Lake Mountain
Nest Box to be replaced after bushfire. Photo: Jo Antrobus.
Leadbeater’s Possums were first discovered at Lake Mountain in 1983. In 2003, 30 Leadbeater’s Possum nestboxes were installed at Lake Mountain Plateau and due to a reduced number of natural tree hollows they were rapidly colonised. Hollows in this area are in short supply due to a limited number of mature (over 100 years old) trees, with young trees having not formed hollows yet.
The last bushfire at Lake Mountain was the Black Friday Fires in 1939. Most Snow Gums, the dominant tree species at Lake Mountain take a very long time to recover from fire due to the cool climate and and snow cover restricting growth especially during the winter. The Snow Gum population recovers from fire by both seeds regenerating along with the trees slowly resprouting, epicormic and lignotuber growth particularly from the base of the trees.
Prior to February 2009, 28 of these 30 boxes had Leadbeater’s nests built in them and as many as 19 had Leadbeater’s Possum colonies denning on their last day of inspection. The population of LBP’s was estimated to be between 100 – 300 individuals. Unfortunately on Black Saturday, February 7th 2009 Lake Moutain Plateau was burnt at high fire intensity and 95% of the area and LBP habitat was burnt. Despite the high intensity fire experience 6 animals managed to survive in 3 locations across the plateau.
Parks Victoria managed a rapid response to this critical situation replacing burnt nestboxes to provide surviving animals shelter as soon as possible. Overnight video surveillance and a supplementary feeding program were also implemented during the harsher winter months from May to October during 2009. The rationed measures of nectar were to assist surviving LBP individuals while there was a limited food supply available in the slowly recovering alpine habitat.
Leadbeater's Possum at Supplementary Feeder. Photo: Parks Victoria.
Evidence from April 2010 has shown that some LBP’s are still present at Lake Mountain and another winter feeding program will be run with the assistance of FLBP during the winter of 2010. Click here for more information on volunteering with the supplementary feeding project.
Many thanks to the Healesville Sanctuary for their assistance with the supplementary feeding program.
For further information on this project, please contact Joanne Antrobus from Parks Victoria on 13 19 63.
