10 June 2009

Mulligan's fox fence finished

| Gungahlin Al
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ABC has the news that the feral-proof fence around a big chunk of Mulligan’s Flat (next to Forde) has now been finished.

A project of the BOB (Bush on Boundary) group of environment organisations, the purpose of this fence is to preserve a section of grassy box woodland in a feral-free state, and even allow reintroduction of some long-lost species of the region such as bettongs, that have been highly prone to foxes and cats. Probably allow restoration of some plant species hammered by bunnies too.

With the fence now in place, I imagine the next stage will be to eradicate any ferals inside, and possible ‘balance’ the numbers of roos in there too. (Is this going to trigger another protest? Bunnies and pussies are so cute – surely they should just be relocated??)

Once in place, studies can be done to give a real picture of the damage done by ferals (and imbalanced natives too), vs what goes on outside the fence. Be interesting to see the changes over the next few years.

[ED – The Chiefly One’s media release is also available.]

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Peewee Slasher12:30 pm 11 Jun 09

I note in the media report on last nights television news, that when asked what will happen if the rehabilitation is overly successful, i.e., the reserve becomes full of native residents to over-population, the reply was “sheepishly” from the expert, that some form of native predator may have to be introduced.

What? Dingoes?

They really thought about this one.

I was lucky enough to drive through the area last week before it’s controlled closure. Very nice bit of bush, a few roo’s. Didn’t see any Bettongs (or feel them underfoot).

Gungahlin Al10:28 am 11 Jun 09

ant said :

then half of canberra’s workforce would be gone.

I’d like this for the rabbits, they’ve come back roaring in teh last year. so much for calicivirus. They’re everywhere.

Rabbits especially at the Jerra Wetlands – A pox on the ACT Gov’t for their mismanagement of this reserve.

then half of canberra’s workforce would be gone.

I’d like this for the rabbits, they’ve come back roaring in teh last year. so much for calicivirus. They’re everywhere.

Holden Caulfield11:51 pm 10 Jun 09

FAIL.

Surely this fence should have been installed around Queanbeyan.

The Eastern Bettong had two sub species, Bettongia gaimardi cuniculus (the Tasmanian Bettong) and Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi (the eastern Bettong). The only one native to this area is Bettongia gaimardi gaimardi which has been presumed extinct since the 1920’s.

The Tasmanian Bettong is regarded as common in Tasmania, because of the until recent exclusion of foxes (sightings and other evidence has been mounting since 2000 that the fox has arrived). The other big risk to bettongs is fires – another thing we don’t manage really well. 1080 isn’t great either.

Reintroduction of the native sub-species of bettong seems not to be an option. I don’t entirely see the point of importing other bettong species.

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