Saving Our Rare Species: A Guide to the Brush-tailed Phascogale

In the hidden pockets of the Macedon Ranges, a small and agile hunter with a big personality lives among us. The Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) is an elusive, carnivorous marsupial whose presence is a vital sign of a healthy woodland ecosystem.¹

If you are lucky enough to have a sighting of this remarkable animal, it is a privilege. Known by their scientific name as “tuans,” they are part of the same family as the Tasmanian Devil.² They have a grizzled grey coat, large bare ears, and a striking black “bottle-brush” tail that is nearly as long as their body.¹

The Importance of Phascogale Habitat in the Macedon Ranges

The Brush-tailed Phascogale is a species that spends most of its life in the trees, leaping between branches with impressive agility.¹ They are nocturnal, spending their nights hunting for insects, spiders, and centipedes, and occasionally small reptiles or birds.²

A healthy brush-tailed phascogale habitat macedon ranges is typically found in dry open forests and woodlands.¹ These habitats must contain large, old trees with hollows, which the phascogales use for shelter and nesting.² A single female may use over 30 different tree hollows in a year.² This dependence on old-growth trees makes them vulnerable to habitat loss.² The species is listed as threatened or vulnerable in Victoria, and its population is at risk from the loss of hollow-bearing trees and predation by introduced foxes and cats.⁴

Recent records of Phascogales in areas like the Macedon Ranges Shire are encouraging.¹ These sightings underscore the importance of protecting and connecting patches of existing woodlands to ensure the survival of this rare species.¹

How to Help a Phascogale in Distress

If you find a Phascogale that appears to be sick, injured, or in distress, your immediate actions can be crucial. The most important thing to remember is that this is a wild animal that is not used to being handled. It can bite or scratch, and any stress from being touched can cause further injury or even death.⁸

Here is what you should do to help:

1. Prioritise Safety and Minimise Stress: Do not attempt to touch or handle the Phascogale with your bare hands. Instead, use a towel or blanket to gently scoop it into a well-ventilated box.⁸ Place the box in a quiet, dark, and warm location, away from people and pets, to reduce the animal’s shock.⁸
2. Do Not Offer Food or Water: Phascogales, like all wild animals, have highly specific dietary needs, and their bodies are in a state of shock when they are injured.⁸ Giving them food or water could be fatal.⁸
3. Contact a Professional: The best and only legal course of action is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who has the specialised knowledge and training to care for this species.

For all sick, injured, or orphaned native wildlife in Victoria, you can contact the 24/7 emergency service:

Wildlife Victoria Emergency Response Service: (03) 8400 7300

By following these steps, you are giving the animal the best chance of survival and a successful return to the wild.

How to Be a Good Neighbour to Phascogales

Beyond emergency care, there are proactive steps you can take to protect this rare species:

• Keep Cats Indoors at Night: Feral and domestic cats are a significant threat to Phascogales.² Keeping your cat inside at night is a simple but powerful way to protect our native wildlife.
• Protect Their Habitat: If you have large, old trees on your property, help to protect them. These trees provide essential homes for Phascogales and many other species.²
• Install Nest Boxes: If your property lacks suitable hollow-bearing trees, you can install specially designed nest boxes to provide a secure alternative.²
• Plant Native Trees: Phascogales can travel a great distance in their home range, so planting native trees and shrubs helps to create vital habitat corridors that allow them to move safely through the landscape.²

By getting involved in these efforts and supporting local conservation groups, you can become a champion for this vulnerable species and help ensure the continued health of the Macedon Ranges’ unique ecosystems.³