Threatened marsupial at risk from mouse baiting

[Oz]

Just wanted to help raise a bit of awareness about these native marsupial mice as I'm sure 90% of the population probably doesn't even know they exist, and help aid unknowingly in the extinction of them thinking they're introduced mice.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201007/r595035_3833291.jpg

The Environment Department is worried efforts to control a growing number of mice in the Mallee region of South Australia might harm a tiny marsupial mouse.

 

The southern ningaui is a threatened species in other parts of Australia, but fairly common in the Mallee.

 

Department official Rebecca Pudney says the ningaui has harder fur and bigger ears than common mice, but people will need to take a close look.

 

"They are very similar in colour, they're a little bit smaller and first thing that most people tell me they notice is they're a little bit more brittly than the house mouse and they have bigger ears than the house mouse," she said.

 

"Just be aware of your traps mostly, baiting should not cause an issue for the fact that these little 'mice' are carnivorous, so they've been busy eating all the insects and lizards that are sort of around the place.

 

"If you do find some [mice] dead or you catch some in a trap just have a closer look at them and make sure that they are those feral mice."

 

Author: ABC

Date: 01/04/2011

Source: ABC News

Copyright: © 2011 ABC

[demistify]

it adds a pleasant other dimension to this site for me to know you are aware of the natural environment, Oz. I think, generally speaking we are so wrapt up in our daily business, our likes and dislikes, our compliance with society's norms that the natural environment comes a poor second ... and we don't even realise it has. it's only when our environment threatens us that we pay attention to it. then it's a boogey man. much Peace to you.

[bigrat]

They never mention that the native rats are also victims of baiting. The problem is that they look similar.

 

Bigrat