Pest Free Nature 
Park Closure 14 – 19 August 2022

Wilsons Promontory National Park will be closed from 5pm on Sunday 14 August until 8am on Friday 19 August to conduct an integrated deer control program.

The annual deer control program is an effective way to reduce deer populations within the park.

These conservation programs contribute to making the national park a pest and predator-free sanctuary, supported by a predator-proof exclusion fence funded by the Wilsons Prom Revitalisation project.

Check the Wilsons Promontory National Park webpage for the latest information about conditions and closures, www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park.

“Parks Victoria is committed to ensuring our parks are healthy, undertaking priority actions like deer control to protect and restore the Prom’s unique natural environment.” Brett Mitchell, Area Chief Ranger 

Leafy Greenhood, Pterostylis cucullata is a vulnerable orchid species that will be benefiting from the deer control program.

Restoring Country
Bushbank Project - funded by DELWP

Parks Victoria has recently received support from the Department of Land Water and Planning (DELWP) to conduct a four-year environmental restoration project at the Prom, the Bushbank Project.

The Bushbank Project will work towards restoring key landscape traps in the southern section of the national park. A landscape trap is an area where the major ecological attributes and functioning are compromised. 

Ground truthing, site surveys, historic records, aerial imagery have been some of the important components in developing the prescription for the identified areas. Seed collection from across the park, controlled burning to the site and aerial seed dispersal will be the very first practical stages of this adaptive land management project.   

This project is a big one, stay tuned for more updates.

“This innovative project is essential in creating a strategy that can be applied to large scale areas that have been impacted by consecutive fires. By rebuilding the eucalyptus canopy, we will improve, create and connect habitat for biodiversity.” Brooke Love, Restoration Ecologist

Landscape trap- identified by the lack of mature eucalyptus canopy 

Restoring Country 
Junior Rangers team up with Friends of the Prom

During the winter school holidays our Junior Rangers were busy helping Friends of the Prom (FOTP) volunteer group plant out Tidal River Campground. Tasked with planting a variety of species locally propagated at the FOTP nursey in Tidal River, these little legends helped provide habitat for species and regenerate the campsites.

Junior Rangers run during the school holidays, and over long weekends. Check out the website for your local Junior Ranger program and get involved

Junior Ranger tree planting with Friends of the Prom

Back from the Brink 
New Holland Mouse (Pookila), Pseudomys novaechollandiae

Wilsons Promontory is one of only five remaining locations Pookila, an endangered species call home. This tiny creature was once found at 12 different locations in Victoria, unfortunately the population has continued to decrease due to inappropriate fire regimes, die-back of vegetation, loss of genetic diversity, competition with non-native rodent species and the introduction of feral predators.

Dr. Phoebe Burns- a Native Rodent Biologist from Zoos Victoria, is keeping a close eye on the Prom's population. Recently spending two weeks in the field at the Prom, Phoebe conducted her annual population health assessment.

“The team caught 17 individuals, down from 21 in our annual monitoring last year. While numbers aren't great, they're still hanging on and we're working hard with PV and DELWP to protect those that remain. The predator control and habitat restoration work on the Isthmus will have great outcomes for the mice in the long run.” Dr. Phoebe Burns, Zoos Victoria

Learn more about how the Prom Pookila are contributing to their species survival here. 

Ecological function: They play an important environmental role by spreading seeds and fungal spores.

Preferred habitat: Open heathlands and coastal areas.

Greatest threat to survival: Predation by foxes and feral cats as well habitat loss.
Did you know? You can tell a Pookila from a house mouse by its larger ears and eyes, and lack of ‘mousy’ smell

New Holland Mouse  (Pookila), Pseudomys novaechollandiae

Brooke, Restoration Ecologist

I joined Parks Victoria as a Project Firefighter in 2010, worked as Ranger – Fire and Emergency at Tidal River and was most recently the Project Officer for the Southern Brown Bandicoot Protection Program.

Favourite plant: It’s so hard to choose from so many amazing plants! But I do have a soft spot for the plants that can only be found at the Prom, as I feel we have a particular responsibility to care for them. If the Prom had a floral emblem, it would have to be either:

The Promontory Daisy Bush – Olearia rugosa ssp. allenderae

A beautiful bright white daisy type flower on a understorey shrub found in the tall wet forests of the Prom, with rough leaves that look just like the leaves on an Oak tree. 

The Promontory Peppermint – Eucalyptus willisii ssp. willisii

I am excited about the scale and significance of the Prom Sanctuary projects! It’s a privilege to be part of the team undertaking landscape-scale restoration at a place that is so important, and so loved. I’m particularly excited about working alongside Traditional Owners, rebuilding the temperate rainforests that have been impacted by multiple fires and reinstating the Coastal Grassy Woodlands of the Yanakie Isthmus.

Goyo, Project Officer- Invasive Species

Favourite place at the Prom: Little Waterloo Bay

Favourite animal: Wombat

I've worked two years as a Project Firefighter and one year as a Field Supervisor- Fire & Emergency. I am very excited about being part of a project that will shape the future of my favourite place in Australia, and for future generations to come.
 

I feel extremely fortunate to be part of a team that will help to protect threatened animals, plants, and habitats; something I am deeply passionate about.