Fauna Spotters logo

Savanna Glider (Petaurus ariel)

The Savanna Glider, Petaurus ariel, is a small gliding marsupial of northern Australian woodland savannas. It uses tree hollows for communal dens, so clearing mature hollow-bearing trees can affect several animals at one breeding place. It is listed as least concern in Queensland and is not listed under the EPBC Act, but Queensland works that may disturb a breeding place require the high risk species management program process for least concern colonial breeders.

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

The Savanna Glider is poorly known as a separate species, and no species-specific breeding calendar has been established. Treat communal tree hollows as potentially active throughout the year, with timing likely to vary between regions and years.

Breeding mode: Marsupial breeder. Young are born undeveloped, continue development in the pouch, and later remain dependent in or near the den. Exact species-specific details are not recorded.

Litter size: Not recorded.

Gestation and pouch period: Not recorded.

Weaning and independence: Not recorded.

Age at maturity: Not recorded.

Breeding places: Savanna Gliders den communally in tree hollows. A hollow-bearing tree may be used as a shared den or maternity roost by several animals. This is colonial breeding in the practical management sense, but it is not colonial in the same way as a bat colony or a waterbird breeding colony.

Breeding frequency: Not recorded. Do not assume that a den is vacant outside a presumed breeding season.

Activity and breeding use may vary between northern Australian regions and years, so site observations should take precedence over a calendar assumption.

  • Breeding and mating: The breeding months of the Savanna Glider are not established, so mating and breeding activity should be treated as possible in every month.
  • Dependent young in dens: Young may be present in a shared hollow at any time because the timing of births, pouch development and weaning is not recorded for this species.
  • Communal den and maternity hollow use: Several animals may share a breeding hollow, so den use and the risk of disturbing a colony should be considered year round.
  • Den checks, spotlighting and stag watching: Where clearing is proposed, inspect hollow-bearing trees by day and use controlled dusk or night spotlighting and stag watching to identify repeated den use before works begin.
  • Highest clearing risk: The highest risk period is all year because eggs are not involved, breeding timing is unresolved, and clearing can harm adults, dependent young or several animals sharing one hollow.

Identification: Appearance

The Savanna Glider was separated from the former widespread Sugar Glider group. Field identification can be difficult, especially where several glider species occur or where animals are seen briefly at night.

The Savanna Glider occurs in the woodland savannas of northern Australia. It looks like a much smaller Squirrel Glider and has a more pointed nose.

The species is genetically and physically distinct from the Sugar Glider and Krefft's Glider. Identification should be confirmed by an experienced ecologist where the result affects clearing decisions.

Scientific name: Petaurus ariel

General appearance: Small glider, smaller than a Squirrel Glider, with a pointed nose

Identification: Calls and similar species

The Savanna Glider is nocturnal. A detailed species-specific call description is not established in the available field information, and the species does not use echolocation.

Do not rely on a single call, brief spotlight view or camera image where species identification is uncertain. Compare the animal with Sugar Gliders, Krefft's Gliders and Squirrel Gliders that may occur in the broader landscape.

  • Record the animal's size relative to known glider species.
  • Record the nose shape, coat pattern, glide membrane and any vocalisations.
  • Retain photographs, video or a clear field description for verification.

Identification: Field signs

Look for repeated use of mature trees with hollows, particularly trees that provide several possible entrances or den spaces. Animals entering or leaving a hollow after dark are stronger evidence of use than a hollow viewed during the day.

Fresh scats, fur, scratch marks, den odour or repeated movement around a hollow may support an assessment. Whitewash is not expected because this is a mammal, not a roosting bird or bat.

  • Inspect the tree base and nearby ground for fresh scats.
  • Check hollow entrances for fur, staining, scratches or a worn edge.
  • Use remote cameras where direct observation is difficult.

Distribution: Australian range

The Savanna Glider is associated with northern Australia, although its current distribution and local abundance are still being clarified. The species has experienced a substantial reduction in its recognised range since the early 1990s.

The species is found in northern Australia and has been recorded from Melville Island in the Northern Territory. The current project profile maps it in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.

A mapped state occurrence should not be treated as proof that the species occurs on every site in that state. Check current biodiversity mapping and local records before clearing.

  • Northern Territory, including Melville Island.
  • Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia within the mapped range.
  • Tropical and woodland savanna landscapes in northern Australia.

Distribution: Range change

Published accounts describe a range reduction of about one third since the early 1990s. The species is also reported to be disappearing from some inland areas where it was formerly present.

This makes local hollow-bearing tree records and site-based survey evidence useful, even where the species is not listed as threatened.

Reported range reduction: About 33 to 35 per cent over roughly the last 30 years, depending on the account

Distribution: Overseas range

The Savanna Glider is an Australian species. No overseas range is recognised.

Habitat: Vegetation and landscape

Search for the Savanna Glider in tropical woodland savanna with mature trees and a connected or partly connected canopy. The most useful site feature for construction planning is the presence of hollow-bearing trees within or beside remnant vegetation.

Potential habitat includes woodland savanna and tropical woodland remnants in northern Australia. Retain attention on mature stands, isolated large trees and narrow vegetation remnants because these can contain den trees even where the surrounding ground layer has been modified.

On a works site, map remnant woodland, mature trees, canopy links and trees close to drainage lines or other retained vegetation. These features can help gliders move between denning and feeding areas.

  • Mature woodland trees with natural hollows.
  • Remnant woodland patches and connected canopy.
  • Large isolated trees within cleared or grazed areas.
  • Vegetation along drainage lines or adjoining retained habitat.

Habitat: Hollow-bearing trees

Tree age and structure are more useful indicators than tree density alone. Include live trees, standing dead trees and large limbs with hollows in the pre-clearing survey.

Mark each potential den tree on the site plan. Record the tree location, condition, hollow entrances and relationship to nearby trees.

  • Use a tree number that matches the clearing plan.
  • Record hollow entrance height and orientation where it can be assessed safely.
  • Identify trees that could fall or be felled because of construction constraints.

Habitat: Site assessment

The species is poorly known in some parts of its range. Absence during one visit does not demonstrate that a hollow is unused, particularly if the survey conditions are unsuitable or the animal is away foraging.

Use habitat assessment, hollow inspection, spotlighting, stag-watching and remote cameras together where the site has suitable trees.

Foraging habitat: Features to retain

Detailed Savanna Glider diet and foraging habitat are not well defined. For works planning, treat woodland canopy, flowering or fruiting trees and connected native vegetation as potential feeding habitat until a local assessment shows otherwise.

Retain mature native trees and vegetation links around hollow-bearing trees where practicable. Avoid unnecessary removal of canopy between den trees and adjoining woodland.

The species is described as an important plant pollinator. This supports retaining flowering woodland vegetation, although the main food plants for each site are not yet defined.

  • Mature native canopy.
  • Flowering and fruiting trees and shrubs.
  • Vegetation links between den trees and larger woodland patches.
  • Unlit habitat edges where nocturnal movement can continue.

Foraging habitat: Works site checks

Walk the proposed clearing area in daylight and identify trees with flowers, fruit, sap flows or other signs of regular nocturnal animal use. Record adjoining vegetation that may be used even if it is outside the direct clearing footprint.

Keep lighting directed away from retained habitat. Limit night works near known den trees, especially during active use or breeding investigations.

  • Map feeding habitat beside access tracks and compound areas.
  • Avoid placing bright permanent lights beside retained canopy.
  • Keep machinery and material storage away from tree bases and hollow entrances.

Foraging habitat: Evidence and uncertainty

There is no established Savanna Glider-specific diet or standard foraging distance to apply to every project. Use local observations and the advice of a suitably experienced ecologist when setting habitat retention and disturbance controls.

Breeding habitat: Breeding trees

Savanna Gliders den communally in tree hollows, and several animals may share a breeding hollow. A breeding place can therefore represent more animals than are seen during a single survey.

Potential breeding habitat consists of mature trees with hollows large enough for the animals to enter and shelter. Trees with multiple hollows may support repeated use by a group, although a hollow's suitability cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.

Treat a hollow-bearing tree as a potential breeding tree until it has been assessed by an appropriately qualified person.

  • Map all hollow-bearing trees within the clearing footprint and near the edge of works.
  • Record evidence of animals entering or leaving hollows.
  • Assess nearby trees as well as the tree proposed for removal, because a group may use more than one den.

Breeding habitat: Active breeding places

An active breeding place may show repeated animal movement, fresh scats, fur, staining, scratches or a den odour at a hollow. Direct observation of animals entering or leaving after dark is the strongest practical field indication.

Do not block, seal or fill a hollow to test whether it is occupied. A quiet hollow during a single daytime inspection should not be classed as inactive.

  • Inspect from the ground before climbing or using equipment.
  • Use spotlighting or a remote camera to confirm entry and exit.
  • Repeat observations where the decision involves removal of a large or strategically placed den tree.

Breeding habitat: Protection during breeding investigations

Avoid felling a suspected active breeding tree until the breeding place has been assessed and the required approvals or management measures are in place. If young are present, seek specialist advice before any disturbance.

Where a tree must be removed, retain nearby hollow-bearing trees and canopy links. Plan the work so animals have alternative shelter before the den tree is disturbed.

Sheltering habitat: Den-tree identification

Tree hollows are the main known sheltering feature for the Savanna Glider. Communal denning means that removing one suitable hollow can affect several animals at once.

Before clearing, complete a systematic hollow-bearing tree survey. Include live trees, dead standing trees and large limbs with hollows, and mark trees that could be used as dens even if no animal is seen.

Record entrance position, approximate dimensions where safely visible, tree condition, nearby canopy and any signs of recent use. Do not climb unstable trees merely to inspect a hollow.

  • Number and map each hollow-bearing tree.
  • Photograph hollow entrances from a safe position.
  • Record whether the tree is retained, affected by edge works or proposed for removal.

Sheltering habitat: Spotlighting and stag-watching

Spotlighting is most useful after dark when animals are likely to leave or return to a den. Stag-watching involves observing a known hollow-bearing tree for animals entering or emerging, rather than searching randomly through the canopy.

Keep observers quiet and position them where the hollow entrance and approach canopy are visible. Use red-filtered light or other low-impact methods where appropriate, and follow the project's fauna survey requirements.

  • Watch likely den trees at the start of the animal's active period and again before dawn where effort allows.
  • Record time, tree number, direction of movement and animal behaviour.
  • Avoid repeated close approach, bright lights or handling unless authorised.

Sheltering habitat: Two-stage felling and nest boxes

If an occupied or potentially occupied hollow-bearing tree cannot be retained, use a two-stage felling approach where approved and directed by the fauna ecologist. The usual intent is to first remove the crown or non-hollow limbs in a controlled way, then lower the hollow-bearing section carefully so animals have a better chance of escaping and the hollow remains intact.

A staged approach is not a substitute for retention. It must be planned around the tree's stability, the location of people and machinery, weather, animal welfare and any Queensland management program conditions.

  • Retain the den tree whenever practicable.
  • Install suitable nest boxes before clearing where an ecologist considers them appropriate.
  • Place boxes in retained habitat, inspect them after installation and maintain them as part of the site management plan.
  • Use nest boxes as supplementary shelter, not as proof that natural den trees can be removed.

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

The Savanna Glider is treated in Queensland as a colonial breeder because several animals may co-exist in close association for breeding and share a hollow. This is not colonial behaviour in the same way as bats or waterbirds, which may gather in large, highly visible colonies.

For this species, a colony is more likely to be a small family or social group using one or several nearby tree hollows than a large open congregation. The maternity den may look like an ordinary hollow-bearing tree from the ground.

There is no reliable species-specific colony size available. Do not assume that one animal seen at a hollow represents the full group.

Typical colony size: Not established; several animals may share a breeding hollow

Site fidelity: Quantified fidelity is not established, so repeatedly used hollows should be treated as important sites

  • One or more mature trees with suitable hollows.
  • Repeated entry and exit by several animals.
  • Nearby canopy or woodland that provides movement cover.
  • Fresh signs around a hollow or at the tree base.

Colonies and breeding places: Recognising an active breeding place

Use a combination of signs rather than one observation. Repeated spotlight records, animals entering or leaving, fresh scats, fur, staining, scratches or den odour can indicate current use.

Survey more than once where practicable. A den may be empty during part of the night, and animals may use a second hollow when disturbed or when conditions change.

  • Map the hollow and all nearby potential den trees.
  • Record dates, times, weather and the number of animals observed.
  • Use a remote camera if the entrance cannot be watched safely.
  • Seek specialist advice if young are suspected.

Colonies and breeding places: Why special care is needed

Queensland's high risk species management program applies to tampering with the breeding place of a least concern colonial breeder. This is a higher level of management than the low risk program used for other least concern animals.

Because several Savanna Gliders may use one hollow, removing a single den tree can affect a substantial part of the local group. Retention, careful timing, staged removal and replacement shelter should be considered together.

  • Confirm the applicable Queensland approval and species management program before works.
  • Use a fauna spotter catcher where required by the approval or management plan.
  • Stop work if animals, dependent young or an active den are found unexpectedly.
  • Document the fate of each den tree and any nest boxes installed.

Colonies and breeding places: Construction controls

Fence and mark retained den trees and their protection zones before machinery arrives. Keep spoil, traffic, lighting and temporary structures away from hollow entrances and retained canopy.

Where a den tree cannot be retained, obtain project-specific advice on staged felling, animal handling, replacement hollows and post-clearing monitoring.

Threats: Clearing and hollow loss

The main risks on clearing and construction sites are loss of hollow-bearing trees, fragmentation of woodland and disturbance of communal dens. Broader pressures include changed fire regimes, feral predators and feral herbivores.

Removing mature or dead standing trees can remove denning and breeding places that take many years to form. A tree can remain important even when it appears unhealthy or has no obvious animal sign.

Prioritise retention of hollow-bearing trees, mature canopy and nearby vegetation links during design and construction planning.

  • Avoid unnecessary clearing around large trees.
  • Use exclusion fencing around retained den trees.
  • Do not fell trees with active hollows until the required assessment and approvals are complete.

Threats: Fragmentation and construction disturbance

Roads, compounds, lighting and wide cleared corridors can break movement routes between den trees and feeding habitat. Noise and repeated night disturbance may also cause animals to abandon a hollow or alter their movements.

Keep retained habitat connected where practicable and direct lighting away from canopy and hollow entrances.

  • Reduce the width of temporary clearing.
  • Maintain canopy links between retained woodland patches where feasible.
  • Schedule noisy work away from confirmed active dens where the management plan requires it.

Threats: Fire and introduced animals

Changed fire regimes, feral cats and other predators, and feral herbivores are recognised pressures on northern Australian small mammals. Fire and grazing can also reduce the quality and continuity of woodland habitat around den trees.

Manage fire, weeds and grazing impacts in retained habitat in accordance with the land manager's ecological fire and pest plans.

  • Control access by domestic dogs and cats near work areas.
  • Secure food waste and other attractants.
  • Avoid creating dense cover that could increase predator ambush opportunities beside retained habitat.

Threats: Compliance and unexpected finds

Although the Savanna Glider is listed as least concern, its colonial breeding places need special treatment in Queensland. A project can still cause a significant local impact if it removes a communal den tree.

Stop and reassess if a glider, dependent young, occupied hollow or previously unrecorded den is found during clearing. Contact the project ecologist and follow the relevant approval conditions before work resumes.

  • Keep fauna spotter catcher records and tree maps up to date.
  • Report injured or displaced animals through the approved fauna handling process.
  • Review the clearing plan if several animals are found using one hollow.

Survey methodology: 1. Desktop assessment

Savanna Gliders are poorly known in the field, so surveys should use several methods and give particular attention to hollow-bearing trees. Plan surveys with a qualified ecologist and adjust the approach to the site, season, weather and proposed clearing.

Confirm the species identification and review recent records, habitat mapping, aerial imagery and previous fauna reports.

Map woodland savanna, mature trees, hollow-bearing trees, dead standing trees and connected habitat within and around the work area.

Treat records of sugar gliders and other gliders as relevant until a suitably qualified person confirms the species. The recent split between Savanna Glider, Sugar Glider and Krefft’s Glider can make older records difficult to interpret.

  • Check records and approvals requirements for Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory or Western Australia, as relevant to the site.
  • Check whether the project may affect another protected matter, even though the Savanna Glider is not listed under the EPBC Act.
  • Ask Traditional Owners and local land managers about known glider trees, frequently used habitat and past observations.

Survey methodology: 2. Nocturnal spotlighting

Survey after dark when gliders are active. Use quiet, slow searches along tracks, habitat edges and beneath mature trees.

Search the crowns, trunks, hollow entrances and likely den trees with a hand-held spotlight. Avoid repeatedly shining lights into a hollow or pursuing an animal.

Record weather, moon conditions, start and finish times, observers, route, search effort and all sightings. Record behaviour, direction of travel, tree species, tree location and whether the animal entered a hollow.

  • Do not survey in heavy rain, strong wind or unsafe conditions.
  • Use red-filtered or low-impact lighting where practicable, and keep lighting brief at known den trees.
  • Photograph animals only where this can be done without prolonged disturbance.

Survey methodology: 3. Stag-watching and hollow inspection

Watch hollow-bearing trees from a safe distance before work starts and around the period when animals leave or return to a den. This can reveal trees that are missed during a short spotlighting search.

Inspect hollows from the ground. Look for scratches, worn bark, staining, hair, nest material, fresh debris, chew marks, animal noises and repeated entries or exits.

Do not place a person into a hollow or use intrusive equipment unless it is authorised, safe and undertaken by a suitably qualified person.

  • Mark every hollow-bearing tree and assign it a unique number.
  • Record hollow entrance height, aspect, approximate size, tree condition and likely access route without inventing a precise measurement where it cannot be assessed safely.
  • Use thermal equipment, call playback or cameras only where approved and where the method will not disturb the animal or other fauna.

Survey methodology: 4. Interpreting colonies and breeding places

Savanna Gliders den communally in tree hollows. Several animals may share one breeding hollow, so a den tree can represent more animals than are seen during a survey.

These are not colonies in the same way as bat colonies or waterbird breeding colonies. A colony is better understood here as a small group sharing a den or breeding hollow. Reliable typical colony sizes have not been established.

Assume a hollow with repeated use may be an active breeding place until checks show otherwise. Long-term site fidelity has not been well defined, so do not treat an empty hollow as unused.

  • Look for several animals using the same hollow, repeated entries and exits, young, pouch activity, vocalisations, nest material or fresh den debris.
  • Map associated hollow trees and nearby habitat, not just the tree where an animal was seen.
  • Record the evidence supporting an active breeding place and have the ecologist set the required protection area.

Before habitat disturbance: 1. Avoidance, approvals and permits

Plan clearing around hollow-bearing trees and communal dens. Avoid disturbance wherever practicable, and obtain the approvals required for the jurisdiction and the whole project, not just for this species.

Redesign the work footprint to retain mature trees, hollow-bearing trees, dead standing trees, den trees and connected woodland habitat.

Have the project ecologist check whether an EPBC Act referral is needed for any listed matter or other protected matter. The Savanna Glider itself is not EPBC listed.

In Queensland, treat the Savanna Glider as a least concern colonial breeder where the proposed action may tamper with a breeding place. Obtain and follow the required high risk species management program under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 before work begins.

  • Check state wildlife and vegetation clearing requirements in New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, as applicable.
  • Obtain any fauna handling, relocation, collection or rehabilitation permissions required by the relevant state or territory authority.
  • Keep approved plans, permits, conditions, maps and contact details at the site office and in the supervisor’s vehicle.

Before habitat disturbance: 2. Pre-clearance survey and den-tree plan

Complete a targeted pre-clearance survey close enough to the clearing date to identify current use. Recheck trees if work is delayed or the site changes.

Use daylight hollow inspection, nocturnal spotlighting and stag-watching. Identify trees with communal den evidence and trees that could provide replacement shelter if the main den is lost.

Set a site-specific protection area around each active breeding place, den tree and associated habitat. The ecologist should define the area from the tree, access routes, work type, noise, lighting and risk of collapse.

  • Flag no-go trees clearly and show them on the clearing plan.
  • Do not rely on a single quiet night or a single empty hollow to clear a tree.
  • Schedule a final fauna briefing immediately before clearing starts.

Before habitat disturbance: 3. Timing, exclusion and crew induction

There is no well-established migration calendar for this species. Do not assume that an absence of seasonal movement means a den is unused.

Where breeding activity is suspected, avoid clearing the den tree until the ecologist and approving authority confirm that work can proceed. Apply any timing condition in the SMP, permit or approval.

Use physical exclusion and a no-entry zone where these will not trap an animal or block access to a communal den. Exclusion must be designed by the fauna ecologist.

  • Induct all workers on the species, hollow-bearing trees, no-go markings, lighting limits and the stop-work process.
  • Tell workers never to touch, chase, feed or remove a glider.
  • Give the spotter catcher authority to stop work immediately when an animal, active breeding place or unexpected hollow is found.
  • Keep machinery, spoil, vehicles and temporary lighting outside marked protection areas.

Before habitat disturbance: 4. Plan the two-stage removal of hollow-bearing trees

Where an approved removal cannot be avoided, use a two-stage process. First remove non-hollow limbs and surrounding vegetation under fauna supervision, while retaining the hollow-bearing section where safe.

Allow the spotter catcher and ecologist to check the retained section and surrounding ground for animals before the final section is felled. The final method must be selected for tree condition, fall direction, safety and approval conditions.

Do not use a two-stage process where it would increase the risk of a hollow collapsing or an animal being trapped. Retain the tree if safe and practicable.

  • Prepare an exclusion zone large enough for the planned fall and for fauna handling.
  • Use soft-fall methods where practicable and safe, rather than dropping hollow sections directly onto hard ground.
  • Place retained hollow sections or replacement structures only where the ecologist has selected a safe, suitable location.

During habitat disturbance: 1. Sequential clearing under fauna supervision

Clearing should proceed slowly, with the spotter catcher controlling the sequence around habitat trees. Stop work whenever conditions differ from the approved clearing plan or an animal may be at risk.

Clear non-habitat vegetation towards retained habitat so animals have an escape route. Work in small, controlled stages rather than opening the whole site at once.

Inspect each tree and hollow immediately before disturbance. Use the approved two-stage method for hollow-bearing trees.

Keep machinery stopped while the spotter catcher checks hollows, crowns, buttresses, felled sections and the ground beneath trees.

  • Start work only after the daily fauna briefing and pre-start inspection.
  • Maintain clear communication between the machine operator, spotter catcher, ecologist and supervisor.
  • Stop for poor visibility, unsafe wind, equipment failure or any breach of the approved method.

During habitat disturbance: 2. Animals, active breeding places and communal dens

If a Savanna Glider is found, stop nearby work and allow the spotter catcher to assess the situation. Do not chase it from the tree or block its escape route.

If an active breeding place or communal den is found, stop work around the tree. Protect the tree and associated habitat while the ecologist determines whether the place can be avoided, whether an approval amendment is needed and whether any authorised action is safe.

Do not fell a den tree containing animals, young or an active breeding place unless the action is specifically authorised and the approved fauna procedure requires it.

  • Record the tree number, location, evidence of use, animals present, photographs and the decision made.
  • Use an approved nest box or other substitute only where the ecologist and approval conditions support it.
  • Do not assume that moving one animal solves the risk to the other animals sharing the hollow.

During habitat disturbance: 3. Handling and injured animal response

Only authorised and suitably trained people may capture, handle or relocate a glider. Keep handling to the minimum needed for safety, assessment or an approved relocation.

Use a clean, ventilated holding container, keep it dark and quiet, and protect the animal from heat, cold, dogs, machinery and unnecessary examination.

If an animal is injured, contact the project ecologist and the approved wildlife carer, veterinarian or authority immediately. Do not give food, water or medication unless directed by a qualified wildlife professional.

  • Record the finder, time, location, condition, photographs, temporary container and every transfer of custody.
  • Keep the animal separate from other fauna unless a wildlife professional directs otherwise.
  • Release or relocate the animal only under the relevant approval and wildlife professional’s direction.

During habitat disturbance: 4. Clearing records and stop-work events

Maintain a fauna register throughout the clearing operation. Include live sightings, den trees, hollows inspected, animals handled, injuries, deaths, relocations, nest boxes installed and all stop-work events.

Record the clearing method, tree number, date, weather, personnel, machinery and outcome for each hollow-bearing tree.

Report incidents and approval breaches to the project manager, ecologist and relevant authority within the timeframe set by the approval or SMP.

  • Keep daily maps and photographs linked to tree numbers.
  • Document why a tree was removed, retained, staged or modified.
  • Do not restart work after a stop-work event until the authorised person gives clearance.

After habitat disturbance: 1. Immediate post-clearance checks

Post-clearance checks confirm that no animals, young or den material were left behind and that the site matches the approved clearing record. Follow-up should focus on retained habitat, replacement structures and any relocated animals.

Inspect the cleared area, felled hollow sections, retained trees, machinery exclusion zones and ground beneath removed trees before the crew leaves the work area.

Search for live animals, injured fauna, carcasses, young, nest material and signs that a hollow was occupied.

Check that all no-go trees, protection areas and replacement structures remain undamaged.

  • Have the spotter catcher sign off each clearing stage.
  • Recheck retained trees after nearby vibration, excavation, fire or other high-risk work.
  • Keep any potentially occupied hollow section undisturbed until the ecologist has assessed it.

After habitat disturbance: 2. Reporting and compliance close-out

Prepare a clearing report that matches the approved plan. Include survey methods, effort, weather, tree and hollow records, fauna observations, handling events, incidents and mitigation measures.

Submit reports to the project manager, approval holder and relevant authority where required. Keep records available for audit.

Compare actual clearing with the approved footprint and identify any unapproved disturbance before the project moves to the next stage.

  • Attach maps, photographs, permits, SMP conditions, induction records and wildlife care records.
  • Record every animal outcome, including no animal found.
  • Escalate missing records or uncertainty rather than filling gaps with assumptions.

After habitat disturbance: 3. Relocated animals and replacement structures

Confirm where each relocated animal was released, who authorised the release and whether a wildlife professional assessed it first.

Inspect nest boxes and other approved substitute structures after installation, then at intervals set by the ecologist or approval conditions.

Treat a new structure as a mitigation measure, not proof that the lost den function has been replaced.

  • Record box location, design, mounting method, orientation, tree condition and installation date.
  • Check for occupancy, damage, water entry, predators, ants and overheating without disturbing occupants.
  • Repair, replace or remove structures only under the ecologist’s direction.

After habitat disturbance: 4. Incident review and adaptive management

Review any injury, death, unexpected den, failed exclusion, tree collapse or breach with the clearing crew and ecologist.

Identify whether the cause was survey timing, poor marking, machinery movement, lighting, communication or an unsuitable clearing sequence.

Update the site method statement, induction and exclusion plan before the next clearing stage.

  • Share lessons with operators, spotter catchers and subcontractors.
  • Use incident findings to refine future hollow-tree surveys and den protection.
  • Notify the approving authority where the approval, permit or SMP requires incident reporting.

Rehabilitation actions: 1. Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore connected woodland structure and retain future den trees. Savanna Gliders depend on tree hollows, so replacement structures can assist but cannot quickly replace mature hollow-bearing trees.

Retain mature trees, dead standing trees and hollow-bearing trees wherever safe. Protect retained trees from soil compaction, root damage, fire, vehicle impact and repeated lighting.

Replant locally appropriate woodland species that will provide canopy, food resources and future hollows. Use local ecological advice and approved restoration plans for species selection.

Reconnect retained habitat with planted or protected vegetation where the site design allows.

  • Fence rehabilitation areas before construction traffic enters the site.
  • Use mulch, erosion controls and watering methods that do not bury trunks or block hollow entrances.
  • Keep domestic animals, construction waste and stored materials out of rehabilitation areas.

Rehabilitation actions: 2. Nest boxes and artificial den structures

Install glider nest boxes where mature hollow trees have been lost and the ecologist considers them suitable for Savanna Gliders. Place them near retained habitat and away from intense construction lighting and disturbance.

Use designs, materials and placement methods approved for gliders. A general bird box or bat box is not automatically suitable for this species.

Artificial nest sites and retained hollow sections may assist local shelter, but their use by Savanna Gliders is not guaranteed.

  • Have a qualified person select the structure, location and mounting method.
  • Secure boxes so they cannot fall, rotate, overheat or fill with water.
  • Inspect structures for occupancy and defects under an agreed monitoring plan, without opening occupied boxes unnecessarily.
  • Do not relocate a box or hollow section after installation without ecological advice.

Rehabilitation actions: 3. Weeds, fire, water and lighting

Control weeds that suppress native regeneration or alter den-tree access. Use methods that minimise harm to gliders and other fauna.

Manage fire in accordance with the local ecological and cultural fire plan. Avoid damaging retained hollow trees and replacement structures.

Provide water only where it is part of the approved rehabilitation design and can be maintained safely without creating disease, drowning or predator risks.

Use downward-directed, warm, shielded lighting. Switch off temporary lighting when work does not require it, especially near retained trees and nest boxes.

  • Inspect rehabilitation areas for invasive plants, erosion, rubbish and feral animal activity.
  • Keep tree hollows and box entrances clear of vines and obstructing growth.
  • Do not create open water or feeding stations solely to attract gliders.

Rehabilitation actions: 4. Long-term monitoring

Monitor retained den trees, replacement structures, habitat condition and nearby fauna use for the period required by the approval or rehabilitation plan.

Use repeated daytime inspections, nocturnal spotlighting and remote cameras where suitable. Minimise handling and disturbance during monitoring.

Record occupancy, signs of use, tree condition, box condition, predators, weeds, fire effects and changes in surrounding vegetation.

  • Use the same locations, methods and recording fields at each monitoring visit.
  • Treat non-detection as inconclusive where the species is difficult to detect or survey conditions were poor.
  • Use monitoring results to repair structures, improve habitat and adjust future site management.

Sources