The Moytj were once very common throughout Perth's waterways. Habitat degradation, predation by cats, attacks by dogs, and illegal marron traps threaten their continued survival.
Threats: Habitat loss, dog attacks, cat predation, illegal marron traps
Will they visit?: Rakali are rarely known to visit home gardens located near wetlands, rivers, and waterways.
Natural Distribution: Widespread and uncommon throughout the waterways of the South West and Perth region.
Rakali – (C)Leo Berzins
Rakali – (C)Leo Berzins
Rakali – (C)Leo Berzins
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Burrows, hollow logs, dense vegetation near waterways
Diet: Frogs, fish, small birds, and aquatic invertebrates
Water: Large native ponds
ReWild Benefit: A resident Rakali in the area is a sign the ecosystem is working well
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Rakali like to hide in hollows, burrows, and thick ground covers. A wildlife garden with lots of dense vegetation is just enough for a Rakali if they happened to wander into the garden.
Novel Shelter
It is not recommended to provide a novel habitat for a Rakali.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
A Rakali visiting a garden for food is very remote. A transient Rakali will rather hang around a frog pond or a wildlife garden with lots of ground cover and dense shrubs while they search for new habitat.
Providing sources of water
Large native ponds are great for attracting wildlife, especially frogs, tadpoles, and dragonflies. Planting a variety of native grasses, tall shrubs and trees will provide other wildlife food, shelter and protection from the elements.
ReWild Benefits
Seeing a Rakali in the local area means the aquatic ecosystem is healthy and functioning well. Habitat destruction, predation by cats, dog attacks, and illegal marron traps threaten their continued survival. They were once heavily hunted for their pelts till the 1940s when they became a protected species. If you see a Rakali, you can record your sighting on Atlas of Living Australia!
