Western Ringtail Possums

The western ringtail possum (Ngwayir) is an arboreal leaf-eating herbivorous marsupial endemic to south- western Australia. Since colonial settlement it has undergone a substantial range contraction, with declines in abundance and habitat continuing. It is listed as threatened fauna, and ranked in Western Australia as Endangered under international (IUCN) criteria. It is also listed nationally as Vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Bouvard Coastcare Group in partnership with the City of Mandurah and Friends of Warrangup Springs successfully applied for funding to the Peel-Harvey Catchment Council for “Restoring Ecological Linkages for the Ngwayir (Western Ringtail Possum)” In addition, we have also carried out planting along a number of wildlife corridors in Bouvard to provide food & habitat for the Western Ring-tailed Possum. The Peel Region Western Ringtail Possum Group carry on this work, managing, maintaining and monitoring possum numbers in the area.

WA Turtles

Six of the world’s seven species of turtles are found in WA waters: • green • hawksbill • loggerhead • flatback • leatherback • olive ridley. All marine turtles in Australian waters are protected species at both State and Commonwealth levels. Marine turtles have existed in the world's oceans for more than 100 million years. These ancient mariners have cultural, spiritual and economic importance to coastal Indigenous Australians. Turtles feature in many stories, ceremonies, traditions and contemporary activities of Indigenous people, and are often a food source in remote coastal communities. Marine turtles generally live for a long time and are slow to reach sexual maturity—it can take between 20 and 50 years for a turtle to begin to breed. The only time they leave the ocean is when the adult females lay their eggs on beaches, and occasionally to bask during the nesting season. ( Read more on the DBCA Website ) Bouvard Coast Care encourages members and their families to monitor and protect sea turtles especially young turtles that have been washed up on our coastline during storms. Help to save washed up turtles by picking them up and placing them in a cardboard box and immediately call the DBCA Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9044 (24 hrs)

Peacock Spider

Maratus flavus ( flavus meaning yellow in Latin) is the name given to the Peacock Spider that is described in Peckhamia 160.1 by J C Otto and D E Hill and is unique to this area of the South-west of Western Australia known as Tims Thicket. It is important to preserve this area as it may be the only place in the world that this species exists. Males are only about 4mm and females about 5mm. They are found in leaf litter and on small green plants not very tall in height. They feed on small live insects and catch them by jumping on them. They do not build webs like other spiders. This BCCG Special Interest Area is lead by Carole Anderson with the aim of raising awareness & habitat preservation for this special local species.