Supplementary Feeding Leadbeater’s Possum At Lake Mountain
Lake Mountain Leadbeater's Possum nest box in snow. After 2009 bushfire.
The Leadbeater’s Possum is an endangered species found only in Victoria, Australia – no where else in the whole world. It lives in the forests near where we live and so we spend time volunteering with a local group of dedicated individuals who are all trying to ensure that this possum survives in the wild. The volunteer group are called Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum. Since the bushfires in February 2009 it is estimated that the Leadbeater’s Possum numbers declined from an estimated 3000 individuals to 1000 individuals so they really need our help.
Providing nectar feed to feeding station for Leadbeater's Possum.
Recently we went to nearby Lake Mountain an area that was hit really hard by the bushfire and assisted in a supplementary feeding program for the Leadbeater’s Possum. We had to walk a 10km circuit in snow shoes to deliver the food which was a great experience. There is a lack of available food on Lake Mountain as the alpine environment grows slowly and takes a long time to recover from bushfire. With only a few remaining Leadbeater’s Possums left in this area and with so many others lost in the bushfire the feeding program will ensure that any remaining possums have the best chance of survival during the harsh winter months.
The biggest threats to Leadbeater’s Possums ongoing survival in the wild are from logging practices and bushfire reduction methods. This includes “salvage” logging where trees are harvested from burnt forest trying to recover after a bushfire. Salvage logging is done under the guise of the word ”salvage”. Trying to make logging sound like a good and useful process avoiding waste, the dead and dying forest after bushfire. All of which is quite untrue as our natural bush recovers quite well from bushfire if it is left to regenerate without being bulldozed.
Also threatening the Leadbeater’s Possums survival in the wild is from bushfire prevention methods such as bulldozing new fire breaks which reduces the connection of trees within the forest which the possums rely on to move. A road may be an impassable barrier for such a small possum. Additionally excessive fuel reduction burning which may destroy critical habitat, such as mature or older trees particularly those with hollows which could provide homes from Leadbeater’s Possums.
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