The Angair small mammal survey workshop in early June noted there were no males among the several Swamp Antechinus recorded in Aireys Inlet. This was a little concerning as males are obviously essential to population growth even if they all die after mating.
Workshop participants and their contacts have been keenly on the lookout for the missing males. Amazingly, they collected eight male Swamp Antechinus carcasses between 6 and 19 July at the Painkalac Creek.
Our thanks go to David Abbey, Bron Ives and Katie Pahlow who froze the specimens and sent photos and location details. The records are very significant as we are now confident that mating has occurred and they indicate that the population is indeed breeding.
Dr Barbara Wilson