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Spinifex Mulgara (Dasycercus blythi)

The Spinifex Mulgara is a small, nocturnal carnivorous marsupial of arid Australia. It is associated mainly with spinifex hummock grasslands, sandy plains and dunes, and may be present on projects that clear or fragment desert vegetation, disturb burrows or alter fire and predator regimes.

Conservation status

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Endangered.

Breeding season

Timing varies between populations and follows seasonal conditions. The pattern below uses the documented cooler-month breeding period and the reported movement and rainfall responses. Exact monthly timing is not available for every population.

Month values are January to December. The source material describes seasons rather than fixed calendar months, so the monthly pattern is an operational guide rather than a confirmed national breeding calendar.

  • Breeding: Mating and breeding occur mainly in cooler months, but the exact months vary among populations.
  • Young: Gestation is approximately 30 days and young are weaned over a few months, so dependent young may remain associated with burrows after breeding.
  • Movement and dispersal: Young males commonly disperse from their birthplace. Longer movements in arid small mammals may increase during or after rain, but no fixed monthly migration period is documented.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is highest during the documented cooler-month breeding period and the following period when dependent young may remain in or near burrows. Clearing is also high risk at any time where active burrows, mature spinifex refuges or post-rain concentrations are present.

Identification

The Spinifex Mulgara is a small, robust dasyurid with a distinctive thick, brush-like tail used for fat storage. It is most likely to be detected at night, by camera traps, trapping or signs around burrows.

Adults are reported to measure approximately 18 to 23 cm at maturity and weigh 75 to 120 g. The tail is thick and brush-like, and is a useful feature when the animal is seen clearly. The species is a ground-dwelling, nocturnal marsupial.

The coat, body proportions and tail should be assessed together. Size can overlap with other small dasyurids, so photographs or a captured animal should be checked against current taxonomic keys where identification is important.

Body size: 18 to 23 cm at maturity.

Tail length reported: 12 to 18 cm.

Weight: 75 to 120 g.

Activity: Nocturnal.

Identification: Similar species

The Spinifex Mulgara can occur in the same general parts of central Australia as the Crest-tailed Mulgara, Dasycercus cristicauda. Habitat alone is not a reliable identification method because the two species may occur in nearby areas and their distributions can vary with rainfall and fire history.

The available species study found that D. cristicauda was associated mainly with spinifex-dominated sand ridges, while D. blythi occupied sandplains and gibber plains. These habitat associations can assist field assessment but should not replace examination of diagnostic characters.

  • Record clear photographs of the head, body, tail and any distinctive markings before release.
  • Do not assign species from a burrow, track or camera image alone if Dasycercus species may overlap.
  • Use a current taxonomic key or obtain specialist confirmation for regulatory records and translocation decisions.

Identification: Field signs

Known signs include shallow burrows, tracks, scats and diggings. Burrows are often under spinifex and may be used as daytime retreats or by females sheltering young.

Camera traps are effective for confirming occurrence. At the Lake Wells survey area, the species was detected by camera traps, trapping, burrows, tracks and diggings. It was recorded at several sites and several individuals were trapped at a spinifex sandplain site.

No species-specific call, nest, slough or eyeshine description is provided in the supplied documents. Night searches should therefore focus on direct sightings, camera detections and burrow or track evidence.

  • Search beneath and beside spinifex hummocks for shallow burrow entrances.
  • Inspect sandy ground for small mammal tracks, diggings and scat accumulations around burrows.
  • Use motion-sensor cameras in spinifex-dominated habitat, including off-track areas, rather than relying only on vehicle tracks.
  • Do not excavate or block burrows during searches.

Distribution: States and bioregions

The Spinifex Mulgara occurs across arid Australia, with records and survey information from Western Australia and central Australia. Its distribution has contracted and become more fragmented since the 1930s, although the species remains widespread in suitable spinifex country.

The supplied sources document the species in Western Australia, including the Lake Wells area and the Great Victoria Desert, and in central Australia, including Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The species is described more broadly from the north-western, central and south-western arid zone, which includes arid parts of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Relevant named areas in the supplied material include the Great Victoria Desert, the Lake Wells area and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. The documents do not provide a complete state-by-state distribution map or a definitive list of all occupied IBRA bioregions.

Documented states and regions: Western Australia, central Australia, the Great Victoria Desert and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Broader range described: North-western, central and south-western arid Australia.

State status supplied: South Australia, Endangered; Western Australia, Priority 4.

  • Treat suitable spinifex sandplain, sandy dune and gibber plain habitat as potentially occupied where the species is within its arid-zone range.
  • Check state and territory databases before works because the species has state-level conservation significance even though it is not listed under the EPBC Act.

Distribution: Strongholds and population trend

The Great Victoria Desert is a stronghold in the supplied material. The Great Victoria Desert Biodiversity Trust reported records from surveys across the desert since 2017 and described a viable population in western desert spinifex habitat.

The species was widely recorded in the Lake Wells study area, with detections across several sites. A central Australian study captured 55 D. blythi over 39 months across 20 monitoring plots and 49 additional survey sites within a 7,000 km2 area.

The species was once more widespread and common across the central deserts. A decline and increased fragmentation have been reported since the 1930s. One source describes the population as stable or declining only slowly, but there is no current national population estimate.

Population estimate: No national population estimate is provided.

Central Australian study: 55 D. blythi captured over 39 months across 20 monitoring plots and 49 additional sites within 7,000 km2.

Historical trend: Reported decline and increased fragmentation since the 1930s.

Recent Great Victoria Desert result: Records from surveys since 2017, with a viable population reported in western desert spinifex habitat.

Habitat: Habitat types

The Spinifex Mulgara is strongly associated with arid hummock grasslands and sandy substrates. Habitat assessment should focus on spinifex cover, soil type, burrow availability and the age and arrangement of recently burnt and mature patches.

The main habitat is spinifex hummock grassland, including spinifex sandplains and sandy dunes. The species also occurs on sandplain and gibber plain, and may use mulga woodland where there is a spinifex understorey.

At Lake Wells, spinifex sandplains had deep orange-red sands supporting Triodia desertorum and or Triodia basedowii, often with open mallee woodland and Acacia shrubland. These deep sands provide suitable conditions for burrowing fauna.

Typical vegetation: Triodia hummock grassland, with possible mallee, Acacia shrubland or mulga overstorey.

Typical soils: Deep red sand, sandy plain, sandy dune and some gibber plain.

  • Map spinifex sandplains, sandy dunes, clay-loam dunes with spinifex and sandy parts of mulga woodland.
  • Retain connected spinifex patches and avoid treating recently burnt areas as unoccupied without suitable survey effort.
  • Record areas of gibber plain where burrows, tracks or camera detections are present.

Habitat: Structure and disturbance history

Individuals use both mature spinifex and open regrowth areas, but animals living mainly in open regrowth after fire may face greater exposure to introduced predators. Severe reduction of spinifex cover through clearing, grazing, fire prevention works or intense fire may reduce habitat quality.

No elevation limit is provided. The species is described as an arid-zone mammal, and the supplied documents do not give a specific elevation range or rainfall threshold.

  • Record spinifex height, cover, patch size, burn age and the distance to unburnt or mature spinifex.
  • Identify shallow sandy soils and areas with burrowable substrate before clearing.
  • Retain refuge patches and avoid isolating them with wide cleared corridors.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding sites

The Spinifex Mulgara is a nocturnal predator that searches through arid ground cover for animal prey. Food availability and rainfall strongly influence activity and population abundance.

The diet includes a wide range of invertebrates, frogs, reptiles and small mammals. The animal forages at night in spinifex hummocks, sandy plains, dunes and adjacent open regrowth areas.

Rainfall can produce pulses of prey and small mammal abundance. The species may show marked population increases after substantial rainfall, while numbers and food availability decline during dry winter and spring conditions.

Recorded prey groups: Invertebrates, frogs, reptiles and small mammals.

Foraging period: Mainly at night.

Rainfall response: Population increases may follow rainfall-driven food pulses.

  • Protect intact spinifex and the litter and soil surface beneath hummocks, which support invertebrates and provide cover while the animal forages.
  • Avoid broad-scale removal of spinifex where it is the only connected foraging cover.
  • Inspect potential habitat after rainfall because activity and detectability may increase.

Foraging habitat: Foraging range

Radio-tracked animals used defined home ranges with substantial overlap between neighbours. In one winter study, mean male home range was 25.5 ha and mean female home range was 10.8 ha.

Home ranges included mature spinifex and open regrowth. The available evidence does not establish a standard home-range size for all regions or seasons.

Mean male home range in one study: 25.5 ha.

Mean female home range in one study: 10.8 ha.

Home-range overlap: Extensive overlap occurred between neighbouring animals and between sexes.

  • Assess habitat beyond the immediate clearing footprint because individuals may forage across both mature and regrowth spinifex.
  • Treat nearby connected spinifex and sandy habitat as part of the potential foraging area when planning access, laydown and infrastructure.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding is linked to cooler months and resource availability. Females use burrows for sheltering young, and breeding output may increase after rainfall-driven food pulses.

Breeding occurs mainly in cooler months in many populations, although reproduction is opportunistic and influenced by seasonal resource pulses. Gestation is short, at approximately 30 days, and litters may contain up to six young.

Young are weaned over several months. Young females may remain near their birthplace, while young males commonly disperse from the natal area.

Breeding season: Mainly in cooler months, with timing varying among populations.

Litter size: Up to six young.

Gestation: Approximately 30 days.

Weaning: Young are weaned over a few months.

Age at maturity: Not reported in the supplied documents.

Lifespan: Not reported in the supplied documents.

  • Avoid clearing active burrows and immediately surrounding spinifex during the cooler-month breeding period where practicable.
  • If clearing cannot be timed away from this period, inspect suitable spinifex habitat and burrows before works and apply approved fauna handling procedures.
  • Record females with pouch young or dependent young separately from adult detections.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

Breeding habitat includes spinifex hummocks and sandy substrates that support shallow burrows. Burrows under spinifex are used as day retreats and to shelter young.

Multiple burrows may be used within a home range, and more than one animal may use a burrow. The supplied documents do not give a measured den or burrow diameter.

  • Mark active burrows and retain the surrounding spinifex and sandy substrate.
  • Use a buffer around active burrows according to the relevant approval, fauna management plan and spotter-catcher direction.
  • Do not fill, collapse, smoke or otherwise block burrows during clearing or construction.

Sheltering habitat: Burrows and cover

The species shelters during the day in shallow burrows, commonly beneath spinifex. Burrow networks and intact ground cover provide protection from heat, predators and dry conditions.

Shallow burrows are used as daytime retreats and to shelter young. Individuals use several burrows within their home ranges, and some burrows may be shared or used by more than one individual at the same time.

Burrows occur in sandy substrates and are often associated with spinifex hummocks. Mature spinifex and open regrowth can both occur within home ranges, but animals in open regrowth may be more exposed to introduced predators.

Shelter type: Shallow burrows, often under spinifex.

Burrow use: Individuals use several burrows; some burrows may be used by more than one animal.

Burrow dimensions: Not reported in the supplied documents.

  • Search under spinifex hummocks and along the margins of sandy dunes and sandplains.
  • Protect burrows, nearby hummocks, leaf litter and low vegetation from vehicle traffic and stockpiling.
  • Inspect spoil, windrows and cleared vegetation before moving or removing them because they may conceal animals or burrow entrances.

Sheltering habitat: Dry-period refuges

Arid-zone populations can contract to refuge patches during dry periods and expand after rainfall. The supplied material indicates that the Spinifex Mulgara continues to use spinifex grassland during dry and non-dry periods, but the exact dry-period refuges are not fully identified.

Retaining connected mature spinifex, sandy habitat and nearby patches of suitable regrowth can help maintain shelter and movement options between resource pulses.

  • Avoid clearing all mature spinifex from a work area when suitable habitat occurs as a series of small patches.
  • Retain habitat links between burrow areas, mature spinifex and sandy foraging areas.
  • Map refuge patches separately from recently burnt or heavily disturbed ground.

Threats: Predators

The main documented threats are predation by feral Cats and Foxes, habitat loss and severe loss of spinifex cover through clearing, grazing and inappropriate fire. Project planning should also account for fragmentation, burrow disturbance and changes in rainfall or food availability.

Feral Cats and Foxes are major threats to small and medium-sized arid mammals. The risk may increase after fire when animals are exposed in open regrowth, and low abundance during dry periods may make local populations more vulnerable.

Feral Cats were recorded at the Lake Wells study area and in Great Victoria Desert monitoring. The supplied documents identify predation by feral Cats and European Red Foxes as key threatening processes under the EPBC Act.

  • Record feral Cat and Fox detections during fauna surveys and construction monitoring.
  • Include predator control or monitoring in project fauna management plans where approved and practicable.
  • Avoid creating new bare corridors or waste areas that increase predator access to remaining spinifex patches.

Threats: Clearing, fragmentation and grazing

Clearing for mining and infrastructure can remove spinifex, sandy burrow habitat and connected foraging areas. Severe reduction of cover may be more damaging than moderate, localised reduction, particularly where remaining patches are small or isolated.

Camels, cattle and Rabbits can damage vegetation, reduce cover, disturb soil and compete with native fauna for food and shelter. Fragmentation is also a concern because the species uses home ranges of several hectares and may need to move between habitat patches.

  • Avoid clearing active burrow areas and retain connected spinifex around infrastructure.
  • Keep vehicle movements on defined tracks and prevent unnecessary off-track crushing of hummocks.
  • Control grazing and feral herbivore impacts where they are reducing spinifex cover or damaging burrow substrate.
  • Inspect clearing boundaries, stockpiles and windrows for burrows before disturbance.

Threats: Fire and rainfall change

Fire changes spinifex cover and can create open regrowth areas where predation risk is higher. Very frequent, extensive or intense fire may remove the mature hummock cover and burrow habitat needed by the species, while a patchy fire mosaic may provide a mixture of shelter and regrowth.

Rainfall drives pulses of prey and small mammals, and extreme or altered rainfall patterns may change abundance and distribution. The supplied documents do not provide a species-specific disease threat or a measured hydrological threshold.

Disease evidence: No species-specific disease threat is identified in the supplied documents.

Hydrology evidence: Rainfall and resource pulses influence abundance, but no specific hydrological threshold is reported.

  • Map fire history and retain unburnt or mature spinifex refuges within and beside project areas.
  • Do not burn cleared vegetation or conduct prescribed fire near active burrows without ecological assessment and approval.
  • Assess water diversion, drainage, dewatering and altered runoff for effects on sandy soils, spinifex condition and prey availability.
  • Treat disease as a general fauna biosecurity issue because no specific disease threat is identified in the supplied material.

Survey methodology: 1. Habitat assessment and sign searches

Survey effort should target sandy spinifex habitat, especially spinifex sandplains, sand dunes and sandier mulga woodland. The species is nocturnal, uses shallow burrows under spinifex, and may be difficult to detect during dry periods or when population density is low.

Map spinifex hummock grassland, sandy dunes, sandplains and mulga woodland with a spinifex understorey before selecting survey sites.

Search during daylight for shallow burrows, tracks, scats and diggings under or near spinifex hummocks.

Record each sign with a GPS location and photograph, and assess whether the sign is fresh, occupied or old.

Give priority to habitat mosaics containing mature spinifex, open regrowth and nearby unburnt cover, because mulgaras use several burrows within their home ranges and may face greater predator exposure in open regrowth after fire.

Typical adult size: 18 to 23 cm body length, with a 12 to 18 cm tail

Typical mass: 75 to 120 g

Known home range in one study: Males averaged 25.5 ha and females averaged 10.8 ha

Survey methodology: 2. Camera trapping

Use motion-sensor cameras in spinifex sandplains, sandy dunes and mulga with a spinifex understorey, including locations with burrows or other recent signs.

Place cameras off tracks where practicable, because off-track placement provides better information on habitat use and species presence than cameras focused only on vehicle activity.

Bait cameras with a mixture of rolled oats, peanut butter and sardines where permitted by the project method and animal welfare requirements.

Run cameras for enough nights to cover the planned survey period and report the number of cameras, trap-nights, locations, baiting and deployment dates.

Check images for mulgaras, feral cats and foxes, and retain full-resolution images with coordinates and camera metadata.

Example survey effort: A Lake Wells survey used 32 camera sites for 199 trap-nights in 2018, with an earlier deployment achieving 1,072 trap-nights

Detection result from that survey: Camera traps detected Brush-tailed Mulgaras at several sites, with several individuals trapped at Site 10

Survey methodology: 3. Trapping and targeted searches

Use live trapping only under the relevant animal ethics approval, scientific licence and state conditions, with checks and shelter arranged to protect small nocturnal mammals from heat and exposure.

Combine pitfall traps, Elliott traps, funnel traps and cage traps where trapping is justified by the project risk assessment and approved method.

Target sandy habitat and spinifex sandplains, and avoid opening traps during conditions that could expose animals to excessive heat or dehydration.

Walk transects through potential habitat and record burrows, tracks, scats and diggings with GPS coordinates and photographs.

Use spotlighting after dark along suitable habitat and access routes, recording the date, start and finish times, route length, weather, observers and detection conditions.

Example trapping effort: Nine sites each used ten pitfall traps, ten funnel traps, 20 Elliott traps and two cage traps for seven nights

Example targeted-search effort: 223 km of transects were walked in the 2018 Lake Wells survey

Example spotlighting effort: Spotlighting was conducted on two nights from 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm, with an additional one-hour search from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Survey methodology: 4. Timing and detection conditions

Schedule surveys after suitable rainfall or when food resources and small mammal activity are expected to increase, while recognising that abundance can decline during low-rainfall periods.

Avoid relying on a single survey season because the species may fluctuate between years and can be present at low density during dry periods.

Survey at night when the species is active, and include daytime searches because burrows and other secondary signs can remain detectable when animals are not observed.

Record recent fire history and the condition of spinifex cover at every site, because fire can alter cover and may increase exposure to introduced predators.

Breeding period: Breeding is mainly in cooler months, with gestation of about 30 days and litters of up to six

Habitat association: Strongly associated with Triodia hummock fields and sandy dunes

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Use a qualified ecologist to prepare the survey design and a trained fauna spotter catcher to undertake pre-clearance searches and manage any captured animal.
  • At minimum, combine habitat mapping and sign searches with nocturnal detection, preferably camera trapping, where suitable habitat may be disturbed.
  • State the area searched, habitat types, survey dates and times, weather, recent rainfall, fire history, methods, effort, trap-nights or camera-nights, GPS tracks and all detection results.
  • Report positive and negative results separately, and identify survey limitations such as heat, access, dry conditions, short deployment periods or incomplete coverage.
  • Submit confirmed records and associated coordinates, photographs and voucher information to the relevant state wildlife database, including the South Australian database where work occurs in South Australia.
  • Check the current state listing and project approval requirements before fieldwork, because the species is listed as Endangered in South Australia and as a Priority 4 species in Western Australia.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise

Treat sandy spinifex habitat as potential Brush-tailed Mulgara habitat even where the species has not been detected. Plan around burrows, retained spinifex cover, fire history and the presence of feral predators.

  • Avoid clearing spinifex sandplains, sandy dunes and sandier mulga woodland where practicable.
  • Retain connected patches of spinifex, mature hummocks, sandy substrate and nearby unburnt or structurally diverse cover.
  • Keep disturbance footprints narrow and use existing access routes where practicable.
  • Avoid isolating retained habitat within cleared areas, because individuals use several burrows within home ranges and may move between habitat patches.
  • Do not assume that recently burnt or open regrowth areas are unused, because mulgaras may use both mature spinifex and open regrowth.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

  • Confirm the current EPBC Act status before works and complete a referral assessment if the species is nationally listed or if another nationally protected matter may be affected.
  • Check state threatened fauna, scientific licence, animal ethics, relocation and wildlife rehabilitation requirements before survey or handling.
  • Obtain any South Australian approval required for work affecting this Endangered species.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that defines survey effort, spotter catcher authority, exclusion zones, handling, relocation, injury response, stop-work triggers and reporting.
  • Stage clearing so that retained habitat is available nearby before animals are moved or works commence.
  • Schedule clearing outside the main cooler-month breeding period where practicable, and avoid periods of extreme heat or very dry conditions.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance inspection of all sandy spinifex habitat, including the proposed footprint, access tracks, laydown areas and spoil areas.
  • Mark burrows, fresh tracks, scats, diggings, dense spinifex patches and habitat that will be retained.
  • Use exclusion fencing where it can direct animals away from the work area without trapping them or blocking access to food, shelter or retained habitat.
  • Brief machinery operators on the exclusion zones, daily clearance sequence, spotter catcher signals and stop-work procedure.
  • Control or remove food and shelter attractants associated with the worksite where this can be done without disturbing retained habitat, and record feral cat and fox activity.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls

Clear progressively and keep a trained spotter catcher with the active work front. The work method must allow animals to move into retained habitat and must stop when an animal, occupied burrow or unexpected habitat feature is encountered.

  • Inspect exclusion fencing, gates and the active work area before machinery starts each day.
  • Complete a daily visual search of spinifex hummocks, burrows, sandy banks, spoil piles and any newly exposed ground.
  • Clear vegetation progressively in small sections towards retained habitat, where the site layout allows safe movement away from machinery.
  • Keep machinery within the approved footprint and maintain the marked exclusion zones.
  • Record daily weather, personnel, machinery, area cleared, fauna observations, signs, incidents and any changes to the approved method.

During habitat disturbance: Spotter catcher and machinery

  • Position the fauna spotter catcher where they can see the clearing face, ground immediately ahead of machinery and any retreat route into retained habitat.
  • Use a pre-agreed stop signal and require the operator to stop immediately when the spotter catcher identifies an animal, occupied burrow, fresh sign or unsafe condition.
  • Do not allow machinery to collapse, fill or drive over a suspected occupied burrow until the spotter catcher and ecologist have assessed it.
  • Use hand clearing around marked burrows and dense spinifex where machinery cannot safely distinguish habitat from an animal shelter.
  • Keep people, vehicles and dogs away from any animal being assessed or handled.

During habitat disturbance: Animal handling and stop-work response

  • Stop work in the immediate area if a Brush-tailed Mulgara is found, and allow the authorised spotter catcher to assess whether it can move to retained habitat without handling.
  • Handle the animal only when necessary for safety, approved relocation, veterinary assessment or another lawful purpose, and use the minimum handling time required.
  • Use a ventilated, secure container with shade and appropriate bedding if temporary containment is authorised, and prevent overheating and dehydration.
  • Relocate an animal only under the approved plan, to nearby suitable retained spinifex habitat with cover and burrowing substrate, and record the release location and time.
  • Do not relocate an animal across roads, cleared areas or unsuitable habitat unless the approved fauna management plan specifically provides for that action.
  • Send injured or heat-stressed animals to an authorised wildlife carer or veterinarian, following the relevant state requirements.
  • Stop work and obtain advice from the project ecologist and relevant wildlife authority when the species is found repeatedly, a dependent young animal is found, a burrow cannot be safely avoided, or the approved relocation method is not suitable.

During habitat disturbance: Habitat features and records

  • Treat spinifex hummocks, sandy burrows, logs, rocks and dense litter as potential shelter features and inspect them before removal.
  • Retain and replace logs and rocks within nearby habitat where their removal is authorised and safe to do so.
  • Do not create artificial hollows or nest boxes as a substitute for mulgara habitat, because this species uses shallow burrows and spinifex cover rather than tree hollows.
  • Record every capture, handling event, relocation, injury, mortality, burrow treatment and stop-work event with photographs, GPS coordinates, date, time and personnel.
  • Report any mortality immediately under the approval conditions and investigate the cause before restarting work.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

Post-clearance work should confirm that no animal remains in the footprint, that retained habitat is functioning as intended and that project controls have not created new predator or fire risks.

  • Inspect the completed footprint, retained habitat edges, exclusion fencing and access routes for trapped, injured or displaced animals.
  • Recheck areas around disturbed burrows, spoil piles and dense spinifex after machinery has left and before fencing or temporary structures are removed.
  • Confirm that all relocated animals were released at the approved locations and that handling and release records are complete.
  • Remove fencing, containers and other project materials that could trap or injure small mammals once they are no longer required.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and adaptive controls

  • Use motion-sensor cameras or repeat sign searches in retained habitat where the project removes or fragments known mulgara habitat.
  • Monitor retained spinifex, sandy cover, burrow availability, feral cat and fox activity, and fire effects at the frequency set in the fauna management plan.
  • Compare monitoring results with pre-clearance records and investigate a decline in detections, increased predator activity or loss of spinifex cover.
  • Maintain exclusion fencing, predator controls and access restrictions until the project ecologist confirms that they are no longer needed.

After habitat disturbance: Reporting and offsets

  • Provide the regulator and relevant wildlife database with the final survey, clearance, handling, relocation, injury, mortality and monitoring results.
  • Map the final disturbance footprint, retained habitat, relocation sites, burrows and any rehabilitation areas.
  • Assess whether residual impacts remain after avoidance, minimisation, rehabilitation and monitoring measures.
  • Apply any approved offset or species conservation measure required by the relevant state approval or project consent.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore habitat structure

Rehabilitation should restore the sandy, spinifex-dominated structure used for shelter and foraging. It should also reduce exposure to feral predators and avoid creating a uniform, highly flammable cover pattern.

  • Replace suitable salvaged sandy soil and retain natural dune and sandplain contours where erosion control allows.
  • Re-establish local Triodia species and other local understorey plants that occur in the surrounding spinifex sandplain or sandy mulga woodland.
  • Restore a mix of dense hummocks, open spaces and regrowth stages rather than a uniform stand, because mulgaras use more than one vegetation condition.
  • Reinstate salvaged logs, rocks and coarse ground cover in nearby retained or rehabilitated habitat where they do not obstruct drainage or create a work hazard.
  • Maintain connected strips of spinifex between retained habitat patches and avoid introducing non-local soil, weeds or pasture species.

Rehabilitation actions: Fire and predator management

  • Prepare fire management with the relevant land managers and Traditional Owners, using patchy, cool burns only where supported by the approved ecological and cultural fire plan.
  • Avoid broad, high-intensity or repeated fire that removes extensive spinifex cover and leaves animals exposed in open regrowth.
  • Retain unburnt refuge patches and monitor fire age, spinifex cover and burrow availability after any planned burn.
  • Control feral cats and foxes where required by the approval or conservation plan, particularly in recently burnt or open regrowth habitat where predation risk may be higher.
  • Manage rabbits, camels and other herbivores where grazing or trampling is reducing spinifex cover or degrading sandy habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Known response to rainfall: Population increases can occur after large rainfall events when food resources increase

Known fire and predator concern: Mulgaras may face increased predation risk in open regrowth after fire

  • Monitor rehabilitation for establishment of local spinifex cover, persistence of sandy burrowing substrate, connectivity with retained habitat and evidence of active burrows or mulgara use.
  • Use repeat camera trapping and sign searches at the same locations and with comparable effort to the pre-clearance survey.
  • Set project-specific success measures for vegetation cover, weed absence, erosion, predator activity and mulgara detections before rehabilitation begins.
  • Continue monitoring through dry and wet conditions because populations can increase after rainfall and decline during low-rainfall periods.
  • Investigate failed revegetation, excessive fire, erosion or predator activity and repair the site before closing the rehabilitation obligation.

Sources