Pookila (Pseudomys novaehollandiae), or New Holland Mouse, is Tasmania’s rarest terrestrial mammal. Over the past 20-30 years, it has disappeared from almost all of its historically known sites. It is now only known from a small area on northern Flinders Island, where it occurs at low density.
With support from the Threatened Species Fund, staff from the Conservation Science Section conducted the Pookila Recovery Project to better understand the status of the remaining population and explore how targeted ecological fire management could improve habitat suitability for the species.
Initial camera trap monitoring has already delivered encouraging results, with Pookila detected at 11 of the 40 camera sites. These detections have expanded our understanding of the species’ distribution and identified two new sites approximately 2 km from previously known occurrences. They provide valuable insight into how Pookila are using the area and establish an important baseline against which the effects of fire management can be assessed.
Working with PWS, the project also contributed to the development of a fire management plan for the Mt Boyes Burn unit within the Wingaroo Nature Reserve on Flinders Island. Rather than the traditional fuel reduction objective of aiming for 60-70% burn coverage in a single operation, the trial will work towards similar coverage over five years through smaller, patchy, low-intensity burns. This approach is intended to gradually open and improve Pookila habitat while retaining occupied areas alongside burn patches. Pookila detectability will be used as an ecological indicator of success, and the trial will also improve understanding of how fire behaves in the area when applied outside usual burn prescriptions.
The next step is to commence targeted burning in the Mt Boyes unit when conditions are suitable. Ongoing monitoring will help determine whether the trial improves habitat suitability and increases Pookila occupancy within the burn unit.