Shining a light on:
The Bilby

Bilbies are long-eared marsupials, native to Australia.

From the same family as the bandicoot, Bilbies are nocturnal.

Habitat:

They live in hot dry areas in Australia and due to their strong front paws, Bilbies keep themselves cool by burrowing underground.

Diet:

Their diet consists of insects, worms, seeds, bulbs, fruits and fungi. Bilbies need minimal water to survive.

Species:

Traditionally there were two species of bilbies, the lesser and the greater.

The lesser Billy is thought to have become extinct while the greater Billy is now listed as vulnerable due to wild cats, foxes and rabbits.

Pregnancy:

A pregnancy lasts for less than 2 weeks with their young remaining safely tucked away in their pouch for a couple of months.

Their Young:

To ensure no dirt enters their pouch, they have a backwards facing pouch.

Bilbies are Sustainable

Bilbies play a very important role within our environments, as they rebuild habitats within delicate ecosystems.
Bilbies are powerful diggers, building spiral shaped burrows reaching deep underground.

They create long burrowed systems which assist in soil restoration (aeration) and seed germination.

This also assists in the rejuvenation of vegetation within arid areas of Australia. Bilbies are sustainable, creating natural compost and repairing and reusing burrows. 

For more information:


Australian Wildlife 
https://www.australianwildlife.org/wildlife/bilby/

Compiled by
Janice and Michelle
http://www.raindropsofdiversity.com

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