On this page Content components Boroondara is home to many native mammals. Find out about local animals and how to protect them.If you find an injured native animal, contact Wildlife Victoria by calling (03) 8400 7300 or visit the Wildlife Victoria website.PossumsScientific names:Trichosurus vulpecula (brushtail possum)Pseudocheirus peregrinus (ringtail possum).Brushtail and ringtail possums are common in Boroondara.Possums are a protected species.They are attracted to trees and gardens with flowers and fruit.Possums on your propertyDon't feed possums that visit your property. This encourages more possums and can result in fighting and property damage.If you have possums in your roof you can:add a nesting box to your garden to encourage them to moveblock gaps after they are no longer in your rooffix loose tiles in your roofremove or prune tree branches that overhang your rooftry possum repellents, available at nurseries and supermarkets.If you have possums in your garden you can protect:trees by installing metal or perspex sheets around the trunksgarden beds with a floppy chicken wire fence.Removing possumsWe do not provide services to prevent, manage or remove possums on your property. Visit the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website for advice on dealing with possums.We don't recommend trapping possums. Trapped possums can only be relocated no more than 50 m from the capture site. Grey-headed flying fox Scientific name: Pteropus poliocephalus. The indigenous grey-headed flying fox has a: brown, furry body reddish-coloured collar grey head. The grey-headed flying fox is secure in Boroondara, but considered vulnerable in Victoria. They are protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975. Grey-Headed Flying Fox. Image by Ian Moodie. The grey-headed flying fox can travel up to 50 km each night in search of food and eat nectar and pollen. You can find the grey-headed flying fox in Yarra Bend Park. Find out more about this location on our Yarra Bend Park page. Flying foxes help pollinate plants and disperse native seeds, which regenerates our bushland. They sometimes visit local properties at night to feed on fruit or blossoms. You can protect your fruit and flowers in your garden by: covering small trees with netting that is safe for wildlife covering individual branches with brown paper bags. For more information: Read our Create a wildlife-friendly garden page Visit the Flying foxes page on the Wildlife Victoria website Visit the Wildlife and fruit trees page on the Wildlife Victoria website. PlatypusScientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinusThe platypus is an egg-laying mammal that grows to a length of 50 cm.It has a life span of approximately 12 years in the wild.Platypus are listed as vulnerable in Victoria. Keep your dog on a lead when walking around billabongs and the Yarra River. Platypus. Image by Cesar Consulting. You may find platypus in:freshwater rivers and lakes in eastern Australiathe Yarra River in Kew and Hawthorn.They create riverbank burrows for shelter and protection.They use sensors in their bill to hunt for food as they have poor eyesight. Platypus feed on:bottom-dwelling macroinvertebratesyabbieswormsshrimps.They are most active at night and can swim underwater for up to 10 minutes. RakaliScientific name: Hydromys chrysogasterThe rakali is an indigenous rodent that has a white-tipped tail.In the past they were hunted for their fur, but they are now protected in Victoria under the Wildlife Act 1975.You can find them in:fresh, brackish wetlandsGardiners Creek in Eric Raven Reserve. Rakali. Image by David Judge. Rakali have:soft, waterproof fura black to grey upper bodywhite to orange underneathpartly webbed feet.Their body is approximately 30cm to 39cm in size. Like the platypus, they create riverbank burrows for shelter and protection.Rakali eat:insectscrustaceanslizardsbirds. Krefft's gliderScientific name: Petaurus brevicepsKrefft's gliders are a nocturnal gliding possum.They are shy and not easily seen.Krefft’s gliders used to be considered the same species as the sugar glider. However, in 2020 it was recognised that there were 3 species of nocturnal gliding possums - sugar gliders, savanna gliders and Krefft's gliders. The Krefft’s glider is the only one of the 3 species to occur in Victoria. Protect them by keeping your cat indoors at night. Krefft's Glider. Image copyright Jiri Lochman (Lochman Transparencies) You can sometimes find Krefft's gliders along the Yarra River including:Willsmere ReserveBurke Road Billabong ReserveGreen Acres Golf ClubYarra Flats ReserveFreeway Golf Course.They nest in tree hollows and move between hollows every few days. They live in social groups of up to 12 and breed between August and October.Krefft's gliders are omnivores and eat:sugary wattle gumeucalyptus sappolleninvertebrates.Conservation activities in parks, reserves, and roadside areas helps to maintain their habitat. You can get involved by:joining local environment groups that re-vegetate sites along the Yarra. Find out more on our Local environment groups page.planting locally native wattles near the Yarra to provide foodinstalling Krefft's glider nesting boxes.
