A couple of tradies got quite the surprise when a typical maintenance job turned into a full-blown rescue mission, forcing them to halt work and launch into action.
The powerline workers were recently tending to a broken electrical box in Victoria, however the call-out took a shocking turn when they discovered a family of seven tiny feathertail gliders hiding inside.
After putting down their tools, the tradies safely removed the creatures, which are the smallest gliding animal in the world, and placed them in a ventilated cardboard box before calling Wildlife Victoria for help.
Jennifer, a rescuer who arrived at the scene soon after, found that all of the gliders were in a healthy condition despite their risky housing choice. Determined to provide them with a more appropriate place to live, she asked a local men’s shed to craft some nesting boxes — small, man-made structures designed to provide a safe place for small animals.
Rescuers cared for the feathertail gliders for days while a local men’s shed crafted nesting boxes. Source: Wildlife Victoria
Feathertail gliders live in tree hollows, and like many other native creatures, their populations are facing increasing pressure from threats such as habitat loss and predation by invasive pests. Due to deforestation and decreasing numbers of old growth trees, tree hallows are becoming harder to find, forcing numerous species to seek shelter in unsafe locations.
“We have to be mindful that housing and farming have a huge impact on wildlife habitats, but there are things we can all do to help reduce these impacts,” Jennifer told Yahoo News.
“We must protect the old trees with hollows, as these provide safe shelter for native animals. It’s vital for our wildlife that we plant native species, and I encourage people to contact their local council for a list of what they can grow to help.”
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The feathertail gliders spent several days at a local shelter as Jennifer waited for the nesting boxes to be completed. They have since been released back to their habitat in their brand-new house.
Wildlife Victoria said it “encourages everyone” to install nesting boxes in their own backyards to make them more hospitable to birds, possums, gliders, microbats and insects. Some Aussie councils have also tried to tackle the growing issue by placing artificial habitats in public spaces.
In June, Randwick City Council announced it was trialling innovative new technology to offer shelter options for Aussie animals in public parks. Source: Randwick City Council
Habitat loss has significantly impacted Australia’s small mammals in the last century, including countless marsupials, birds and rodents. Since European settlement, we have lost more mammal species than any other continent, with over 100 species declared extinct or extinct in the wild.
Previously speaking to Yahoo, wildlife enthusiast Alice McGlashan said nest boxes are one “critical” and cost-effective way Aussies can give back to nature.
McGlashan, who founded Nest Box Tales, said the structures provide a safe, sheltered space for birds and small mammals to nest and raise their young, especially in urban or suburban areas where natural habitats, such as trees with suitable cavities, are scarce. They also protect natives from predators such as cats and foxes.
In Victoria, the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary sells an array of nesting boxes ranging from about $60 to $120 for anyone wanting to attract owls, ducks, or feathertail gliders. Wildlife Victoria sells microbat and possum nesting boxes through their website.
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