Stick-nest rats are being re-introduced to mainland areas after thriving on an Australian island
Stick-nest rats are being re-introduced to mainland areas after thriving on an Australian island
A rat which became extinct on mainland Australia by the 1930s is staying safe from predators on an island off SA by living in one of Australia's worst invasive weeds.
A tiny native rodent that was on the brink of extinction on the mainland has bounced back in the most unlikely of places — an island infested with death adders and tiger snakes.
The rat's survival on the South Australian island, which it was introduced to more than three decades ago, has been the result of one of Australia's worst invasive weeds, the African boxthorn.
Co-author of the study, Flinders University associate professor Vera Weisbecker, said invasive weeds were damaging to Australia's biodiversity so it was good news a threatened mammal was thriving in that habitat.
However the researchers cautioned against perceptions that invasive weeds weren't as bad as they seemed.
"We completely agree that it is a damaging weed that needs to be controlled," Ms Kraehe said.
"If it continues to spread, it may displace too much of the native vegetation and lead to a collapse of the island's ecosystem, ultimately affecting the greater stick-nest rats themselves," Dr Hill said.
Stick-nest rats are massive homebodies, they're fat little rodents and they make good meals for pretty much anything," Ms Kraehe said.
"They don't really like leaving the protection of their nest so they'll basically just eat the house, Hansel and Gretel style."
They live the dream!
Seriously though: great news! And even better that they also control the invasive boxthorn
And they are adorable lil cuties!