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A Squirrel Glider surprise

Published 16 Apr 2021 by Damon Bassett

I've been itching to find out if there are Squirrel Gliders on Tarcutta Hills Reserve on Wiradjuri country in southern New South Wales since taking up my Field Officer position there around 18 months ago.

With its Grassy White Box Woodlands, Tarcutta is perfect habitat for these beautiful gliding possums. However, Bush Heritage haven’t officially recorded them on the reserve before.

Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) are very similar to Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) but are distinguished by their larger size, bushier tails and slightly longer noses.

Nocturnal and omnivorous, they live primarily on insects like caterpillars, beetles and stick insects but also on pollen and nectar from Eucalypt trees.

They’re found across the Great Dividing Range from central Cape York in Queensland south to central Victoria, relying on large swathes of habitat and old-growth, hollow-bearing trees to survive.

Unlike the Sugar Glider, which is still relatively common in many areas, Squirrel Gliders have suffered significant declines and are classed as Vulnerable over much of their range, including in NSW. The local Wagga Wagga population of Squirrel Gliders is further listed as an endangered population.

Land clearing is one of their biggest threats so through an agricultural landscape like the Wagga region, paddock trees are extremely important for allowing the gliders to connect up with remnant habitat like Tarcutta Hills.

With the expert help of Mason Crane, a NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Squirrel Glider specialist, we recently set up six motion sensor cameras around Tarcutta Hills Reserve. The cameras were up for one week and when we checked them we found Squirrel Gliders recorded at four of the six sites.

It was an amazing moment as I hadn't expected to find them in so many places across the reserve! This could indicate that the population is established and has perhaps been there for a while.

Our team and Mason will be looking at what we can do to help further protect the population into the future, but for now I am personally satisfied that the Squirrel Gliders are safe and sound on the reserve!

Squirrel Gliders can measure up to 20cm long. They have a longer, more pointed face than their Sugar Glider cousins. This photo was taken on our Scottsdale Reserve by Jiri Lochman.  Squirrel Gliders can measure up to 20cm long. They have a longer, more pointed face than their Sugar Glider cousins. This photo was taken on our Scottsdale Reserve by Jiri Lochman.
One of the camera trap images recently captured on Tarcutta. Spot the very bushy tail that distinguishes Squirrel Gliders from Sugar Gliders. One of the camera trap images recently captured on Tarcutta. Spot the very bushy tail that distinguishes Squirrel Gliders from Sugar Gliders.
We think Tarcutta’s Squirrel Glider population could be healthy and thriving. We think Tarcutta’s Squirrel Glider population could be healthy and thriving.

Stories from Tarcutta

Woodlands at Tarcutta Hills. By Annette Ruzicka

BUSHTRACKS 13/06/2023

The first of many flames

A cultural burn at Tarcutta Hills Reserve, Wiradjuri Country, lights the way for the revival of right-way fire practices.

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BLOG 31/05/2021

Fence removal on Tarcutta

Volunteers Jim and Erica (Ricki) Nash recently embarked on their first volunteer experience at our Tarcutta Hills Reserve near Wagga Wagga, NSW to remove old fencing, supervised by long-standing Volunteer Team Leader Justin Kell.

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BLOG 31/05/2021

Tarcutta Hills rabbit survey

Volunteers Tom O'Hara and Georgie McManus recently complete a rabbit survey on our Tarcutta Hills Reserve, including the recently purchased neighbouring block.

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BLOG 16/04/2021

A Squirrel Glider surprise

With its Grassy White Box Woodlands, Tarcutta Hills is perfect habitat for Squirrel Gliders, but we haven’t officially recorded them on the reserve before.

Read More

BLOG 26/11/2020

Jord International help in the hills

In this turbulent 2020 year Jord’s annual Bush Heritage trip was hosted on the Tarcutta Hills Reserve to “do some good”, have some rest and relaxation and strengthen team bonding. This COVID year we could not be joined by our workmates from overseas and interstate but nevertheless people from our Sydney and Newcastle offices took part in an activity which has become an annual institution at Jord.

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Sunlight through Tarcutta woodlands. Photo Annette Ruzicka.

BUSHTRACKS 25/09/2020

Growing Tarcutta

The purchase of a parcel of land adjacent to Tarcutta Hills Reserve will extend the protection of habitat for Swift Parrots and other woodland birds.

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BLOG 15/09/2020

Weed management at Tarcutta

This year has been a volunteer year like no other. As we slowly begin to move back into our new normal, our volunteers are able to move back into the field in their home states. Volunteer Stephen Gye has written about his recent trip to our Tarcutta Hills Reserve to help with weed management.

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BLOG 31/01/2020

Bushfires update

As we enter a new month, I would like to take a moment to update you on recent developments towards our post-bushfire recovery. The devastation wrought has been confronting. My heart remains with those affected, those still fighting fires and those on the ground beginning the long process of recovery.

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BUSHTRACKS 10/09/2018

Woodland foragers

Tarcutta Hills Reserve provides vital foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot and other woodland birds, but ensuring it continues to do so in the future will require forward-planning and fast action.

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BUSHTRACKS 20/03/2015

Growing pains

Victoria Clark, a Masters student at the Australian National University, has been researching tree density and habitat quality at Tarcutta Hills Reserve in New South Wales. The forestry industry has long used thinning techniques to manipulate tree growth and height but thinning as a conservation practice is a relatively new idea that could help restore some disturbed areas.

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