Greater Stick-nest Rats
Greater Stick-nest Rats are mainly nocturnal rodents about the size of small rabbits. They have blunt noses, large ears and sleek body fur which is grey-brown on their upper and pale grey on their underparts. They are approximately 30cm long including the tail. They are group orientated, gentle and passive creatures that rarely attempt to bite humans. The Indigenous names for this species include ‘Wopilkara’.
Diet
Greater Stick-nest Rats are herbivores – their diet consists mainly of fresh plant material, fruits and seeds.
Breeding
Greater Stick-nest Rats breed mostly in autumn and winter and one to four young are born after six weeks gestation. Young become independent after one month of suckling.
Habitat
Formerly widespread in arid SA, their populations were drastically reduced in the late 1800’s so that they eventually became extinct on the mainland by the 1930’s and only remained on the Franklin Islands off the west coast of SA where there were no foxes or feral cats.
Greater Stick-nest Rats usually live in areas with limestone caves or outcrops of granite and dense low shrub cover. They build communal nests up to one metre high and three metres wide from plant material. Some old nests can still be found on the mainland. These are constructed with sticks, grasses and leaves and sometimes these are glued together with a mixture of faeces and urine that forms a resin-like material when it dries. Nests like these can only survive when made under shelter, as the resin is soluble in water. Nests are often built around a bush or in a hollow tree stump and provide protection from predators and extreme temperatures. An area of grass or other soft vegetation is made in the centre of the more complex nests, and tunnels lead to the outside. The construction is added to or modified by successive generations and larger nests may house communities of 10–20 rats.
Threats
Greater Stick-nest Rats are preyed upon by foxes and feral cats. Their habitat is destroyed by grazing animals such as rabbits, goats and stock. Competition with rabbits and stock for food and habitat areas is another problem these animals face. Native predators include barn owls, tiger snakes and eagles
Conservation
Captive breeding programs in the 1980s have led to the establishment of new populations in fenced enclosures on the mainland and on other small islands where there are no introduced predators. These programs have been successful and led to the change in their listing from endangered to vulnerable
Fun Fact
The resin these rats create to bind their nests together is so strong and durable when not exposed to water that the nests can last for thousands of years and are studied as fossils!
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