines plant sugars and animal food, so a useful site has both flowering and sap-producing plants and a supply of invertebrates.

Wattles are especially useful feeding trees. Gliders chew through the tough bark to take gum, leaving small tooth marks or sap wounds. They also feed on eucalypt sap, nectar and pollen.

Flowers of eucalypts, wattles, banksias and grevilleas may provide seasonal food.

  • Acacia species with fresh or old gum wounds.
  • Flowering eucalypts, banksias and grevilleas.
  • Mature trees with sap flows and insect activity.
  • Native vegetation with a range of flowering periods.

Foraging habitat: Foraging signs and behaviour

Krefft's Gliders may forage alone even when they den communally. A glider seen feeding away from a suspected den does not indicate that the den is unoccupied.

Inspect wattles for repeated chew marks and sap staining. Night observations can show animals moving through foliage or along trunks.

  • Use spotlighting to check wattles, flowering trees and canopy links.
  • Record fresh sap wounds and the tree species involved.
  • Search the wider retained vegetation, not just the proposed clearing area.

Foraging habitat: Protection during works

Retain key food trees near retained den trees where practicable. Avoid severing the canopy connection between feeding areas and hollows.

Where clearing is staged, remove non-essential vegetation only after fauna risks have been assessed and any active den trees have been managed.

  • Keep mature Acacia and flowering eucalypts in the retained footprint.
  • Avoid night works that interfere with spotlighting or animal movement during fauna management.
  • Use locally native food plants in revegetation and nest-box projects.

Breeding habitat: Breeding period

Krefft's Gliders breed in tree hollows lined with leaves and may share a hollow with family members or other animals. A breeding hollow can be small and difficult to inspect safely, so den-tree assessment should be completed before clearing.

Breeding has been reported from June to December. In Victoria, young have been recorded as being born between July and August, with den young present from October to December in the reported breeding cycle.

Females generally produce 1 to 2 young. Young remain associated with the mother and den before becoming independent.

  • Mating season: June to December.
  • Pouch life: about 70 days.
  • Weaning: about 120 days.
  • Juvenile dispersal: about 7 to 10 months.

Breeding habitat: Breeding trees and den identification

A breeding tree is usually a mature hollow-bearing tree with a suitable cavity and nearby canopy access. The nest may contain leaves and may not be visible from the ground.

Inspect the trunk, major limbs and hollow entrances from a safe position. Look for leaf material, scratch marks, repeated calls, eye shine and animals entering or leaving.

  • Map the tree and all visible hollow entrances.
  • Record hollow height, entrance direction, tree condition and nearby canopy connections.
  • Check for more than one den tree because groups use multiple hollows.
  • Do not insert hands or equipment into a hollow.

Breeding habitat: Pre-clearing checks

Use spotlighting and, where suitable, stag-watching to identify animals using hollow-bearing trees. Stag-watching means observing a suspected den tree around dusk and into the early evening for animals leaving or returning.

Repeat observations where the first check is inconclusive. Coordinate checks with the fauna spotter catcher, arborist and clearing supervisor.

  • Inspect before machinery enters the clearing area.
  • Check likely den trees and nearby retained trees.
  • Use a qualified fauna spotter catcher for any capture, exclusion or animal handling.
  • Stop work if a dependent young animal, active den or injured glider is found.

Sheltering habitat: Hollows and nest material

Krefft's Gliders den and shelter communally in tree hollows, usually with a nest of leaves. They move between hollows every few days, so a single empty-looking hollow does not prove that the tree is unused.

Suitable shelter includes mature eucalypts and other large trees with cavities in trunks or limbs. The hollow may contain a leaf nest, but the nest can be hidden deep inside.

Multiple hollows are needed across the local habitat for nesting, shelter and social use.

  • Mature hollow-bearing trees.
  • Large standing dead trees where safe to retain.
  • Hollows with protected entrances and nearby canopy cover.
  • Trees linked to other hollow-bearing and feeding trees.

Sheltering habitat: Communal denning

Animals may huddle in a hollow during cold weather and may enter torpor. A group may change hollows, so inspections should consider the wider patch rather than one tree.

Adult gliders are not always found together during foraging. Several animals sharing a hollow is a denning pattern, not a large colony in the same sense as a bat roost or waterbird breeding colony.

  • Expect den use to vary between nights.
  • Treat a hollow used by several gliders as a shared den and potential breeding place.
  • Keep a safe buffer around the tree while checks and clearing decisions are made.

Sheltering habitat: Replacement shelter

Nest boxes can supplement natural hollows where habitat is retained or restored. Boxes should be installed in nearby trees rather than food-tree species where possible, and more than one box may be needed for a family group and alternative denning.

Nest-box installation does not remove the need to retain suitable natural hollows.

  • Place boxes above 6 m where site safety and access allow.
  • Provide more than one box in suitable connected habitat.
  • Use designs and installation methods approved for the project and local conditions.
  • Monitor boxes after installation for use, damage and maintenance needs.

Colonies and breeding places: What a colony or maternity roost looks like

Krefft's Glider is social and shares den hollows, but it is not colonial in the same way as bats or waterbirds. For works planning, the practical issue is that one hollow can shelter several animals and may represent a substantial part of the local group.

For this species, a “colony” is better understood as a family or social group using one or more tree hollows. A maternity roost is a shared breeding hollow or set of hollows containing a female, young and associated adults.

Groups of 2 to 12 are reported. Other field guidance describes up to 7 adults and their young. Numbers can vary between hollows and nights.

  • A mature hollow-bearing tree with leaf nesting material.
  • Repeated entry and exit by several gliders.
  • Calls, eye shine or animals returning to the same tree at dusk.
  • Several nearby hollow trees used as alternate dens.

Colonies and breeding places: Site fidelity and active breeding places

Gliders move between hollows every few days, so use of a tree can be intermittent. Site fidelity is best assessed at the local den network level, by checking several hollow trees over more than one observation period.

An active breeding place may show repeated den use, leaf nesting material, adults carrying or attending young, dependent young in the hollow, or several animals entering and leaving.

  • Spotlight suspected den trees from dusk.
  • Use stag-watching where a clear view is available and safe.
  • Record dates, times, tree identity, hollow entrance and animals seen.
  • Treat inconclusive observations conservatively before felling.

Colonies and breeding places: Why shared dens need special care

Felling one hollow-bearing tree can remove shelter for several animals at once. It can also force gliders onto the ground, where they are more exposed to owls, goannas, foxes and cats.

In Queensland, tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder requires the high risk species management program pathway under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, rather than the low risk pathway used for other least concern animals. Confirm the current Queensland requirements before works.

  • Plan the den-tree assessment before the clearing date.
  • Retain active and potential den trees wherever practicable.
  • Use an approved species management program where required.
  • Document fauna observations, decisions and controls in the clearing plan.

Colonies and breeding places: Tree removal and nest boxes

Where a hollow-bearing tree must be removed, use a two-stage felling method under an approved fauna management plan. The first stage removes non-hollow portions or reduces the tree in a controlled way, while retaining the hollow section where safe. The hollow section is then lowered carefully and checked by the fauna spotter catcher before final handling.

Install suitable nest boxes in connected retained habitat before or as part of the works, not as a substitute for all natural hollows. Any animal found during felling should be managed by the fauna spotter catcher under the project approval and local requirements.

  • Use an experienced arborist and fauna spotter catcher together.
  • Control the fall direction and avoid dropping hollow sections.
  • Inspect cavities only with safe equipment and methods.
  • Keep replacement boxes above 6 m where practicable and safe.
  • Record the location of retained hollow sections and nest boxes.

Threats: Loss of hollow-bearing trees

The main works-site risks are loss of hollow-bearing trees, fragmentation of movement routes and disturbance or injury during clearing. Tasmania also has a separate landscape issue because introduced gliders can prey on Swift Parrots.

Mature trees and large dead trees take a long time to replace. Removing a den tree can displace a social group and reduce the number of available shelters across the patch.

Retain old trees and hollow-bearing trees wherever practicable. Include trees at the edge of the clearing if they could be damaged by excavation, access or changed wind exposure.

  • Avoid unnecessary removal of mature trees.
  • Map and protect hollow-bearing trees before machinery arrives.
  • Retain multiple den trees across the connected habitat.
  • Protect retained trees from root, trunk and canopy damage.

Threats: Fragmentation and ground exposure

Krefft's Gliders can glide up to 50 m, but gaps between trees may force them to the ground. Ground movement increases exposure to cats, foxes, goannas and owls.

Maintain canopy links and revegetate gaps where practicable. Plan access routes to avoid creating additional breaks between feeding and denning areas.

  • Retain connected canopy between den and feeding trees.
  • Use existing cleared routes for machinery where possible.
  • Limit fence hazards and provide fauna-friendly passage through retained habitat.
  • Reconnect fragmented patches through locally native revegetation.

Threats: Direct injury and disturbance

Clearing can injure animals in hollows, especially when trees are felled without a den inspection. Night disturbance can also interfere with observations and movement.

Use pre-clearing searches, spotlighting and staged felling where required by the approval. Stop and reassess if a glider, dependent young or active den is found.

  • Engage a fauna spotter catcher for hollow-bearing tree removal.
  • Check cavities before and after staged felling.
  • Keep cats indoors at night in nearby residential and work compounds where practicable.
  • Record and report injured or displaced animals according to the project procedure.

Threats: Tasmanian predation issue

In Tasmania, Krefft's Glider is introduced and is known to prey on Swift Parrot eggs, chicks and nesting adult females. Works in mainland Tasmanian forest should consider both glider den habitat and the needs of Swift Parrots.

Coordinate with the relevant land manager and current threatened species requirements where Swift Parrot habitat or nesting trees are present.

  • Check whether the site supports or adjoins Swift Parrot habitat.
  • Avoid treating all glider habitat issues as identical across mainland Australia and Tasmania.
  • Use current state approvals and species management directions for the site.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Krefft’s Gliders are nocturnal, quiet and difficult to see during the day. Survey around mature trees, hollow-bearing trees and connected vegetation, and combine direct observation with searches for hollows, calls and signs.

Map mature and hollow-bearing trees, connected vegetation, wattles and likely movement routes before entering the site.

Review previous records, local biodiversity databases, aerial imagery and landholder observations. Give particular weight to records of gliders, tree hollows and communal denning.

Identify trees that could be retained, trees that may need staged removal, and nearby trees suitable for nest boxes.

Activity: Nocturnal

Shelter: Tree hollows, often with leaf nests

Social groups: Communal groups of 2 to 12 are reported, with groups of up to seven adults and their young also recorded

  • Mark all hollow-bearing trees and likely den trees on the site plan.
  • Check whether the proposal could affect habitat connectivity or force gliders to travel on the ground.
  • Confirm whether state approvals, local wildlife permits, an EPBC referral or a Queensland species management program are required.

Survey methodology: 2. Hollow and den inspection

Inspect hollow-bearing trees from the ground before clearing. Record entrance height, aspect, diameter, hollow depth where visible, loose bark, leaf material and signs of use.

Look for scratch marks, fresh chewing, fur, leaves, staining, droppings and repeated animal activity. A single sign is not proof that a hollow is occupied.

Do not place hands or tools into a hollow. Do not use smoke, water or other methods that could injure or evict an animal.

  • Use binoculars in daylight to inspect hollow entrances.
  • Mark trees with possible den hollows for targeted night observation.
  • Treat a suitable hollow as potentially occupied until the pre-clearance survey and clearing sequence show otherwise.

Survey methodology: 3. Spotlighting and stag-watching

Survey after dark when gliders are active. Watch likely den trees and nearby food trees around dusk, then continue through the night where the risk of occupancy is high.

Use a quiet approach and a hand-held spotlight. Look for eye shine, gliding animals, movement at hollow entrances and the distinctive yip yip call.

Stag-watch hollow-bearing trees before removal. Record animals entering or leaving, the direction of travel and the time of each observation.

Gliders may move between hollows every few days, so one empty check does not demonstrate that a tree is unused.

Gliding distance: Up to 30 m is reported in one local profile, and up to 50 m in other Australian profiles

Call: A distinctive yip yip call, similar to a small dog yapping

  • Keep lighting brief and avoid repeated close approaches.
  • Survey in suitable weather, avoiding strong wind, heavy rain and conditions that suppress animal movement.
  • Record the date, start and finish times, weather, observers, tree numbers, hollow features, animals seen, calls heard and the survey method used.

Survey methodology: 4. Survey interpretation

Interpret observations in the context of the whole denning area. A group may use several hollows for nesting and shelter, and may huddle in cold weather or enter torpor.

Do not describe a shared hollow as a large bat-style colony. Krefft’s Gliders are communal and colonial breeders for Queensland management purposes, but they are not colonial in the same way as bats or waterbirds.

  • Map all occupied or potentially occupied hollows and the surrounding trees.
  • Assume that linked hollows and nearby vegetation form one functional breeding place where animals share dens.
  • Escalate uncertain records to the project ecologist or fauna spotter catcher before disturbance.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance, approvals and permits

Plan clearing around the den trees, the local breeding period and the approvals that apply to the project. Avoidance is the preferred outcome, especially where several animals share a hollow or where a group depends on a small patch of mature trees.

Retain mature hollow-bearing trees wherever practicable. Retain connected vegetation, food trees and nearby shelter trees rather than isolating a single den tree.

Check the project against the EPBC Act and make any referral required for matters of national environmental significance. A species being unlisted does not remove the need to consider other listed species, ecological communities or protected matters.

Confirm state and local approvals before work starts. In Queensland, treating a least concern colonial breeder breeding place requires the high risk species management program pathway under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, rather than the low risk pathway used for other least concern animals.

Obtain any required wildlife, clearing, relocation or rehabilitation approvals. Keep approval conditions and the approved management program on site.

  • Have the project ecologist confirm the approval pathway in writing.
  • Include hollow-bearing tree retention, staged felling, nest boxes and stop-work procedures in the construction environmental management plan.
  • Do not rely on a general fauna permit where a specific approval or approved Queensland SMP is required.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Colonies and breeding places

For this species, a breeding place may be a hollow-bearing tree or a group of nearby trees used by a communal group. A typical group may contain a breeding pair, family group or several animals, with reported social groups ranging from 2 to 12.

Look for repeated entry to one or more hollows, leaf nests, animals denning together and regular use of linked trees. The presence of several suitable hollows is significant because gliders require more than one hollow for nesting and shelter.

Site fidelity is best treated as local and flexible rather than tied to one hollow. Gliders move between hollows every few days, so an empty hollow may still form part of an active breeding place.

Breeding place: Usually a hollow-bearing tree or linked group of hollow-bearing trees

Breeding timing: Breeding is reported from June to December, with regional records of pouch young and den young from August to December

Young: Usually 1 to 2 young

  • Delineate the breeding place around all occupied or potentially occupied den trees and the vegetation needed to reach them.
  • Keep people, machinery, lighting and storage outside the agreed exclusion area.
  • Use the larger functional area where the limits of a breeding place are uncertain, until the ecologist confirms otherwise.

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

Complete a targeted pre-clearance survey shortly before works. Recheck every hollow-bearing tree that may be felled, lopped or isolated.

Where practicable, schedule high-risk tree work outside the local period when young are in the pouch or den. Confirm the appropriate timing with the project ecologist because breeding records differ by region.

There is no established migration season to plan around. The main timing risk is local denning, breeding and juvenile dispersal.

Juvenile dispersal: Around 7 to 10 months of age is reported

Victorian timing: Young are reported in July and August, with den young reported from October to December in another Victorian profile

  • Undertake night observations of high-risk trees before clearing.
  • Repeat the check if clearing is delayed, weather changes substantially or new hollows are exposed.
  • Treat trees with recent activity as occupied until cleared under an approved method.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Exclusion zones and crew induction

Set out exclusion zones around retained den trees, nest boxes and active breeding places. Keep exclusion distances project-specific and based on the tree, work method, likely fall zone and approval conditions.

Brief all operators, arborists, machine drivers and spotter catchers before work. Show them the marked trees and explain the stop-work trigger.

A fauna spotter catcher must have authority to stop work if an animal, occupied hollow, nest, breeding place or unexpected habitat feature is found.

  • Mark no-go trees and exclusion areas with durable flagging and signs.
  • Keep machinery, vehicles and materials out of exclusion areas.
  • Carry contact details for the fauna spotter catcher, ecologist, wildlife carer and site supervisor.
  • Confirm who can authorise recommencement of work.

Before habitat disturbance: 5. Two-stage felling and nest boxes

Use two-stage felling for approved removal of hollow-bearing trees. First remove non-hollow branches and the crown under supervision, then leave the hollow section standing or lower it carefully after the fauna spotter catcher has checked it.

Choose the method that minimises shock, rolling and dropping. The fauna spotter catcher must inspect the section and any exposed hollow immediately.

Install several nest boxes where approved habitat will remain and boxes are suitable for the local group. Place boxes in nearby non-food trees, more than 6 m above ground where practicable, and provide alternatives because gliders use multiple hollows.

  • Do not fell a hollow-bearing tree in one uncontrolled movement.
  • Do not place replacement boxes only in food trees where the approved design requires nearby non-food trees.
  • Use glider nest boxes, not generic bird boxes. Do not assume a bat box is suitable for this species.
  • Record box locations, heights, orientation, installation date and inspection schedule.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing

Clearing must be slow, staged and supervised. Stop whenever the work exposes an animal, an occupied hollow, a nest or a breeding place that has not been addressed in the approved method.

Clear in stages from low-risk areas towards retained habitat, leaving escape routes to nearby trees and nest boxes. Keep the fauna spotter catcher in a position where hollows and falling sections can be observed.

Remove ground and shrub cover only after checking for animals displaced from trees. Avoid creating isolated trees or forcing gliders to cross open ground.

Use the approved two-stage method for hollow-bearing trees. Lower hollow sections under control where this is safe and authorised.

  • Check the tree, crown, trunk and hollow section before each cut.
  • Pause between stages to allow animals to move into retained habitat.
  • Reinspect the stump, fallen section and exposed hollows before loading or chipping timber.
  • Do not chip or bury hollow-bearing timber until the fauna spotter catcher has cleared it.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Stop-work authority and active breeding places

The fauna spotter catcher must stop work if an animal is seen, a hollow contains an animal or nest, a group is denning together, or a new breeding place is identified.

An active breeding place may contain several gliders sharing a hollow. The animal count may be larger than the number seen during one observation.

Do not restart until the fauna spotter catcher and project ecologist have confirmed the response, and any required regulator approval or SMP action has been completed.

  • Make the area safe and establish a temporary exclusion zone.
  • Keep noise, lighting and people away from the hollow.
  • Allow animals to move naturally where the approved method permits it.
  • Escalate any occupied hollow with young, injured animals or trapped animals to the wildlife carer and relevant authority.
  • Record the decision, person who authorised it, time, location and outcome.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and relocation

Only authorised and appropriately trained wildlife personnel may handle a glider. Do not chase, pull or shake an animal from a hollow.

If an animal is found in a safe tree or hollow, leave it in place where possible. If removal is authorised, use a quiet, low-stress method and place the animal in a secure, dark, ventilated container.

Keep animals separate unless the authorised carer or veterinarian directs otherwise. Adult gliders should not be combined simply because they were found in the same area.

  • Record the tree, hollow, time, condition and identification of every handled animal.
  • Keep the container cool, quiet and protected from cats, dogs, machinery and direct sun.
  • Do not offer food or water unless directed by a wildlife carer or veterinarian.
  • Release or transfer the animal only under the approved rehabilitation or relocation plan.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Injured animal pathway

Treat animals with bleeding, fractures, burns, entanglement, weakness, exposure or suspected collision injuries as emergencies.

Cover the animal loosely with a towel, keep its head clear and place it in a secure container. Obtain veterinary or wildlife carer advice immediately.

Cats are a recognised threat. Any glider caught by a cat needs urgent veterinary assessment, even if the injury is not obvious.

  • Stop work in the immediate area and protect the animal from further harm.
  • Call the nominated wildlife carer, veterinarian or wildlife rescue service.
  • Do not attempt treatment, force feeding or release from the construction site.
  • Record the incident and retain photographs only where this can be done without delaying care.

During habitat disturbance: 5. Field records

Keep a clearing register that links each observation to a tree, hollow and work stage. Good records support compliance and help locate habitat for follow-up monitoring.

Record animals seen, calls, den entries and exits, nests, young, injuries, handling, relocation, nest boxes and all stop-work events.

  • Include GPS or mapped tree references, date, time, weather and observers.
  • Record the method used, tree condition, hollow details and photographs where appropriate.
  • Document approvals, notifications, decisions, release details and the person who authorised each action.
  • Send required records to the project ecologist, regulator and land manager within the approval timeframes.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Post-clearance checks

Do not treat the end of tree removal as the end of fauna risk. Check the work area, confirm that animals and breeding places were managed as approved, and review any unexpected event before the next work stage.

Inspect the cleared area, retained trees, fallen hollow sections and nest boxes after each clearing stage. Look for trapped, injured or displaced gliders and for hollows that were missed during the initial inspection.

Complete a night check of retained den trees and installed nest boxes where the risk assessment or approval requires it.

Check that retained vegetation still provides connected movement routes between shelter and food trees.

  • Search beneath and around felled hollow-bearing trees before machinery leaves.
  • Confirm that no animal is inside a cut log, stump, stockpile or chipper feed area.
  • Repair damaged exclusion fencing and replace missing tree markers.
  • Record the date, observer, area checked, findings and corrective actions.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Monitoring relocated and released animals

Monitor relocated animals according to the approved plan and the advice of the wildlife carer or veterinarian. Do not recapture or disturb them simply because they are seen near the release site.

Use observations, nest box checks and signs of den use to assess whether animals are using the retained habitat. Avoid repeated spotlighting if it causes disturbance.

Where animals cannot be located, record the search effort and report the outcome rather than assuming mortality or successful settlement.

  • Check nest boxes for occupancy, leaf nests and signs of use at the agreed intervals.
  • Record whether animals are using retained trees, replacement boxes or nearby habitat.
  • Report mortality, repeated displacement, aggression, predation or failure of a box to the project ecologist.
  • Keep release and monitoring records with the project fauna register.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Reporting and compliance

Provide a close-out report that compares the work completed with the approved clearing method, permit conditions and Queensland SMP requirements where applicable.

Report unexpected breeding places, injuries, deaths, unapproved clearing or failures of exclusion controls to the responsible project manager and relevant authority without delay.

  • Include maps of retained and removed trees, occupied hollows, nest boxes and rehabilitation areas.
  • Attach animal records, photographs, permits, approvals, spotter catcher notes and wildlife carer outcomes.
  • State whether each approval condition was met, partly met or requires further action.
  • Keep records for the period required by the approval or regulator.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review

Review every stop-work event, injury, mortality, escape or unexpected occupied hollow with the fauna spotter catcher, supervisor and ecologist.

Use the review to change the clearing sequence, exclusion controls, crew briefing or survey approach before work resumes in similar habitat.

  • Identify what happened, why the control failed and who was present.
  • Set a corrective action, responsible person and completion date.
  • Brief the crew before the next shift and update the site environmental plan.
  • Share lessons with arborists, machine operators and future project teams.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore connected woodland with mature trees, wattles and future hollow resources. Replacement nest structures can help in the short term, but they do not replace the shelter and food value of old trees.

Retain and protect existing mature trees during rehabilitation. Restore links between isolated vegetation patches so gliders can move through the canopy rather than across open ground.

Plant locally appropriate eucalypts, wattles and other native species that provide food, cover and future hollows. Use local advice to select species suited to the site.

Protect regenerating plants from browsing, fire, machinery and soil compaction.

  • Map retained trees, planted areas, movement routes and gaps in canopy connection.
  • Stage planting so that animals have shelter while the site recovers.
  • Use wattles and other suitable native plants that support gum, nectar, pollen and invertebrate food resources.
  • Replace failed plants and control competing weeds during establishment.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Nest boxes and artificial nest sites

Install glider nest boxes where mature hollows have been removed and suitable retained habitat remains. Provide more than one box where a communal group or family group may use several hollows.

Place boxes in nearby trees rather than food-tree species where practicable, and install them more than 6 m above ground where site safety and access allow.

Artificial nest sites should be designed for gliders and checked for overheating, water entry, predators and damage. Bat boxes and other species-specific roost structures are not automatic substitutes.

  • Use a box design approved by the project ecologist or wildlife authority.
  • Install boxes before or as soon as practicable after habitat disturbance, under the approved plan.
  • Record box number, tree, height, aspect, entrance condition and installation date.
  • Replace damaged boxes and remove unsafe fixings.
  • Inspect boxes at the approved frequency and minimise disturbance during checks.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, water and site protection

Control weeds that suppress native regeneration or block access to retained trees. Avoid herbicide drift onto food plants, den trees and nest boxes.

Maintain site water sources and damp refuge areas where they are part of the local habitat design. Do not place open containers that could trap small animals.

Keep cats and dogs away from rehabilitation areas, particularly at night. Reduce fencing and other hazards that can injure gliders moving through the site.

  • Use fauna-safe fencing and clearly mark wires that could entangle gliders.
  • Inspect rehabilitation areas after storms, fire, flooding and construction maintenance.
  • Keep artificial lighting directed away from retained trees, nest boxes and movement routes.
  • Use low-spill, low-glare lighting and switch off non-essential lights when work ends.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor survival of plantings, canopy connection, hollow trees and nest box condition. Include night observations where occupancy or movement needs to be confirmed.

Use the same mapped points and recording methods over time so changes can be compared.

Monitoring should consider whether gliders are using the restored area, whether predators or cats are present and whether animals are being forced onto the ground.

  • Record spotlight observations, calls, den entries, nest box use and signs of feeding.
  • Check wattles for fresh tooth marks and other evidence of sap feeding.
  • Review monitoring results with the land manager and adjust weed control, lighting, fencing or nest box placement.
  • Continue monitoring for the period specified in the approval, rehabilitation plan or ecological monitoring program.

Rehabilitation actions: 5. Handover and maintenance

Leave the land manager with a clear map of retained hollow-bearing trees, nest boxes, access routes, weed controls and monitoring points.

Explain which trees and boxes must not be removed, pruned or relocated without ecological advice and any required approval.

  • Provide the box design, inspection history and repair requirements.
  • List emergency contacts for injured wildlife and site incidents.
  • Schedule future inspections of trees, boxes, fences, weeds and lighting.
  • Review the rehabilitation plan when new hollows form, trees fail or the site use changes.

Sources