Will they visit?: Red-tailed Phascogales are presumed locally extinct and will not visit home gardens
Natural Distribution: Formerly widespread and common throughout the South West and Perth region.
Red-tailed Phascogale – (C)Ry Beaver
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Hollows in large trees
Diet: Invertebrates and small animals
Water: Not required
ReWild Benefit: Pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Once widespread throughout the South-West, surviving populations of Red-tailed Phascogales are mostly restricted to remnants of native vegetation throughout the wheatbelt. While the Red-tailed Phascogale are no longer found in the Perth region, the Brush-tailed Phascogale is a close relative and will visit home gardens.
Novel Shelter
Below is a habitat box template for phascogales. Ideally, install the box on a mature tree close to the main trunk or a thick horizontal limb. Ensure the box is inaccessible to resident dogs or cats. Before you build:
Nest-boxes are a long-term commitment and need maintenance and repair over time.
Chipboard is okay, but degrade after a year of use.
Hardier and untreated timber (i.e. Jarrah) will last longer and are less prone to attack by fungi, bacteria, and microorganisms.
Keep away from treated timber as this can emit fumes toxic to wildlife and their young.
Avoid using metal wire inside a box. A wooden ladder on the inside of the nest-box is much more suitable or grooved timber will work well.
Maintenance is critical to ensure wildlife remain safe. Last thing you want is a side panel falling off with an animal or its young still living inside.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
The Red-tailed Phascogale is a carnivorous marsupial and prey upon invertebrates and small animals, including birds, rodents, and lizards.
Providing sources of water
The Red-tailed Phascogale are not known to visit bird baths or similar water sources.
ReWild Benefits
There are conservation efforts in place to help protect the species from extinction. Red-tailed Phascogales are susceptible to cat predation. So, one thing you can do to help our native wildlife is to keep pet cats indoors! If you see a Red-tailed Phascogale, you can record your sighting on Atlas of Living Australia!
