Mammals found in western Sydney
During the 1995-96 Western Sydney Urban Bushland Survey, 17 native and 10 introduced species of mammals were recorded. It is known, however, that at least 62 native and 18 introduced species of mammals have been recorded in western Sydney since European settlement.
The survey revealed that relatively few native mammal species survive in the western Sydney region. The decline in mammal species is probably due to extensive degrading of the environment over many years. Other regions, such as inland NSW, which have been similarly degraded also show high rates of loss among mammal species. Prior to clearing and the presence of introduced mammals that compete with native animals for food and shelter, the western Sydney region would have supported approximately 60 species of native mammals.
In some small areas of remnant vegetation, only introduced mammals, such as rabbits, foxes and feral cats, were detected. Small to medium ground-dwelling native mammals, such as the brown antechinus and the New Holland mouse, were only detected in large, relatively undisturbed, rugged areas of bush. This indicates that smaller ground-dwelling mammals have been effectively driven out of smaller more accessible habitats either by clearing of habitat areas or by introduced species competing for habitat and food or by introduced predators. Larger ground-dwelling mammals, such as the eastern grey kangaroo and swamp wallaby, were recorded respectively at 10 and nine of the local government areas.
Field workers on the survey had more success locating tree-dwelling mammals, such as possums and gliders, with a greater number of species being located at a greater number of sites. However, large-scale clearing of their habitat, and hence their habitat trees, have lessened the survival chances of many tree-dwelling species in semi-urban areas.
Species profile: the yellow-bellied glider
The yellow-bellied glider is listed as vulnerable on the Threatened Species Conservation Act. During the survey, individual animals were located at a number of previously unknown locations. However, these gliders require a very large home range of between 30 and 65 hectares and large tracts of bushland are rare in western Sydney. Young animals also need to disperse from the original family group to establish new colonies. One way of ensuring that yellow-bellied gliders can access large bushland areas is to maintain bushland corridors between large remnants.
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
